Cheesy Beef Tamale Pie

“In the 1800s Texans were introduced to tamales. It was love at first bite! Preparing tamales at home can be time consuming, so to cut down on time Texas home cooks created the tamale pie: a tasty tamale baked in the oven. Easy to prep and loaded with flavor, this tamale pie will satisfy even your hungriest Texan!” - Vianney Rodriguez of Sweet Life

Ingredients

Filling

• 2 tablespoons Tillamook Salted Butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 2 cups frozen corn kernels
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 cup shredded Tillamook Sharp Cheddar Cheese
• Salt
• Freshly ground pepper
• 1 teaspoon cumin

Tamale Topping

• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup milk
• ½ cup cornmeal
• ½ cup masa harina
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup shredded Tillamook Sharp Cheddar
• 1 cup Tillamook Natural Sour Cream

Preparation

Heat oven to 425°F. Butter a 9x12 inch casserole dish. 

Heat oil in a large skillet on medium high. Add the ground beef, onion, and bell pepper. Add salt, pepper and cumin. Cook, stirring frequently until ground beef is fully browned and cooked through. Remove from heat, drain any excess fat. Add tomatoes, corn, and Tillamook Sharp Cheddar. Taste for seasoning, then spoon filling into casserole dish.

Whisk together eggs and milk in a medium bowl; whisk in cornmeal, masa harina, and baking powder. Pour topping evenly over beef mixture and sprinkle with Tillamook Sharp Cheddar.

Bake for 20 minutes, or until top feels firm when lightly touched. Serve and garnish with Tillamook Sour Cream.

Tips

Tips for stress-free home entertaining:
My Tillamook secret to making entertaining fun, stress free, and yummy is serving family style. Serving up platters, dishes, and steamy bowls of wonderful comida evokes dinners at home, and dinner guests will feel at home in your home, which is what it’s all about.

Kitchen advice for other moms and dads:
My kitchen advice when preparing for a dinner party or family gathering is to prep as much as you can in advance. Have a solid shopping list ready and shop a few days prior to the party. Pre-chop your vegetables, bake your dessert, and set your table. Don’t forget about the kiddos; set up a kids table and have a small activity at the table for them to complete while they wait for their food. Keep the menu simple and relax.