Beef Tamale Casserole

This beef tamale casserole is layered with deliciousness. From the taco-seasoned ground beef to the fluffy cornbread topping, melted cheese, and savory enchilada sauce, every part is delicious. Along with that, this tamale casserole recipe is super easy to make!

The Best Beef Tamale Casserole

If you love cornbread and beef tamales then buckle your seat belts. You're about to go on a quick trip to Flavortown once you make this casserole recipe.

Fluffy, sweet cornbread gets topped with juicy ground beef that's been cooked in taco seasoning. Then, all of that deliciousness gets covered in a red enchilada sauce and finished with a layer of ooey-gooey melted cheese. The result is a warm, flavorful, deeply satisfying beef tamale casserole that's full of flavor with every bite.

Now, while this tamale casserole is delicious served all by itself it's even more delicious served next to some homemade tortilla chips and this copycat Chipotle guac.

Why This Recipe Works

Simple to make. After you cook the homemade cornbread, all you have to do is brown the ground beef, pile everything in your casserole dish, and then let the oven take care of the rest. 

The flavor. From the seasoned meat to the moist, sweet cornbread crust and ooey-gooey melted cheese, there are a lot of elements to love about this easy tamale casserole.

Customizable. Just like this chicken tamale casserole, this recipe is super easy to modify. You can add, swap, or switch up whatever you want to make it uniquely yours. 

Ingredients

Another reason to love this beef tamale casserole recipe is that it's made with really basic ingredients. In fact, you probably have most - if not all of them - at your house already.

Anyway, here's what you'll need to make this tamale casserole with ground beef:

• 2 cups Jiffy cornbread mix
• 1 can sweet corn
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup milk
• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 tsp. taco seasoning
• 1 cup enchilada sauce
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• Sour cream and avocado for serving

By the way, you can use a lot of these same ingredients to make this Mexican cornbread casserole. It's another delicious cornbread casserole with ground beef, so you'll definitely want to give that a try next!

How To Make Beef Tamale Casserole

1. Prep work: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C), grease a 9x9-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray, and then set it aside.

2. Make the cornbread mixture: In a medium-sized bowl, stir together the cornbread mix, eggs, milk, and sweet corn. Then, pour the cornbread mixture into the prepared baking dish and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

3. Cook the ground beef: While the cornbread layer is baking, prepare the beef. So, to do that, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet set over medium-high heat. Then, once the skillet is hot you can add the ground beef to it and break it apart until it's browned. When it is, remove the beef from the pan and set it aside.

4. Cook the onions: In the same skillet you cooked the beef in, heat the remaining oil. Then, add the onion and taco seasoning and stir them together. Cook for 5 minutes until the onion has softened.

5. Finish the tamale filling: Add the cooked ground beef and enchilada sauce to the skillet. Cook for 5 minutes, then remove the skillet from the heat and set it aside.

6. Assemble the casserole: When the cornbread is finished baking, poke holes on top of it with the end of a wooden spoon, top it with the meat mixture, and finally sprinkle some shredded cheese on top.

7. Bake and serve: Bake the tamale casserole for 15 minutes or until the cheese has melted. Let the casserole cool for 10 minutes, then top it with the sliced avocado and sour cream - or use your favorite taco toppings - and serve warm. Enjoy!

Tips To Make The Best Recipe

• Swap ground beef for leaner meat like lean ground beef, ground turkey, or shredded chicken. Using chicken will make the most delicious chicken tamale casserole ever!
• Add chili powder or green chiles to the cornbread mixture for a spicy kick.
• Use any cornbread mix you want in place of the Jiffy cornbread mix.
• Instead of sweet corn, use creamed corn for a creamier cornbread layer.
• Use tomato sauce instead of enchilada sauce to make a more mild-flavored casserole dish.
• Garnish the casserole with green onions for a pop of color.

How To Store Beef Tamale Casserole

In the fridge: Store your leftover beef tamale casserole in an airtight container - or in a baking dish with a lid on it - in the fridge for up to 4 days.

In the freezer: Allow the leftover casserole to cool completely, then transfer it to a freezer-safe airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.

Reheating: Put the beef tamales back in a baking dish and warm it in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes or until it reaches your desired temperature.

More Casserole Recipes

• Mexican tater tot casserole
• Mexican cornbread casserole
• Taco hashbrown casserole
• King Ranch chicken casserole
• Green chicken enchilada casserole
• Southwest chicken casserole
• Mexican rice casserole
• Doritos taco casserole