Description
Mexican-inspired chicken tamale pie delivers comfort and flavor in one hearty dish. Home cooks can quickly assemble this crowd-pleasing casserole with simple ingredients and minimal preparation time.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
- 6 oz (170 g) extra-sharp white Cheddar cheese
- 1 cup chopped yellow onion
- 1 medium yellow bell pepper
- 1 (15 ¼ oz/432 g) can sweet whole kernel corn, drained
- 1 (4 oz/113 g) can chopped green chiles, undrained
- 1 (8 ½ oz/241 g) package corn muffin mix
- 1 (15 oz/425 g) can tomato sauce
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 tsp dark chili powder
- 1 (1 oz/28 g) envelope taco seasoning mix
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Cooking spray
- 2 scallions, sliced
- Cilantro leaves with tender stems
- Lime wedges
- Additional sour cream for serving
Instructions
- Cornbread Foundation: Blend corn muffin mix with sour cream, then spread evenly in a 10-inch high-sided skillet sprayed with cooking oil. Bake at 425°F in the top third of the oven for approximately 15 minutes until golden brown.
- Vegetable Medley: Sauté diced onions and bell peppers in olive oil over medium heat until soft and translucent, creating a flavor-rich base for the filling.
- Protein and Spice Fusion: Integrate shredded chicken, corn kernels, tomato sauce, green chiles, taco seasoning, and chili powder into the vegetable mixture, stirring thoroughly to ensure even distribution of seasonings.
- Layering and Cheese Topping: Spread the chicken mixture uniformly over the prepared cornbread base, then generously sprinkle shredded cheese and chopped scallions across the surface.
- Final Baking and Broiling: Return the skillet to the oven, baking for 15 minutes to heat the filling. Switch to high broil for 2 minutes, creating bubbly, golden-brown cheese with crispy edges.
- Presentation and Serving: Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves and serve immediately, accompanied by lime wedges and sour cream for personalized flavor enhancement.
Notes
- Prep Ahead Strategy: Shred chicken in advance or use rotisserie chicken to reduce cooking time and simplify meal preparation.
- Skillet Selection: Use a cast-iron or oven-safe skillet for seamless stovetop-to-oven transition and even heat distribution.
- Moisture Magic: Adding sour cream to cornbread mix ensures a tender, rich base that prevents dryness and enhances overall flavor profile.
- Cheese Melting Tip: Let cheese rest for 2-3 minutes after broiling to achieve perfect melting consistency and prevent burning.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking, Broiling
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg