Make dinner time easy with this Cheesy Cornbread Chicken Tamale Pie Casserole recipe! Full of delicious flavors your whole family will love!
You know how hard it is to make summer-y comfort foods that are not only super tasty but also super easy?
I’ll tell you. It’s very hard.
I’m most likely exaggerating but I’ve been all about the one pot pasta dinners lately and decided I need to switch things up a bit. So I went through my blog archives to see what I could make.
Southwestern Chicken Cornbread Casserole? Sounded nice enough and I called it easy waaay back when I was still young and beautiful very pregnant.
Uhm, it was definitely pre-baby easy. And if I’m going to make a casserole it doesn’t only have to be delicious but also speedy.
Nothing better than a tiny human changing the way you look at one tiny word.
There were a few other things I wasn’t happy with so I tested and re-tested the recipe until I found my happy place.
And then I thought – why not add an updated version to the blog instead of hiding the old recipe in the archives?
Plus my photography wasn’t nearly as awesome as I thought it to be back then so new pictures would be nice.
But who am I kidding?! No tamale pie casserole is ever going to win any beauty contests.
Ugly cheesy pictures, tasty dinner with just 20 minutes prep time – it’s a win in my books!
Also, if you’re a fan of step by step pictures – here’s the recipe for this tamale pie casserole in completely downloadable and printable PDF format, complete with pictures to guide you through every step!
And I promise, this time it’s mom-of-five-toddlers easy.
Cheesy Cornbread Chicken Tamale Pie Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon oil
- 1 cup chopped peppers 130g, about 2 small
- 1/4 cup chopped onions 45g, about 1 small
- 3/4 cup corn kernels 140g
- 12 ounces cooked and shredded chicken 340g
- 1 cup salsa 225g
- 1 cup barbecue sauce 250g
- 1 1/4 cups cornbread mix 155g
- 1/3 cup sour cream 75g
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 cup shredded cheese 120g
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 390°F (200°C). Heat the oil in an oven safe skillet (about 9 inches (23cm) wide). Add the peppers, onion and corn and cook over medium high heat for 5 minutes.
- Take off the heat and stir in the shredded chicken, salsa and barbecue sauce. Flatten and smooth the surface with the back of a spoon.
- In a medium bowl stir together the cornbread mix, sour cream, egg and melted butter. Gently spread over the casserole filling, careful not to mix them together. Leave a small edge to allow steam to escape.
- Bake for 15-20 minute in the middle of the preheated oven.
- Scatter the cheese over the top and finish baking for 2-3 minutes or until the cheese is all bubbly and melted.
Nutrition (this is an estimate)
Rowdah
thank you so much, my family likes it.
Nora
Very happy to read this, Rowdah! Thanks for taking the time to leave a recipe rating, I appreciate it so much.
janet
lovely, thanks very much!!
Nora
Sorry Diane, the recipe wasn’t clear on that. It’s cooked chicken. I updated the post – thanks for noticing!
janet
oh sorry with no sugar if possible to suit diabetic hubby!
Nora
Hi Janet, this is the cornbread mix I make for us: http://realhousemoms.com/homemade-cornbread-mix/ It has 2 tablespoons of sugar, but that’s so little I’m sure you can try to just leave it out! Hope that helps 🙂
janet
hi – looks delish, any chance of a cornbread recipe for an English cook? xx
Jean
Ahhhhh, I’m a little confused on oven temp. 390 or 200?
Looks great and want to try it but don’t want to ruin it.
Nora
Oops, thanks for pointing this out, Jean! It is, of course, supposed to be 390° Fahrenheit or 200° Celsius. I changed it in the post – thanks again! Hope you’ll enjoy the recipe.
Mariah @ Mariah's Pleasing Plates
Your cheese shots are a thing of beauty Nora!
Love this quick and easy (aka baby friendly) meal. 😉
Pinned!
Nora
Thanks Mariah!
Izzy
I need this cheesy goodness right now!! It has all my favorite things in it and although I have no baby, I can always use another awesome easy recipe to add to the mix! Just look at all the beautiful cheese!! 🙂
Nora
Cheeeeeese 🙂 Thanks Izzy!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter
This looks absolutely incredible, Nora! It’s the ultimate comforting meal and I love how easy it is too!
Nora
Thank you so, so much Kelly!
Shelby @ Go Eat and Repeat
What a fun recipe! This is a great recipe for summer!
Nora
Thank you so much, Shelby!
Lily Lau
Woah Nora, your casserole is making my mouth water so much… seriously! 😀
Nora
Awww thanks Lily 🙂
Andi @ The Weary Chef
Yuumm! This is perfect and I want to eat it immediately!
Nora
Thanks Andi!
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop
Love great meals that are quick and easy! This looks like one my kids would devour!
Nora
It’s definitely a kid-friendly one 😉 Thanks Kathy!
Trish - Mom On Timeout
Are you kidding me with this Nora?? Drooling over here!
Nora
Haha Trish, thanks you so very much!
Medha @ Whisk & Shout
Wow that layer of cheese is to DIE for and I love that cornbread. Such a yummy meal 🙂
Nora
Thank you, Medha!
Cali @ Cali's Cuisine
This looks like perfection! I like that you have used chicken instead of beef.
Nora
Thanks Cali!
tanya
Yep, this is pretty darn fantastic. I love all the flavors and it looks so easy!
Nora
Thank you Tanya!
Sneha
Yummy… 😉 Omg that first picture!!! WOW! This looks and sounds so good – perfect for the summer too!
Nora
Thanks Sneha!
Michelle { A Latte Food }
Nora, cheese always makes gorgeous pictures in my book, because cheese always wins! 🙂 But seriously, this looks downright amazing! The perfect comfort food!
Nora
Haha, yes to loving cheese 🙂 Thanks, Michelle!
Chelsea @chelseasmessyapron
Omg that first picture!!! WOW! This looks and sounds so good – perfect for the summer too!
Nora
Aww you’re too sweet, Chelsea! Thanks so much!
Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven
Good LORD! That perfect cheese stretch is kinda killing me on the inside. This gorgeous casserole is kinda everything I want in life. Oh, and also I kinda need it for dinner tonight. No promises that I’m sharing though! 😉
Nora
Hahaha Sarah, sharing cheesy goodness is so difficult, right? 😉 Thanks, friend!
Jess @ Sweetest Menu
Gorgeous pie! Just love all that cheesy goodness! YUM!
Nora
Cheese always wins, right?! 🙂 Thanks Jess!
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely
You totally nailed these pictures Nora! You have my stomach growling over here!
Nora
You’re too kind! Thanks Natalie!
marcie
You’ve got one of my favorite meals here — my mom used to make a tamale pie casserole, and it’s been YEARS since I had one. I need to make this soon!
Nora
It’s so nice when food brings up memories! Thanks for sharing, Marcie!
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen
Oh my Nora – you sure know how to make someone hungry! I don’t care how this looks (and it looks delicious) by the way – I could seriously eat this entire pan! YUM!
Nora
We could totally make this into an eating contest Kristi – who finishes the whole pan first? 😉 Thanks!
Rachel @ Bakerita
Those cheese shots Nora…you’re killing me! I wanna dig into this so bad. It looks so amazingly delicious!
Nora
Thanks Rachel 😀
Annie @Maebells
You are cracking me up! haha! All my friends keep telling me to have a baby, but I realllllly like sleeping. Like a lot. Like it is my most favorite part of the day, so I don’t think babies are in the picture right now! 🙂 But I definitely think this casserole needs to be part of the picture! It looks amazing! Total comfort food!
Nora
Annie, true story… I hated sleeping before I had a baby. Now I wish I would have loved it as much as you do 😀 Thanks for stopping by, friend!
Kathy @ Olives & Garlic
This is killing me. I’m starving, I guess that’s what I get for checking out food while at work. 🙂 It looks amazing friend.
Nora
Hahaha Kathy, I always get so hungry when I’m reading food blogs 😀 Thanks!
Traci | Vanilla And Bean
I’m drooling… the one photograph, yeah, that one, where your pulling the spatula away from the pie with a cheesy, melty, trail of cheese. Oh my goodness. Love that this is easy and love that it’s Mexican/BBQ – MexiBBQ? Delicious flavors, Nora! I’ll put my new lodge pan to good use!
Nora
Haha, I was so happy about that cheese cooperating with me 😀 Ooooh I’ve been meaning to get a Lodge pan, they’re so pretty! Thanks for stopping by, Traci!
Stephanie
Oh YUM! This would not last long in my house!
Nora
It didn’t around here either 😀 Thanks Stephanie!
Cyndi - My Kitchen Craze
This looks amazing Nora!! I love Mexican anything and I love one pot meals, so win win. I need to make this asap!! And I bet even your old pictures were gorgeous!! 🙂 Pinned!
Nora
Nooooo they weren’t, there was no cheese in them 😀 Thanks so much Cyndi <3
Ashley | The Recipe Rebel
Haha, having a kid (kids!) has definitely changed my cooking style! I used to make homemade pasta and perogies and ravioli ALL the time (notice how those are all carbs… Lol). Now I ain’t got no time for that. But I got time for this! Looks amazing! And you’re still young and beautiful 🙂
Nora
Awwww you’re too sweet Ashley! And carbs FTW – but definitely not the homemade pasta kind right now 😀
Katalina @ Peas and Peonies
This looks good, love the sweet corn and all that ocean of cheese!
Nora
Thanks so much Katalina! Haha, “ocean of cheese” – LOVE it!
Sara
This looks great, I think my kids would love it! And I love pretty much anything that involves cornbread.
Nora
I’ve so fallen in love with cornbread ever since I had it for the first time two years ago – so I totally feel you there 🙂 Thanks Sara!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom
oh my gawd!!! this is comfort food at its finest!!! it’s so funny. . today is all of a sudden cold and I am craving comfort food like this! love this tamale pie casserole!! and gorgeous photos!
Nora
Thanks Alice!!
Joanie @ ZagLeft
I love all the cheesy goodness in this casserole and easy is always a winner in my book.
Nora
Easy definitely winds, Joanie! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice
Oh this looks just perfect, Nora! I love anything with cornbread in it, so I’m sure this casserole is amazing! Love the zesty flavors!
Nora
Thanks Gayle!
Becky | The Cookie Rookie
This looks TOO GOOD. I’m dying to try it!
Nora
Thanks so much, Becky!
Denise | Sweet Peas & Saffron
For some reason I think it’s funny that you said you first made this when you were young and beautiful…because I feel like I’ve aged SO much since having a baby! I guess sleep is good for something, right? This casserole looks amazing, and perfect for my super busy hectic life right now! Love that cheesy goodness 🙂
Nora
YES!! Oh my gosh, I recently looked at our wedding photos and even pregnant and all I look SO much younger than I do now – sleep definitely is good for something! Thanks Denise!
Danielle
I love cornbread and making tamale pies! This version looks amazing and I love that you added some barbecue sauce it there too! These pictures are too gorgeous, I could totally dive into a piece of that right now 😉
Nora
Thanks Danielle!