I love a good chicken casserole, and this one if one of my favorites: Shredded chicken in a southwestern inspired BBQ sauce, topped with a fluffy cornbread topping!
There is nothing like a cozy casserole. This one is super easy to whip up with shredded chicken (use rotisserie chicken!) and cornbread mix.
Recipe tips and tricks
- If you prefer to make your cornbread from scratch, feel free to use your favorite recipe!
- You can cut the cheese in half if you want to make a lighter meal
- Feel free to use a heaping cup of frozen seasoning blend in place of the onions and peppers the recipe calls for. Makes prep even easier!
Serving ideas
This is really an all-in-one meal, so you don’t need much with it! I like to add a fresh, crisp salad on the side. My favorites with this Chicken Tamale Casserole are my No Mayo Coleslaw and my Tomato Cucumber Salad.
Make ahead instructions
You can make the filling up to a day ahead. Place it in the casserole dish and keep chilled until ready to use.
Stir up the cornbread mix right before baking and spread on the chilled filling. Baking may take 5-10 minutes longer, as the filling is cold.
More casseroles
- Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
- Baked Spaghetti Casserole
- Bolognese Gnocchi Bake
- Southwestern Baked Chicken
PS If you try this recipe, please leave a review in the comment section and add a star rating in the recipe card – I appreciate your feedback! Follow along on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram.
Printable recipe
Cheesy Cornbread Chicken Tamale Pie Casserole
Recipe details
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon oil
- 1 cup diced peppers
- ¼ cup chopped onions
- ¾ cup corn kernels
- 12 ounces cooked and shredded chicken
- 1 cup salsa
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 1 ¼ cups cornbread mix
- ⅓ cup sour cream
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 cup shredded cheese
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
More recipe information
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!
Cali @ Cali’s Cuisine says
This looks like perfection! I like that you have used chicken instead of beef.
Nora says
Thanks Cali!
tanya says
Yep, this is pretty darn fantastic. I love all the flavors and it looks so easy!
Nora says
Thank you Tanya!
Sneha says
Yummy… 😉 Omg that first picture!!! WOW! This looks and sounds so good – perfect for the summer too!
Nora says
Thanks Sneha!
Michelle { A Latte Food } says
Nora, cheese always makes gorgeous pictures in my book, because cheese always wins! 🙂 But seriously, this looks downright amazing! The perfect comfort food!
Nora says
Haha, yes to loving cheese 🙂 Thanks, Michelle!
Chelsea @chelseasmessyapron says
Omg that first picture!!! WOW! This looks and sounds so good – perfect for the summer too!
Nora says
Aww you’re too sweet, Chelsea! Thanks so much!
Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven says
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 says
Hahaha Sarah, sharing cheesy goodness is so difficult, right? 😉 Thanks, friend!
Jess @ Sweetest Menu says
Gorgeous pie! Just love all that cheesy goodness! YUM!
Nora says
Cheese always wins, right?! 🙂 Thanks Jess!
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
You totally nailed these pictures Nora! You have my stomach growling over here!
Nora says
You’re too kind! Thanks Natalie!
marcie says
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 says
It’s so nice when food brings up memories! Thanks for sharing, Marcie!
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen says
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 says
We could totally make this into an eating contest Kristi – who finishes the whole pan first? 😉 Thanks!
Rachel @ Bakerita says
Those cheese shots Nora…you’re killing me! I wanna dig into this so bad. It looks so amazingly delicious!
Nora says
Thanks Rachel 😀
Annie @Maebells says
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 says
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 says
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 says
Hahaha Kathy, I always get so hungry when I’m reading food blogs 😀 Thanks!
Traci | Vanilla And Bean says
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 says
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 says
Oh YUM! This would not last long in my house!
Nora says
It didn’t around here either 😀 Thanks Stephanie!
Cyndi – My Kitchen Craze says
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 says
Nooooo they weren’t, there was no cheese in them 😀 Thanks so much Cyndi <3
Ashley | The Recipe Rebel says
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 says
Awwww you’re too sweet Ashley! And carbs FTW – but definitely not the homemade pasta kind right now 😀
Katalina @ Peas and Peonies says
This looks good, love the sweet corn and all that ocean of cheese!
Nora says
Thanks so much Katalina! Haha, “ocean of cheese” – LOVE it!
Sara says
This looks great, I think my kids would love it! And I love pretty much anything that involves cornbread.
Nora says
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 says
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 says
Thanks Alice!!
Joanie @ ZagLeft says
I love all the cheesy goodness in this casserole and easy is always a winner in my book.
Nora says
Easy definitely winds, Joanie! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Gayle @ Pumpkin ‘N Spice says
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 says
Thanks Gayle!
Becky | The Cookie Rookie says
This looks TOO GOOD. I’m dying to try it!
Nora says
Thanks so much, Becky!
Denise | Sweet Peas & Saffron says
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 says
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 says
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 says
Thanks Danielle!