Pork Tamale Pie
Pork Tamale Pie is a juicy, slightly spicy mixture of meat and vegetables topped with a golden cornmeal crust. Making this meat pie in a cast iron skillet ensures a moist filling and a topping that will bake to a perfect golden brown. This Pork Tamale Pie is easily made in one skillet for an easy, delicious meal! Serve it with a crisp Cilantro Iceberg Lettuce Salad drizzled with a cool, creamy Ranch Dressing or Mexican Crema.
Prep Time15 minutes mins
Cook Time35 minutes mins
Total Time50 minutes mins
Course: Lunch, Main Dish, Mexican, Pork
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Keyword: savory pie, tamale
Servings: 4 to 8
Author: Louise Rio
- ¼ cup vegetable oil, divided
- 1 lb ground pork
- 6 scallions, white and green parts separated and sliced thin
- 2 Tbsps chili powder
- 1 Tbsp fresh oregano, minced or 1 tsp dried
- 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (14.5 oz) can petite diced tomatoes with juices
- 1 cup frozen corn, unthawed or 2 fresh corn cobs, kernels sliced off
- ½ cup chicken stock or broth
- 1 cup (4 ounces) pepper Jack cheese, shredded
- Salt
- Ground black pepper
Tamale Topping
- ¾ cup (3 ¾ oz) all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (3 ¾ oz) cornmeal
- ¾ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- ¾ cup buttermilk
- 1 large egg
Cilantro Iceberg Salad (optional)
- 1 cup or one handful fresh cilantro leaves (optional)
- 1 Iceberg lettuce, thin sliced (optional)
- Ranch Dressing or Mexican Crema
- fresh lime wedges, squeeze on top of salad
Preheat the oven to 400°F with the oven rack in the middle position. Heat a 10-inch cast-iron or an oven-proof 10-inch skillet over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add 1 Tablespoon oil and heat until shimmering. Add pork and cook, breaking up the meat with a utensil, until just beginning to brown, 5 minutes.
Stir in scallion whites, chili powder, oregano, and ½ tsp salt; cook until fragrant for 1 minute. Stir in the beans, tomatoes with juices, corn, and chicken stock. Bring to a simmer and cook until the mixture has thickened slightly for 5-7 minutes.
Remove for the heat. Stir in the pepper Jack cheese until well combined and season with salt and ground black pepper to taste. Spread evenly in the skillet; set aside.
Make the Tamale Topping: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, scallion greens, and 1 tsp salt. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, egg, and remaining 3 Tbsps oil until smooth. Stir the buttermilk mixture into the flour mixture until just combined. Pour the batter over the meat mixture and smooth into an even layer.
Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until the tamale topping is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 15-20 minutes. Rotate the skillet halfway through baking. Let it cool for 10 minutes after baking before serving.
Mix together the cilantro leaves and iceberg lettuce. Plate the salad next to a slice of the Pork Tamale Pie. Drizzle with Ranch Dressing or Mexican Crema over the lettuce and squeeze with lime wedge. Serve with my Green Rice (Arroz Verde) for a complete meal.
- BAKING OPTION (if you do not have an oven proof skillet): The meat mixture can be transferred to an oven-proof baking dish, topped with the tamale mixture, and baked for 15-20 minutes until golden brown or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.