Tamale Pie

Tamale Pie is a hearty, one-pan American comfort food that captures the flavors of traditional tamales in a simpler, casserole-style dish. It typically features a savory base of ground beef, tomatoes, and chili spices, topped with a cornbread or cornmeal crust and baked until golden. This dish is a popular home-cooked meal, especially in the Southwestern and Tex-Mex regions of the United States.

🍽️ Nutrition at a glance

A typical serving is moderately high in carbohydrates from the cornbread topping and provides a good amount of protein from the ground meat. It is a source of iron and B vitamins, with a calorie count generally ranging from 400 to 600 calories per serving depending on the recipe's richness.

Nutrition breakdown

Calories	380 kcal
Protein	18 g
Carbs	40 g
Fat	16 g
Fiber	5 g
Sugar	8 g
Sodium	750 mg
Iron	3.5 mg
Vitamin A	250 IU
Vitamin C	10 mg
Calcium	120 mg
Potassium	450 mg
Vitamin B6	0.3 mg
Magnesium	40 mg
Zinc	2.5 mg

Per 1 cup (240 g) · estimated, varies by recipe

💡 What's interesting

Culturally, Tamale Pie is a fascinating example of American culinary adaptation, transforming the labor-intensive, wrapped Mexican tamale into an accessible, everyday casserole. Nutritionally, it combines the protein from meat with the fiber and minerals of corn, making it a more balanced one-dish meal than many casseroles.