Chicken Tamale Casserole

Think of a delectable cornbread crust covered with shredded chicken, a mouth-watering sauce, and plenty of cheese, all in less than one hour.

That’s what this chicken tamale casserole recipe promises to deliver.

Once you make it, you’ll understand why casserole recipes are among the top go-to options for family dinners.

And with its fantastic taste and short preparation time, what could sound more heavenly than that? Let’s take a look at the recipe.

Let’s take a look at the recipe below.

Scroll to bottom for printable recipe card.

Why do I love chicken tamale casserole?

• It’s easy to make
• It’s delicious
• It’s nutritious

What are chicken tamales made of?

Chicken tamales are made of shredded chicken and masa tamale dough. The masa dough is made by combining cornmeal, water, salt, and lard, while the chicken is cooked with some spices before being shredded.

What sauce do you eat tamales with?

You can eat tamales with ranchero sauce, red chili sauce, Mexican orange sauce, green chile tamale sauce, avocado-lime cream sauce, and sour cream sauce.

How to serve chicken tamale casserole?

You can serve your chicken tamale casserole with any of the sauces mentioned above, avocado salsa, black beans, or sour cream and some tortilla chips on the side.

Tips:

• For an amazing flavor, prepare your enchilada sauce. But if you’re short on time, the store-bought one is still okay.
• If you don’t want to prepare your shredded chicken at home, get a rotisserie chicken from the store and shred it yourself.

Variations:

While the ingredients for this meal are easy to find, here are some variations that can still work.

• Instead of using corn mix from the store, make your cornbread at home
• Use whole-kernel corn instead of cream-style corn
• If you don’t have shredded chicken, you can use ground turkey, ground beef, or whatever leftover meat you have stored in the fridge.
• Use two boxes of corn muffin mix for a thick cornbread crust.

Ingredients:

• Jiffy cornbread mix
• Cream style corn
• Large eggs
• Milk
• Chili powder
• Cumin
• Shredded taco blend cheese
• Enchilada sauce
• Shredded chicken
• Green onions for garnish

How To Make Chicken Tamale Casserole:

Step 1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Step 2. In a mixing bowl, combine the cornbread mix, corn, eggs, milk, chili powder, cumin, and cheese until well blended.

Adding the corn.

Adding the eggs.

Adding the milk.

Adding the cheese.

Step 3. Spread the mixture in the bottom of a well-greased 9×13 baking dish.

Step 4. Bake for 20 minutes.

Step 5. Remove, and poke holes in the cornbread.

Step 6. Spread the enchilada sauce over the top of the cornbread.

Step 7. Sprinkle the chicken and cheese on top of the casserole.

Adding the chicken.

Adding the cheese.

Step 8. Bake for another 20 minutes.

Step 9. Garnish with green onions before serving.

PIN this recipe for later 🙂

How to store chicken tamale casserole?

Store this casserole in an airtight container before placing it in the fridge. You can also freeze the leftovers for about six months, but ensure the container is tightly sealed to avoid contamination.

How to reheat chicken tamale casserole?

To reheat, you can pop the casserole in the microwave for about two minutes or reheat it in the oven for 10 minutes at 350°F. If the casserole is in the freezer, let it thaw overnight before reheating it in the oven for 10 minutes at 350°F.

How long does chicken tamale casserole last in the fridge?

The chicken tamale can last for 3 to 5 days in the fridge and about six months in the freezer.

Can I make ahead chicken tamale casserole?

You can bake the chicken tamale casserole ahead of time and store it in the fridge, then reheat it later.

Related recipes you may enjoy

Some recipes like this you might love include

Green Chili and Cheese Chicken: A super easy-to-make recipe containing chicken stuffed with cheese and green chilli.

Jalapeno Popper Casserole: A comfort meal filled with cream cheese, heavy cream and jalapeno peppers, topped with bacon and cheddar.

Sausage Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole: Packed with carbs and proteins, this meal combines hash brown potatoes, cheese, eggs and sausage to give you a 5-star breakfast meal.