This cornbread tamale pie is a simple and delicious recipe that comes together in minutes and tastes incredible too. Use a box of Jiffy mix and some leftover chili to keep it as frugal as it is tasty.
Recipe: $0.84 | Per Serving: $0.21 | Servings: 4
Get ready to savor a comforting, flavor-packed dish that brings the best of Tex-Mex to your dinner table with our Cornbread Tamale Pie. This recipe combines the heartiness of chili with the savory appeal of cornbread topping, creating a mouthwatering union of flavors and textures.
The leftover chili provides a satisfying and spicy filling, while the golden, buttery cornbread topping adds a touch of sweetness and a delightful contrast to the hearty filling.
It's a warm and welcoming meal that's perfect for family gatherings, weeknight dinners, or potlucks, promising to become a household favorite.
For more great recipes made with leftovers, check out my Quick Horchata Recipe (With Leftover Rice) and Creamy Leftover Turkey Wild Rice Soup.
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🍯 Why This Recipe Works
- Minimal ingredients. You just need a couple of ingredients to make this Jiffy tamale pie, so don't worry about making expensive trips to the grocery store. You probably already have the items needed in your pantry or fridge.
- It's frugal. I love making tamale pie with Jiffy mix because it is always so cheap and easy. Leftover chili is already on hand, and boxed cornbread is about 2 for $1, so this is one of the cheapest dinner recipes we have in our collection.
- It's great for stretching smaller portions. If you have a family of 4 but only 2 servings of chili, making this tamale pie is a great way to turn two portions into a filling meal for the whole family.
🥘 Ingredients
Ingredient Notes:
Chili- You will need some leftover chili. Chili from the day before always tastes best because the chili has had all of that extra time to develop the flavors.
Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix- You will need to use a box of Jiffy corn muffin mix that has already been prepared according to package directions. This means adding the egg and milk as directed by the box.
We use Jiffy mix in a lot of recipes including Jiffy Cornbread With Cake Mix, Jiffy Jalapeno Cornbread, and Cornbread Bundt Cake. It's such a frugal pantry staple in our home.
For specific ingredients and measurements, please see the recipe card below.
🧾 Substitutions
Chili. You can use canned chili instead of making this tamale pie with leftover chili. You will need about 2 or 3 standard-sized cans worth. Or use your favorite homemade chili recipe like Tomato Soup Chili or 5 Ingredient Instant Pot Chili.
🥣 Recipe Add-Ins
In case your chili falls short of the required 3 cups, you have flexible options to bulk it up. Consider incorporating softened cooked vegetables, such as carrots, zucchini, onions, or tomatoes. Alternatively, increasing the amount of beans or meat can effectively boost the overall content of your chili.
🔪 Instructions for Cornbread Tamale Pie
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease the inside of an 8x8 baking dish.
Step 2: Spread your chili into an even layer at the bottom of the dish.
Step 3: In a mixing bowl, prepare the Jiffy cornbread mix according to package instructions and then pour it over the top of the chili. Spread it out into an even layer as best as you can.
Step 4: Bake in the oven for 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick can be inserted into the center and come out clean.
Step 5: Let cool 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
🍴 Recipe Tips
Note on Baking Time. The suggested baking time for this recipe assumes the use of cold leftover chili from the refrigerator. If you're using warmed or room temperature chili, check the tamale pie about 10 minutes earlier than indicated to ensure it doesn't cook faster than expected.
👩🏻🍳 Storage
Fridge Storage: This easy tamale pie with Jiffy cornbread mix is good in the fridge for up to 4 or 5 days as leftovers. Just make sure to keep them well covered.
💭 Recipe FAQs
You can reheat a single serving of tamale pie on a plate in the microwave in about 2-3 minutes or for more portions you can simply reheat it in the oven. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 10-15 minutes or until warmed through.
Yes, this recipe can easily be doubled and placed into a 9x13 baking dish. The baking time may be extended by a few minutes, so keep an eye on it.
I like to serve our tamale pie with a simple side of green salad. For toppings, anything from salsa to sour cream, cheese, or your other basic chili toppings would work well.
❤️ More Delicious Frugal Recipes
If you tried this Cornbread Tamale Pie, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your feedback in the 📝 comments section below. I would truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Cornbread Tamale Pie
Ingredients
- 3 cups leftover chili ($0.00)
- 1 box Jiffy corn muffin mix ($0.62)
- 1 large egg ($0.15)
- ⅓ cup milk ($0.07)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease the inside of an 8x8 baking dish.
- Spread your chili into an even layer at the bottom of the dish.
- In a mixing bowl, prepare the Jiffy cornbread mix according to package instructions and then pour it over the top of the chili. Spread it out into an even layer as best as you can.
- Bake in the oven for 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick can be inserted into the center and come out clean.
- Let cool 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
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