Chicken Tamale Bake transforms one of the most beloved traditional Mexican dishes into a simple and delicious casserole that you can make in 45 minutes or less. The base is a cheesy, spicy, and rich golden cornbread, and the topping is a flavorful, savory, and tangy chicken spread with even more cheese for good measure. Chicken Tamale Bake is a hot and hearty dinner that will make winter seem like a distant memory. Once you see the cheese stretch on this dish, you’ll be stretching to get more!
Ingredients
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1 (14.75-ounce) can cream-style corn
- 1 (8.5-ounce) package cornbread/muffin mix
- 1 (4-ounce) can green chiles, chopped
- 1/3 cup milk, not skim
- 1/4 cup Mexican cheese blend, shredded
- For topping:
- 2 cups chicken, coarsely shredded and cooked
- 1 (10-ounce) can enchilada sauce
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 3/4 cups Mexican cheese blend, shredded
- Optional garnishes:
- green onions
- tomatoes, chopped
- avocado, chopped
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Step 2 –Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Step 3 –In a large bowl combine the egg, corn, cornbread mix, green chiles, milk, and 1/4 cup of the Mexican cheese blend. Stir until the dry ingredients are just moistened.
Step 4 –Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
Step 5 –Bake until the mixture turns a light golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 15-18 minutes.
Step 6 –In a large skillet on the stove-top over medium heat, combine the chicken, enchilada sauce, cumin, and onion powder.
Step 7 –Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat and let the mixture simmer uncovered until thickened, about 5 minutes.
Step 8 –Spread the chicken topping over the cornbread.
Step 9 –Sprinkle the top with the remaining 1 3/4 cups of Mexican cheese.
Step 10 –Bake until the cheese is melted, about 10-12 minutes.
Step 11 –Let the tamale bake stand for 10 minutes to cool.
Step 12 –Top with green onions, tomatoes, avocado, and serve hot!
