Memaw’s Tamale Pie is a closely guarded family secret, passed down through the generations…until now! This is a compilation of Southern cooking’s best hits including hearty grits, browned beef, and just the right amount of heat. Rich, cheesy, and savory, Memaw’s Tamale Pie is old-fashioned cooking perfectly suited to the new age!
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 large green pepper, chopped
- 1 (15.25 ounce) can whole kernel corn, undrained
- 1 1/2 cups tomatoes, chopped
- 5 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 (1.25 ounces) package chili seasoning
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon basil, dried
- 1 teaspoon oregano, dried
- 6 cups grits, cooked and prepared with butter and salt, to taste
- 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder, divided
- 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
Step 2 –Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish
Step 3 –Cook the beef, onion, and green peppers in a large skillet over medium heat until the beef is thoroughly browned, about 8-10 minutes.
Step 4 –Drain the beef.
Step 5 –Add the corn, tomatoes, tomato paste, chili seasoning, sugar, garlic powder, basil, and oregano into the skillet and cook until heated through, about 2-3 minutes.
Step 6 –In the prepared baking dish, spread 1/2 of the grits.
Step 7 –Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of the chili powder on top of the grits in the baking dish.
Step 8 –Layer on the beef mixture and the cheese.
Step 9 –Pipe the remaining grits around the edge of the beef and cheese layer.
Step 10 –Sprinkle the remaining chili powder on top.
Step 11 –Bake uncovered until the cheese is melted, about 20-25 minutes.
Step 12 –Let the pie cool for 5 minutes before serving warm!
