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Recipe Index Ā» Recipes Ā» Chicken Tamale Casserole

Chicken Tamale Casserole

Published by Meaghan on September 11, 2020 | last updated on February 26, 2022.

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Chicken tamale casserole takes all the bold flavors of the traditional dish and takes away the work so you can enjoy the classic flavors even on the busiest days. This cheesy chicken casserole will save the day and fill any of your tamale cravings in no time at all!

a slice of chicken tamale casserole shown on a blue square plate

Tamales are my jam.

With all that yummy filling and flavor, what’s not too love?

Oh, right, the two hours or so the traditional recipe takes to make.

When I still want my fix, but don’t have time for the traditional process, this yummy casserole saves the day!

chicken tamale casserole shown served in a 9x13 inch glass pyrex dish

What are tamales?

Tamales are a traditional dish in many countries around Central and South America.

However, this casserole is a take on Mexican tamales, which feature corn-based masa or dough wrapped around a meat, cheese or bean filling.

The dough and filling then get wrapped and steamed in a corn husk. 

a slice of chicken tamale pie being removed from a casserole in a glass dish

Ingredients

Unlike making traditional tamales, which require hard to find dried corn husks, this casserole uses only easy to find ingredients. To make it you need:

  • cornbread mix
  • milk
  • an egg
  • canned diced green chiles
  • green enchilada sauce
  • taco seasoning
  • creamed corn
  • rotisserie chicken
  • shredded cheese

a slice of chicken tamale casserole shown on a blue square plate

How to Make

Unlike traditional tamales, the prep for this casserole is super easy!

To make it, spray a 9×13″ baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set it aside.

Add the cornbread mix, milk, egg, green chiles, 1/2 tablespoon of the taco seasoning, and creamed corn to a large bowl.

Stir these ingredients together until just evenly combined and then scoop the mixture into the prepared baking dish.

Spread it out evenly with a spatula.

Once it’s in the dish, pop the dish in the oven and bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until the batter’s just barely set and golden brown.

While it bakes, shred or toss the rotisserie chicken and toss it with the rest of the taco seasoning.

Then remove the casserole base from the oven and poke holes all over the top of the cornbread base the way you would with poke cake.

Pour the enchilada sauce evenly out over top of the cornbread base. It should seep into all the holes.

Then spread the seasoned chicken out evenly over top. Top it with the shredded cheese.

Finish by baking the casserole for 15 more minutes, or until the cheese is melted and golden brown at the edges.

Then remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for a full 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

Top with your favorite garnishes and enjoy!

a slice of chicken tamale casserole shown on a blue square plate

Storing Leftovers

If you have leftovers you can store them covered in an airtight dish in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

Reheat by warming through in the oven or microwaving them in a microwave safe dish.

Can I Freeze This Casserole?

You can also freeze this.

To freeze, make it up until the point where you spread the chicken out over the cornbread.

Let it cool and then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or foil and freeze.

Before baking, let the casserole defrost overnight in the fridge.

Then top the casserole with cheese and bake as instructed until the cheese is bubbly.

a slice of chicken tamale casserole shown on a blue square plate

Tips and Tricks

  • Do not expect a FIRM cornbread crust when you dig in. It will be cooked, and nowhere near raw- but it’s supposed to be a tad on the softer side, similar to the traditional masa in a tamale that surrounds the savory filling. Expect a consistency more in line with corn pudding than a corn cake.
  • Top with your favorite toppings, we love fresh cilantro leaves, salsa, & sour cream- but any traditional tex mex toppings will do including a squeeze of lime.
  • Want to substitute something for the chicken? Try it with canned black beans that you’ve drained and rinsed, shredded pork or even ground beef.

Other Tex Mex Casseroles You’ll Love

This chicken tamale casserole satisfies my tamale craving without all the work or needing to go out for Mexican food. Make it today and enjoy!

Looking for other Tex Mex casserole ideas? Try these:

  • Chicken Doritos Casserole
  • Cheesy Mexican Chicken Spaghetti
  • Beef Taquito Casserole

If you’ve tried this CHICKEN TAMALE CASSEROLE, or any other recipe on the site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!

a slice of chicken tamale casserole shown on a blue square plate

Chicken Tamale Casserole

Chicken tamale casserole takes all the bold flavors of the traditional dish and takes away the work so you can enjoy the classic flavors even on the busiest days. This cheesy chicken casserole will save the day and fill any of your tamale cravings in no time at all!
4.54 from 13 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Casserole, Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Tex Mex
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 9
Calories: 96kcal
Author: Meaghan @ 4 Sons R Us
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  • 1 16 oz pkg cornbread mix
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 7 oz can diced green chiles drained
  • 1 10 oz can green enchilada sauce
  • 2 tbsp taco seasoning divided
  • 1 14.5 oz can creamed corn undrained
  • 3 cups chopped rotisserie chicken
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup shredded monterey jack cheese
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Lightly spray a 9x13" baking dish with non stick cooking spray. Set it aside.
  • To a large mixing bowl add the corn bread mix, milk, egg, green chiles, 1/2 tablespoon of the taco seasoning, and creamed corn. Stir together until just evenly combined.
  • Transfer the mixture to the prepared casserole dish. Use a spatula to spread it out evenly.
  • Bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes, or until the batter's just barely set and golden brown.
  • While the casserole base is baking in the oven, add the chopped chicken to a mixing bowl. Sprinkle the rest of the taco seasoning out over top, and toss to coat.
  • Use a wooden skewer to pierce holes all over the entire surface of the cornbread- and it's ok it a bit of the batter wants to stick to it.
  • Pour the enchilada sauce evenly out over top, just like you would with a poke cake.
  • Add the seasoned chicken, spreading it out evenly over top. Top with the shredded cheese.
  • Bake the casserole at 400° for 15 more minutes, or until the cheese is melted and golden brown at the edges.
  • Let the casserole rest for a full 5 minutes before slicing and serving. Then top with your favorite garnishes and enjoy!

Notes

recipe adapted from Pinch Of Yum

Nutrition

Calories: 96kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 176mg | Potassium: 52mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 289IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 163mg | Iron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Share it on Instagram @4sonsrus or tag #4sonsrus!

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Hi! I’m Meaghan

Welcome to my kitchen. Pull up a chair and get ready to dig into family friendly, easy recipes and meal ideas. I’m a self proclaimed, proud pickle snob and cheese lover. Aside from that, I’m also the mom to 4 busy boys, elementary school through college aged. My boys keep my husband and I busy, and boy, do they like to eat. A lot. Read more...

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Comments

  1. playitamia says

    September 12, 2020 at 9:01 am

    5 stars
    Se ve delicioso,hoy dia lo hago y estoy segura que a mi families va a encsntar,y querran que se los vuelva hacer.šŸ¤—šŸ¤—šŸ¤—šŸ‘šŸ‘šŸ‘

    Reply
  2. Liz says

    September 17, 2020 at 12:32 pm

    What a wonderful dish to bring to a pot luck, sigh. I don’t see any of those in my future for another year but I pinned it for a brighter future. Thank you for sharing on Fiesta Friday.

    Reply
  3. Brian Knoblich says

    November 29, 2020 at 7:57 pm

    5 stars
    This was wonderful my wife really liked it. We will definitely be making this again. Thank you for a great recipe.

    Reply

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Welcome to 4 Sons ‘R’ Us

Hi! I’m Meaghan. Welcome to my kitchen. Pull up a chair and get ready to dig into family friendly, easy recipes and meal ideas.

I’m a self proclaimed, proud pickle snob and cheese lover. Aside from that, I’m also the mom to 4 busy boys, elementary school through college aged. My boys keep my husband and I busy, and boy, do they like to eat. A lot.

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