Taking inspiration from Mexican tamales but without all the hard work, this green chili tamale pie is packed with a flavorful beef filling and topped with a deliciously golden cornmeal crust. Bake the tamale pie in the same skillet that you use to cook the beef filling to make cleanup a breeze. And don't forget the accompaniments! Serve this casserole with your favorite Mexican toppings like sour cream, guacamole, and salsa.
Heat the oil in a 12-inch oven-safe skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the onion and cook until soft. Stir in the garlic, chili powder, cumin, and salt; stir for about 1 minute until fragrant.
Add the ground beef and stir to break up the meat while it cooks. Drain off the fat then stir in the beans, chili verde sauce (or enchilada sauce), and half of the grated cheese (reserve 1 cup of cheese for the top of the cornbread).
Remove from the stove; season to taste with additional salt and pepper if desired. Place the green chilies in a layer over the top of the meat mixture. Set aside while you prepare the cornbread mixture.
For the cornbread topping
In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Add the corn, buttermilk, eggs, and melted butter. Stir just until combined.
Drop the cornbread batter evenly over the filling, then spread it in an even layer. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the center of the cornbread is baked through.
Spread the remaining cheese on top of the baked cornbread and leave in the oven for 1 minute to melt the cheese.
Notes
Adjust the amount of chili powder to your liking. Keep in mind that different brands of chili powder vary in spiciness. Also, if your salsa already packs a spicy punch, you may want to cut back on the amount of chili powder.
If you are using canned corn, one can is equal to about 1-½ cups.