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Spicy Chicken Tamale Casserole

Spicy Chicken Tamale Casserole has a cheesy and spicy conrbread crust topped with a red enchilada shredded chicken mixture.

  • Prep10 min
  • Cook30 min
  • Total40 min
  • Serves8
  • Rating5.0
Spicy Chicken Tamale Casserole

Spicy Chicken Tamale Casserole has a cheesy and spicy cornbread crust topped with a red enchilada shredded chicken mixture. This Tex-Mex dinner is sure to be a family favorite.

Slice of Spicy Chicken Tamale Casserole on a plate.

This casserole is already super cheesy and flavorful on its own, but I love to top it with ALL the toppings for even more yumminess.

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  • Sour cream
  • Cilantro
  • chopped tomato or salsa
  • sliced black olives
  • diced avaocado or gaucamole
  • pickled jalapeno slices
  • diced red onion
  • serve it over a bed of finely shredded iceberg lettuce for a little crunch and to make it more filling.
Spicy Chicken Tamale Casserole

How Spicy Is It?

The cornbread mix has some heat and there’s also 1/4 teaspoon or cayenne pepper added to the filling. For more heat, use HOT enchilada sauce or serve with Cholulu Hot Sauce.

For the cornbread crust I use a 12.5-ounce box of Zatarains Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread Mix. If you can’t find it you can use any box of cornbread mix that is approximately the same size.

You’ll add a small can of creamed corn, an egg, some milk, butter, cumin, and cheese to the cornbread mix and bake it in a 400 degree oven for 20 minutes. Poke holes in the cornbread and add the shredded chicken filling. Poking holes in the cornbread helps blend the 2 layers together a little so it tastes more like a casserole. Return it to the oven for just another 5 to 10 minutes and dinner is ready!

Slice of Chicken Tamale Casserole on a plate.

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More Tex-Mex Recipes

Recipe adapted from The Girl Who Ate Everything

Spicy Chicken Tamale Casserole

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Ingredients

Equipment 9x13-inch Baking Pan

Steps

  1. 1

    Preheat oven to 400 degrees and grease a 9x13-inch baking pan.

  2. 2

    In a large bowl, combine cornbread mix, creamed corn, egg, milk, melted butter, 1 cup shredded cheese, and cumin. Stir until just mixed. Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until set in middle.

  3. 3

    In another bowl, stir together chicken, enchilada sauce, sour cream, green chiles, and cayenne pepper.

  4. 4

    Once cornbread is done, remove from oven and poke about 25 holes in the cornbread with the handle of a wooden spoon.

  5. 5

    Spread chicken mixture on top of cornbread. Sprinkle green onions and remaining cheese on top. Return to oven for 5 to 10 minutes.

  6. 6

    Cut into squares and serve with sour cream, black olives, chopped tomato, cilantro, sour cream, and avocado.

Nutrition

  • Calories487
  • Carbs41
  • Protein21
  • Fat27
  • Sodium1060
  • Fiber4
  • Sugar14