Experience the joy of home-cooked perfection with our Chicken Tamale Casserole, blending the classic tamale taste with an effortless, delicious twist!
I love this Chicken Tamale Casserole because it is packed with flavor and is easy enough to make on a weeknight. The filling is easy to put together by simply adding pulled chicken, chicken broth, chile verde sauce, cilantro and garlic powder to a large skillet to simmer while you prepare the tamale dough. Then bake and voila, a delicious meal at your fingertips!
This is a family favorite recipe as is my Pork Tamale Casserole which we love serving alongside my Mexican Corn on the Cob, and Black Beans and Rice.
Table of Contents
What is Masa Harina?
Masa harina is the traditional flour used to make tortillas, tamales, and other Mexican dishes. The flour is made from dried masa, a dough from specially treated corn.
It is not the same thing as cornmeal, so don’t substitute it and think you’ll get the same flavor, texture, or consistency. You can find masa harina at most well-stocked grocery stores, usually in the ‘ethnic‘ food aisle.
Recipe Ingredients
- Chile Verde Enchilada Sauce: This sauce adds a tangy, slightly spicy kick.
- Masa Harina: The foundation of the tamale dough, masa harina contributes a unique, slightly sweet corn flavor.
- Roasted Poblanos: They provide a smoky, mildly spicy flavor, adding depth and a slight heat to the dish.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Chicken Tamale Casserole
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (204 degrees Celsius). Lightly grease or spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray, and set it aside.
Step 2: In a large skillet set over medium-low heat, add the chicken, broth, sauce, cilantro, and garlic powder. Heat while preparing the remaining ingredients, stirring occasionally.
Step 3: In the bowl of a food processor, combine the masa, salt, sugar, baking powder, pepper, butter, 2 cups of corn, and poblanos. Process or pulse until a coarse meal forms. Add chicken broth and process or pulse until the mixture reaches a thick peanut butter consistency. More broth (or water) may be required. Fold in the remaining 1 cup of corn.
Step 4: Press half of the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Sprinkle with ¾ cup of cheese, then add the chicken filling. Sprinkle with another ¾ cup of cheese. Press the remaining tamale dough over the top.
Step 5: Cover with 1 cup of chile verde sauce and the remaining 1 ½ cup cheese. Place a piece of foil over the top and place in the oven to bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and cook for an additional 10 minutes. Top with cilantro, if desired.
FAQs
Yes, you can certainly substitute cheddar cheese or any other cheese you prefer. Just note that it could slightly change the overall flavor of the dish.
Yes, fresh masa is a great alternative. It gives the dough a more authentic flavor and texture.
Storage Info
STORE the Chicken Tamale Casserole in an airtight container in the fridge, where it will remain fresh for up to 3 days. You can also FREEZE it for up to 3 months, ensuring it’s well-wrapped or in a freezer-safe container.
To REHEAT, thaw it in the refrigerator if frozen, then warm it in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) until heated through, which typically takes about 20 minutes. Avoid microwaving to preserve the texture of the tamale dough.
Side Dishes to Pair With This Tamale Casserole
Chicken Tamale Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
For the chicken:
- 1 rotisserie chicken - pulled (about 4 cups)
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup chile verde enchilada sauce
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
For the tamale dough:
- 3 cup masa harina*
- 2 tsp coarse kosher sea salt
- 3 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/8 tsp ground black pepper
- 12 Tbsp unsalted butter - cold and cut into 12 pieces
- 3 cup frozen corn - thawed, divided
- 2-4 Tbsp roasted poblanos - depending on how spicy you want it
- 2 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth- more if needed
Other:
- 3 cup grated monterey jack cheese - divided
- 1 cup chile verde enchilada sauce
- 2 Tbsp cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (204 degrees Celsius). Lightly grease or spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray, and set it aside.
- In a large skillet set over medium-low heat, add the chicken, broth, sauce, cilantro, and garlic powder. Heat while preparing the remaining ingredients, stirring occasionally.
- In the bowl of a food processor, combine the masa, salt, sugar, baking powder, pepper, butter, 2 cups of corn, and poblanos. Process or pulse until a coarse meal forms. Add chicken broth and process or pulse until the mixture reaches a thick peanut butter consistency. More broth (or water) may be required. Fold in the remaining 1 cup of corn.
- Press half of the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Sprinkle with ¾ cup of cheese, then add the chicken filling. Sprinkle with another ¾ cup of cheese. Press the remaining tamale dough over the top.
- Cover with 1 cup of chile verde sauce and the remaining 1 ½ cup cheese. Place a piece of foil over the top and place in the oven to bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and cook for an additional 10 minutes. Top with cilantro, if desired.
Love the use of the masa harina. Very authentic taste. Can this be made a couple days ahead of time? Or any portion of the recipe made ahead of time? I’m super busy during the week, so it would be great to come home and just pop this casserole in the oven.
Hi Lisa,
Yes, you can make portions of this Chicken Tamale Casserole ahead of time to simplify your busy schedule. Here are some tips:
Making Ahead
Chicken Filling:
Prepare the chicken filling (chicken, broth, sauce, cilantro, garlic powder) and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Tamale Dough:
You can prepare the tamale dough and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. When ready to use, allow it to come to room temperature before assembling the casserole.
Assembling the Casserole:
You can assemble the entire casserole up to the point before baking, cover it tightly with foil, and refrigerate it for up to 2 days. When ready to bake, allow the casserole to sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before placing it in the oven. You may need to add an extra 5-10 minutes to the baking time since it will be cold from the refrigerator.
Freezing
Freezing Assembled Casserole:
You can also freeze the assembled, unbaked casserole. Wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and then with aluminum foil. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and then bake as directed, adding additional time if needed.
What is the nutritional information based on? A single serving?
Hi Barbara, yes, 1 serving. I have updated the calculation to be based on 8 servings instead of 6, since this recipe makes enough for 8.
It is a fabulous recipe thank you.
This took much longer in the oven then the recipe stated. I have a large food processor but it couldn’t handle those quantities so I did it in my kitchenaid instead. A bit too mushy for me but I like the concept and will play around with the recipe because the taste was there. I used left over carnitas I had.
This recipe was a good jump off point. I tweaked it to my own preferences and it was wonderful. I LOVE tamales but hate the time consuming effort of making them.
I subbed lard for butter and used close to 3 cups of broth in the masa. The tamale layer came out perfect.
For the chicken filling I used thighs as that is what I had. I pressure cooked the chicken with 4 cloves of garlic and 1 jar of salsa Verde.
I had to reduce the spiciness and dairy due to dietary restrictions so I omitted the poblano and only used cheese on top.
I will definitely be making this again.
Hi Tanya, thanks for sharing your changes!