Spice up your mealtime with Pork Tamale Casserole, blending the simplicity of a casserole with the authentic, rich flavors of traditional tamales.
Today, I’m sharing a twist on my Chile Verde Chicken Tamale Casserole. With this delicious Pork Tamale Casserole, you can enjoy all of the wonderful, authentic flavors of pork tamales without all of the hard work!
We love to try out different recipes for dinner, but with it being so crazy at dinner time, I sometimes look for substitutes to make the process easier. And a casserole is definitely the way to go on a busy weeknight! I love serving this dish alongside my No-soak Instant Pot Pinto Beans, and Flavorful Spanish Rice!
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Tamale Casserole
- This Pork Tamale Pie has a warm, hearty texture and rich flavors that provide a sense of comfort, perfect for cozy family dinners.
- This Casserole recipe simplifies the usually complex tamale-making process.
- It’s a versatile dish and adaptable to various dietary preferences.
Recipe Ingredients
- Red Enchilada Sauce: Adds a tangy, slightly spicy kick and it brings moisture and cohesiveness to the casserole.
- Chili Powder: Imparts warmth and depth, contributing a subtle heat.
- Masa Harina: It offers a unique, slightly sweet corn flavor and a firm, comforting texture.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations
- Verde Sauce for Red Enchilada Sauce: Replacing Verde sauce with red enchilada sauce shifts the flavor from tangy and bright to deeper and slightly spicy.
- Monterey Jack for Colby Jack Cheese: Substituting Monterey Jack with Colby Jack cheese offers a similar creamy texture but with a slightly different, milder cheese flavor. Adding cheddar cheese can also be a great option for a sharper flavor to the mix.
How to Make Pork Tamale Casserole
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (204 degrees Celsius). Lightly grease or spray a 9×13-inch baking dish, and set aside.
Step 2: In a medium bowl, combine the pulled pork, enchilada sauce, chili powder, garlic powder, coriander, and paprika. Mix until combined.
Step 3: In the bowl of a food processor, combine the masa, salt, sugar, baking powder, pepper, butter, and 2 cups of corn. 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 casserole dish. Sprinkle with ¾ cup of cheese, then add the ground pork mixture. Sprinkle with another ¾ cup of cheese. Press the remaining tamale dough over the top.
Step 5: Cover with 1 cup of red enchilada sauce and the remaining 1 ½ cups of 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 fresh cilantro, if desired.
FAQs
Great topping options for Pork Tamale Casserole include diced tomatoes, sour cream, black olives, guacamole, diced green onions, bell pepper, jalapenos, and salsa. These toppings add variety and extra appeal to the dish.
Absolutely! While homemade sauce is great, it’s completely understandable to use a store-bought variety for convenience.
Storage Info
STORE the Pork Tamale Casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where it will stay good for up to 3-5 days. To FREEZE the leftovers, wrap the casserole or individual portions securely in plastic wrap and aluminum foil in a freezer. You can freeze them for up to 2 months.
To REHEAT, thaw overnight in the refrigerator if frozen, then warm it in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) until heated through, which typically takes about 20-30 minutes.
More Delicious Recipes
Pork Tamale Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
For the pork:
- 3 c. shredded pork
- 3/4 c. red enchilada sauce
- 1 tsp. chili powder
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon coriander
- 1/4 tsp. paprika
For the tamale dough:
- 3 c. masa harina*
- 2 tsp. coarse kosher sea salt
- 3 tablespoons 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 c. frozen corn - thawed, divided
- 2 – 2 1/4 c. low-sodium chicken broth- more if needed
Other:
- 3 c. grated colby jack cheese - divided
- 1 c. red 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, and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine the pork, enchilada sauce, chili powder, garlic powder, coriander, and paprika. Mix until combined.
- In the bowl of a food processor, combine the masa, salt, sugar, baking powder, pepper, butter, and 2 cups of corn. 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 pork filling. Sprinkle with another ¾ cup of cheese. Press the remaining tamale dough over the top.
- Cover with 1 cup of red enchilada sauce and the remaining 1 ½ cups of 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.
I made this for a lunch with co-workers. Everyone loved it and asked for the recipe. I did double the spices (except the red pepper flakes), but; I like things a little more flavourful than some people. I feel as though the filling could have some chopped onion and poblanos sauteed and added, too, I plan to make it again with shredded chicken and I will add the vegetables. I will probably add a full cup of enchilada sauce too. It was a tiny bite dry.
Hi Connie, so glad this was a success at work! Thanks for sharing your changes and recommendations!
I used a #12 cast iron skillet with 3/16ths of clearance left over. Not Enough! As the masa cooked it expanded and started dripping on the bottom of my oven. Had to slide a cookie sheet under it. On the plus side it added a smoky flavor!! Lol. Delicious! I received many complements. Thank You!
Add more oven time.. around +15 minuets, not sure if was the cast iron or not, but was under done in middle. Still great!
Cookie sheet to the rescue!
My kids and I looooove Mexican inspired cooking – this casserole was SO GOOD. Definitely one of our top 5 meals!
Breaking into a top 5 is a big deal – thanks!
This pork tamale casserole was absolutely wonderful and very tasty for dinner the other night! My family and I are obsessed with this recipe. My boys are begging to have this again! Can’t wait!
What a great excuse to have your boys help you make it again.
I feel like this is such a silly question, but do I cook the pork beforehand or do I put it in the recipe raw and it cooks fully in the oven?
No silly questions in cooking. This recipe is a quicker one so it uses already cooked and shredded pork as well as pre-made enchilada sauce. You can buy it cooked or make a big batch and use it in several recipes. Good luck!