Mini Tamale Pies Recipe
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Tamale pie is an American invention that rearranges traditional tamale ingredients into casserole form. Here we make individual-size pies using a muffin pan rather than a large baking dish. If you happen to have any leftover, these taste even better the next day.
What to buy: Masa harina is dried, powdered masa (dried corn that has been cooked and soaked in limewater, then ground while wet); we like Maseca brand, an instant slaked cornmeal. It’s widely available in Latin markets or the ethnic aisle of many grocery stores, and yields consistent results.
Game plan: If you don’t have a 12-well muffin pan, you can use two 6-well muffin pans; just be sure to bake them side by side in the oven.
This recipe was featured as part of our story on hand-held meals you can make in a muffin pan.
For the crust:
- 1 1/2 cups masa harina
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
For the filling:
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium yellow onion, small dice (about 1 cup)
- 2 medium garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 (15-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more as needed
To assemble:
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (about 3 ounces)
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
- Heat the oven to 350°F and arrange a rack in the middle.
- Place all of the ingredients in a medium bowl and mix well with your hands until combined (the dough should hold together when squeezed in your hand).
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set aside.
For the filling:
- Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the beef, season with salt and pepper, and break the meat into small pieces with a spoon. Cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through, about 4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon to a medium bowl and set aside.
- Reduce the heat to medium and add the onion and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens, about 4 minutes.
- Add the vinegar and stir to combine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle in the paprika, oregano, cumin, and cayenne and stir until incorporated. Cook until the spices are fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Return the beef to the pan, add the tomatoes, broth, and measured salt and pepper, and stir to combine. Cook until the mixture simmers, about 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly, about 7 minutes more. Remove the pan from the heat, taste, and season with additional salt and pepper as needed; set aside.
To assemble:
- Remove the plastic wrap from the bowl of masa. Divide the masa evenly among the wells of a 12-well muffin pan (about 1 rounded tablespoon per well).
Using your fingers, press the masa evenly into a thin layer on the bottom and up the sides of each well (the mixture may feel dry to the touch). 
- Evenly divide the filling among the masa-lined wells.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and evenly sprinkle the shredded cheese over the filling. Return the pan to the oven and bake until the cheese is melted and the filling is bubbling, about 10 minutes more.
- Remove the pan to a wire rack and let it cool for 5 minutes. Run a small knife around the perimeter of each well to loosen and remove the pies. Top each tamale pie with a dollop of sour cream, sprinkle with cilantro, and serve.
Midcity, We never actually froze the pies here in the test kitchen, but I would suggest freezing them after cooking and then reheating them on a baking sheet in the oven set at 325F. Hope that helps, and please post to let us know how it works out! Thanks, Lisa CHOW Test Kitchen
I like the concept, especially since you can make them as appetizers. I make mini-tamales for apps and they're a LOT of work but of course they look amazing when you serve them. The mini tamale pies seem like a good option and easier to handle when eating but I'm wondering about the taste and texture, which is what you get when steaming in banana leaves or corn husks. I'll try them!
Do we think these might be freezer-friendly?