Y'all, I love a quick and easy skillet dinner and when it's Tex-Mex? All the better!
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🗝️ Key takeaways
- This skillet beef tamales recipe is a filling and delicious one-pot meal the whole family will love!
- Ready in just 30 minutes, this easy dinner recipe is perfect for a quick weeknight meal.
- I recommend making the beef filling with 90% lean ground beef, so it's not too oily—just perfectly juicy!
With my easy recipe, y’all can enjoy the flavors of homemade tamales minus the hassle of messing with cornmeal dough and corn husks.
All you need are seven simple ingredients, a cast-iron skillet, and about a half-hour—a great recipe for busy weeknights!
🧾 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
📖 Variations
- Feel free to swap the lean ground beef with ground pork, chicken, or turkey. Or, use a combo if you have a little bit of something left to use up.
- I like to buy a bag of frozen bell pepper mix for faster prep. You can use freshly chopped red pepper, yellow pepper, and green pepper, too.
- Swap the salsa with my easy homemade red enchilada sauce recipe. You just need tomato sauce, ancho chiles, chicken broth, olive oil, garlic, white onion, bell pepper, and a few seasonings.
- Other melty cheeses work well in place of cheddar in this easy meal, like Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, Colby Jack, and mozzarella cheese.
- Want an extra spicy kick? Add some chili powder or canned green chiles.
- Depending on the flavors in your salsa, you may want to add a bit of salt and black pepper or red pepper flakes to your taste.
- Bulk up your meal even more by stirring in black beans or pinto beans.
🔪 Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page. Click on the image to see it full size.
Brown ground beef. Stir in frozen peppers, salsa, corn, and nacho cheese condensed soup.
Slice the corn tortillas into 1-inch squares and stir them in.
Reduce to medium heat, cover, and simmer for 10-15 minutes.
Add the shredded cheese and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
🎥 Video
🥫 How to store leftovers
Refrigerate leftover beef tamales in an airtight container for up to four days. Then, reheat leftovers in the microwave, oven, or on the stovetop until warm.
You can freeze skillet beef tamales in an airtight container for up to three months. Be sure to thaw frozen leftovers in the fridge before reheating.
Expert tip:
Haven't used your cast iron skillet in a while? Knock the dust off of it and make sure it's properly seasoned before you plan to cook!
💭 Things to know
- You'll need to brown the beef on medium-high heat in a large skillet. If you don't have one big enough, you can use a cast iron enameled Dutch oven in a pinch. However, I do recommend getting a nice skillet—ASAP!
- Crumble and break up the ground beef with a wooden spoon or a plastic ground meat chopper so it cooks evenly.
- If you end up using fattier ground beef (80% lean, for instance) you'll want to drain off some of the extra grease before adding the other ingredients.
- The beef is cooked through when it's no longer pink and reaches 160 F on an instant-read thermometer.
- Y’all know I’m a preacher of freshly grated cheese from a block. It tastes better, melts better, and is cheaper than pre-shredded cheese from the grocery store.
- Garnish your skillet beef tamales with a dollop of sour cream, extra salsa, guacamole, fresh cilantro, chopped red or green onion, sliced black olives, diced tomatoes, candied jalapenos, or a crumbled cornbread topping.
👩🍳 FAQs
Tamales are a traditional dish in Mexican cuisine made of masa (a dough made from dried corn) that’s filled with a seasoned meat mixture, cheese, veggies, and chilies. Then they’re individually wrapped in corn husks or banana leaves before being steamed or boiled.
I don’t recommend it. Flour tortilla strips will get super mushy and soggy in the sauce. Corn tortillas have a better texture and add more corn flavor to your skillet tamales.
Ground pork, chicken, or turkey are great alternatives to ground beef.
My favorite toppings for beef tamales are sliced jalapenos, black olives, sour cream, and cilantro. You could also add sliced green or red onion, diced tomatoes, and guacamole. If you love spicy Mexican food, add some sliced jalapenos, mole sauce, or hot chili sauce.
Some good side dish Mexican recipes that pair well with beef tamales are guacamole and tortilla chips, Mexican rice, refried beans, Mexican street corn (elote), and corn salad. Scroll down for more ideas!
Yep! Freeze leftover skillet beef tamales in an airtight container for up to three months. Thaw ‘em in the fridge before reheating.
You can also portion out skillet tamales into freezer-safe containers to make freezer meals in advance or to give out to friends and family.
📚 Related recipes
- Tamale Pie Casserole with Cornmeal is an easy tamale pie recipe that’s budget-friendly and great for big family dinners and potlucks.
- Layers of crunchy Nacho Cheese Doritos, taco ground beef, gooey cheese, and yummy veggies make Ground Beef Dorito Casserole an instant hit!
- One of my favorite Mexican recipes, Easy Beef Enchiladas features a flavorful homemade red enchilada sauce and takes just about a half-hour!
🍽️ Serve with...
Hearty Jalapeno Popper Corn Salad is full of fire-roasted corn, zesty jalapeno peppers, and cheese in a creamy dressing. It's the perfect side dish for any Tex-Mex meal!
Lime White Chocolate Tres Leches Cake is soaked in a white chocolate and milk mixture, then topped with rum and white chocolate-flavored whipped cream.
After the kids go to bed, sip on a Frozen Tropical Margarita Recipe with Sweet Chile Rim—the tropical fruit flavors and sweet-smoky chipotle rim are absolutely delicious!
📞 The last word
I don't know about you, but when I'm done for the day, the last thing I want to do is cook anything more complex than a hot dog. That's why I love easy recipes like this skillet beef tamale casserole!
It goes together fast and easy, dinner's on the table before my energy completely runs out, and everyone likes it. To me that's a winning combo!!
Recipe inspired by Taste of Home.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please comment below and give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Skillet Beef Tamales
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef, 90% lean
- 1 cup frozen bell pepper mix
- 2 cups salsa
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 10.5 ounces Campbell's Fiesta Nacho Cheese condensed soup
- 6 corn tortillas, halved and cut into 1-inch squares
- 1 cup cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Cook beef in a large skillet coated with cooking spray over medium heat. Cook for 6-8 minutes or until beef is no longer pink and measures 160 on an instant read thermometer. Be sure to crumble and break up as you cook.
- Stir in frozen peppers, salsa, corn, and soup; bring to a simmer.
- Stir in tortilla strips.
- Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 10-15 minutes or until tortillas are softened.
- Sprinkle with cheese; cook, covered, 2-3 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
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