Homemade Chicken Enchilada Tamale Bake made with from scratch spicy cornbread, spicy pepper saute, chicken and cheese topped with homemade enchilada sauce. All natural and AMAZING.
About eight years ago I was on a new diet (Weight Watchers) and I had the pleasure of having a job that was … well, not something that would keep my attention. Luckily I also had the internet and an IT department that didn’t seem to mind my internet searches! So every opportunity I had I would research new healthier recipes and one day I came across a recipe for a Chicken Tamale Casserole from Cooking Light that sounded remarkably indulgent for a really low amount of points. So of course I went out and bought the ingredients. It was good, but so much of it had the vibe of a cake mix cake. You know what I mean, the cake is good but it tastes like it is clearly from a box mix? Would you gorge yourself on it while stress/drunk eating? YES. Would you choose it over a homemade dish? Nope.
So just like with my Five Ingredient Asian Peanut Noodles that were a revision of a ramen recipe, this dish was reimagined. I ditched the Jiffy mix in favor of homemade cornbread, ditched the can of enchilada sauce for my Best Homemade Enchilada Sauce and replaced the egg substitute with…..well… an egg? I’m all about using ingredients that I can pronounce and resemble what they started out as (unless they are Oreos. Don’t change Oreo, I love you just as you are 🙂 ) often as I can. So this version may have more ingredients, and it may take a little bit longer, but I can assure you there won’t even be a hint of “cake mix” to the dish.
Oh, and it is GOOOOOOOOD. I mean hoard it for yourself good. Made this for my clients all the time and had one that would request it every other week good. Both times I was pregnant I made this recipe in triplicate and put pans of it in our deep freeze. Served up with some delicious green rice (you can tune back in tomorrow for that recipe!) and you have a fantastic meal. Or maybe don’t double up on the starch. I have also served this dish pretty regularly with my Pico de Gallo Salad which is fat free and a nice bright flavor to cancel out all the heaviness of the cornbread and cheese.
Preheat oven to 400°. Combine the cumin, cayenne, cream style corn, flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, salt, 2 tablespoons canola oil, egg, milk and chiles in a bowl together. Whisk to combine. 
Pour into greased/nonstick 9×13 pan and bake for 15 minutes. While the cornbread is baking, put the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil, a teaspoon of cumin and a pinch of salt, oregano and cayenne in a saucepan with the onion, bell pepper and jalapeno on medium-high heat. 
Cook until just caramelized but still crisp. Poke holes in the top of the spicy cornbread and pour one cup of the sauce over it. 
Top with shredded chicken, the onion pepper mixture and the cup of cheese. 
All natural and AMAZING. Bake for an additional 15 minutes. 
Use the remaining cup of enchilada sauce and sour cream as a garnish. 
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne red pepper
- 1 (14 3/4-ounce) can cream-style corn
- 2/3 cup flour
- 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 (4-ounce) can chopped green chiles
- 2 cups Homemade Quick & Easy Enchilada Sauce
- 1/2 onion sliced
- 1/2 green bell pepper sliced
- 1 jalapeno sliced
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 pinch cayenne
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch oregano
- 2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 cup sharp white cheddar , grated
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°.
- Combine the cumin, cayenne, cream style corn, flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, salt, 2 tablespoons canola oil, egg, milk and chiles in a bowl together.
- Whisk to combine.
- Pour into greased/nonstick 9x13 pan and bake for 15 minutes.
- While the cornbread is baking, put the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil, a teaspoon of cumin and a pinch of salt, oregano and cayenne in a saucepan with the onion, bell pepper and jalapeno on medium-high heat.
- Cook until just caramelized but still crisp.
- Poke holes in the top of the spicy cornbread and pour one cup of the sauce over it.
- Top with shredded chicken, the onion pepper mixture and the cup of cheese.
- Bake for an additional 15 minutes.
- Use the remaining cup of enchilada sauce and sour cream as a garnish.
Notes
Nutrition
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Can you freeze this casserole?
Family loved this! What a great recipe my grandson gave both thumbs up and declared it a hit. He was hoping that there would be leftovers so that’s always a good sign. Thankyou
How well do you think this would freeze? I’d like to make two.
Should freeze fine.
I really loved it!!!!!
Just made it myself, as a side I cooked a green pepper sofrito rice!
Me encantó! La recomiendo!
Made this tonight just as written and it was fantastic!!! A definite do over in this household. You made reference to WW so wondered if you had the Smartpoint value or nutritional values so I can figure out points. Thank you!!!
Sorry this comment took so long to get to, it ended up in my spam filter somehow! Sorry I don’t have smart point values, it has been a while since I was in the WW world so it is not something I am up to speed on since I think they make yearly changes right?
This is brilliant! I love the ease of how you put everything together. Pinning to make later for my family!
Hope you love it Betsy!
We adore Mexican food and this one combines all the best. I love that it is in BAKE form for easy serving.
Seriously with two really little kids if I can put it in the oven, set a timer and forget about it I am all in.
ommggg this reminds me of home. my mom used to always sauteed onion and bell pepper and we totally loved it. sometimes she would even add mushrooms. #yummy
Mexican food is kind of the BEST! I love cooking dishes like this, and it looks really good!
Thanks! Our family really likes Mexican food too!
Yum! I’ve always thought that Tamale is a complicated dish to make. I’d like to try this.
Homemade tamales totally are. I have a tried and true recipe for some I use when the mood strikes. They take two days so I usually make 100 at a time. But this is a nice quick fix alternative, haha!
Ah, this is pure comfort! Looks so delicious, love it!
Thanks Kimberly!
Your enchilada dish looks yummy. But most of all I love what you did with the rice.
Thanks it goes live tomorrow! It is one of my favorites and in heavy rotation in our house 🙂
That looks so good! I think my family would really enjoy this for dinner!
Thanks Autumn!
This looks so delicious! I love enchiladas!
Thanks Stace 🙂
YUM! This look absolutely divine! My family love ENCHILADAS! I’ll have to make them.
Thanks Kristin! I hope you guys love them!
Oh yum, this is the perfect recipe to try your homemade enchilada sauce on. If this is as spicy as it looks, my boyfriend will love it.
Yes! We sometimes up the spice when the kids are having something different and use two jalapenos!
I will have to get the ingredients i need so i can make this for dinner this week. It looks so delicious and easy to make.
Hope you love it!
Chicken is my favorite meat to cook with. I am always looking for new chicken recipes. I will have to get what i need to try this on the weekend.
Hope you love it!
The Homemade Chicken Enchilada Tamale Bake looks so delicious. I love trying new recipes. I know this will be a big hit with my family.
Thanks Ann 🙂
This looks crazy simple, and crazy delicious! And this looks like dinner!!
Yay! Enjoy!
Wow! That looks so amazing. I will definitely be making some of this for dinner sometime this week!
Wonderful! I hope you love it!
I love dishes that combine Mexican flavors like this. Chicken is my favorite protein to work with!
Mine too! Except for a nice cast iron seared ribeye 😉
I totally know what you mean about tasting like a cake bake. Glad you came up with your own twist and that it came out great. Thanks for sharing.
YAY, glad that made sense outside my head, haha.
I would have never thought to pair cornbread with the enchiladas. Genius idea and so yummy!
It sounds a bit strange at first but it is soooo good.
How yummy is that?! Not hard to make either – love that!
Thanks 🙂
I love enchiladas! This looks like a wonderful dinner idea!
That whole plate looks delicious. I’ve never had an enchilada or tamale. So this would be a great choice, yes?
Yes!
What a great idea! I love how it combines two of my favorite foods – tamale and fajitas! Totally making this!
Awesome, hope you love it!
This looks so delicious! Such a classic and delicious meal!
That looks outstanding! I am trying to revamp our menu a lot to be a little more healthy. This would be PERFECT for a new meal that is not terrible for us!
Thanks! I hope you enjoy it!
homemade always beats the box for sure! what a delicious dish
Thanks! It made me regret ever getting store-bought!
Yummo! I love this. I’m a huge fan of Mexican food, and I’ve tried a few recipes before. I can’t wait to try this one, too.
Hope you love it!
I really should learn how to make corn bread and your recipe makes it sound so simple! I love this recipe! The flavours of everything sound so delicious!!
Thanks Kaitie it’s super easy!
We love Mexican food. A lot. I bet my kids would love this.
Spicy cheesy corn and chicken. Hard not to love haha