Tex-Mex Chicken Tamale Pie

May 14, 2023May 14, 20230 13
Tex-Mex Chicken Tamale Pie for a crowd-pleasing dinner
in Main

Prep

30 min

Cook

4 hours 30 min

Ready In

5 hours

Level

Difficult

Rating

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
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Ingredients

6 pounds bone-in chicken breasts
water to cover
1 can crushed tomatoes
1 onion , quartered
4 tomatillos - stemmed , husked , and halved ( optional )
3 cloves garlic , peeled
4 New Mexico dried red chile pods , stemmed and seeded
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 cup lard
1 cup masa harina
1 bag shredded Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese blend

Nutrision Information

Servings Per Recipe
8
Calories
630
Sugar
2g
Fat
36g
Tex-Mex Chicken Tamale Pie is a hearty and flavorful dish that combines the best elements of tamales and casseroles. This dish is perfect for a cozy family dinner or a casual get-together with friends. The chicken is slow-cooked with flavorful spices and then shredded, while the masa harina adds a delicious corn flavor to the pie. Topped with shredded cheese, this dish is sure to be a crowd-pleaser at any gathering.

Instructions

1.Add the chicken breasts, water, crushed tomatoes, onion, tomatillos, garlic, dried red chile pods, salt, cumin, and oregano to a large pot.
2.Bring to a boil and then reduce to a low simmer.
3.Cook for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is tender and falling off the bone.
4.Remove the chicken from the broth and shred the meat, discarding the bones.
5.Strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve, discarding the solids.
6.In a large mixing bowl, cream the lard until light and fluffy.
7.Gradually stir in the masa harina, mixing well.
8.Add the chicken broth to the masa mixture, a little bit at a time, until the mixture is the consistency of a thick cake batter.
9.Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
10.Spread half of the masa mixture in the bottom of a baking dish.
11.Layer the shredded chicken on top of the masa mixture.
12.Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the chicken.
13.Top the chicken and cheese with the remaining masa mixture.
14.Bake the tamale pie for 45-60 minutes, until the masa is cooked through and the cheese is bubbling and melted.

PROS

This Tex-Mex Chicken Tamale Pie is a crowd-pleaser that can easily feed a large group.

The chicken is flavorful and juicy, while the masa adds a delicious corn flavor to the dish.

CONS

This recipe takes a bit of time to make, as the chicken needs to cook for several hours before it can be shredded.

Additionally, the masa can be a bit tricky to work with if you’ve never used it before.

HEALTH & BENEFITS

While this recipe is not particularly healthy, it does contain some nutritional benefits.
Chicken is a great source of protein, while the cheese provides calcium.
Additionally, the masa used in this recipe is made from ground corn, which contains fiber and nutrients like vitamin C.

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