Total Time
Prep: 15 min. Cook: 6 hours

By Joy Manning
Recipe by Patricia Nieh, Portola Valley, California
Tested by Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Taste of Home’s Editorial Process
Updated on Jul. 01, 2025

California tamale pie is everything you want from a slow-cooker supper: tender, packed with spiced meat and creamy cornmeal, and pulled together by plenty of melted cheese. The ground-beef base is seasoned with cumin and chili powder, then mixed with chunky salsa, black beans, sweet corn and briny olives. As the cornmeal mixture cooks, it thickens into something like creamy polenta. It’s hearty without being heavy, with a texture that lands somewhere between casserole and chili.

The real magic happens in the last few minutes, when a layer of Monterey Jack melts over the top. Add a dollop of sour cream and a few fresh jalapeno slices, and the whole dish sharpens. It’s a weeknight dinner that doesn’t need babysitting, makes the kitchen smell incredible, and rewards you with a scoopable, saucy meal that’s even more satisfying the next day.

California Tamale Pie Ingredients

• Beef broth
• Cornmeal
• Ground beef
• Chili powder
• Ground cumin
• Chunky salsa
• Whole kernel corn
• Black beans
• Ripe olives
• Monterey Jack cheese
• Sour cream
• Fresh jalapeno slices

Taste of Home