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    Home » Gluten Free » Keto Tamale Pie

    Published: Jan 20, 2021 · Modified: Jan 21, 2021 by Carolyn

    Keto Tamale Pie

    This post may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    6.6K shares
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    This keto tamale pie is sure to satisfy those Mexican food cravings! Richly seasoned ground beef topped with a grain-free coconut and almond flour crust. And plenty of cheese too! It’s an easy and delicious low carb dinner recipe.

    A plate of keto tamale casserole over a colourful napkin, in front of the skillet with the rest of the casserole.

    This easy keto tamale pie is a wonderful dinner recipe with all the great flavors of real tamales. You won’t miss the corn, I promise! And I’ve given it a little update so now it’s even meatier and lower in carbs.

    My family adores Mexican inspired recipes, and tamale pie is no exception. A few others that they love and willingly gobble down include my famous Keto Taco Pie, and Keto Mexican Cauliflower Rice.

    I do believe that a little bit of ground beef, some taco seasoning, and plenty of melty cheese may be the way to my kids’ hearts!

    Tasting real tamales for the first time

    The first time I tasted real tamales was at Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico. I have to admit, I’ve had some interesting experiences in my day.

    After I finished my BA at the University of British Columbia, I was offered an internship at an archaeological center in southwestern Colorado, right in the heart of the Four Corners region. This was actually where I met my husband, who had just finished up his own internship and liked the place so much he took a job working at their front desk.

    We made a day trip to Zuni Pueblo for a Feast Dance, and were honoured to be invited into the homes to take part in the feast. We were plied with food and drink, and it was there that I first spotted the corn-husk wrapped tamales.

    Canadian-born Gringa that I was, I had absolutely no idea what they were. But one taste of a real tamal and it was love at first bite. From thence forward, I ordered them every chance I got.

    Top down image of keto tamale pie in a cast iron skillet on a white table.

    Easy keto tamale casserole

    Fast forward about a decade and diabetes put tamales on the naughty list for me. All that lovely steamed corn dough is not exactly diabetes-friendly. But I have since discovered that coconut flour can be made to taste quite a bit like cornbread. Add a little corn extract or cornbread flavor and it’s quite an acceptable facsimile. My keto cornbread recipe is extremely popular for that very reason.

    By all accounts, it’s a lot of work to make real tamales, carefully filling the corn husks, wrapping them, and steaming to tender perfection. Very few of us are up to the challenge on a busy weeknight.

    But we can get the same great flavours in a keto tamale pie. Simply cook some ground beef or pork with spices, top it with some faux cornbread, and bake it all in the same pan, and you have a delicious low carb dinner in under an hour.

    I apologize to my Pueblo friends for the lack of authenticity. All that really matters is that it tastes good, right? It’s a new family favourite in our house!

    A slice of keto tamale pie on a white plate over a striped napkin

    How to make keto tamale pie

    Brown the ground meat: You can use all ground beef, or a mix of ground beef and ground pork. You could even use ground turkey in this recipe. You want to cook it until it’s no longer pink but you don’t want to let it become too dry.

    What seasonings to use? I used an organic taco seasoning blend I get at a nearby grocer. But you can always make your own or you can grab this healthy taco seasoning from Primal Palate. Whatever you use, be sure to check your labels for fillers and sugars.

    I also amped up the heat and flavour with an additional tablespoon of chili powder and some chopped jalapeno. Those additions are optional, depending on your tastes.

    A little tomato paste and water helps make the filling nice and saucy but not too wet. Then top that lovely spicy filling with some shredded cheese, if so desired.

    Keto cornbread topping: You might recognize this mixture as similar to my keto cornbread recipe. And you would be right. Coconut flour with a little almond flour and a little sweetener makes an excellent grain-free “cornbread”.

    Spread the topping over the filling, all the way to the edges. In essence, you want to seal the juicy fillings into the pan before baking. Then simply bake until the topping is golden brown and firm.

    Serve with your favorite toppings! We love it with sour cream and some chopped tomatoes and avocado.

    Keto Tamale Pie is a healthy and easy family friendly meal!

    More delicious keto Mexican recipes

    • Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice
    • Easy Keto Enchilada Skillet
    • Keto Mexican Shredded Beef
    • Keto Carnitas
    • Keto Albondigas Soup
    • Keto Paleo Burrito Bowls

    Keto Tamale Pie

    This keto tamale pie is sure to satisfy those Mexican food cravings! Richly seasoned ground beef topped with a grain-free coconut and almond flour crust. And plenty of cheese too! It's an easy and delicious low carb dinner recipe.
    4.92 from 25 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Keyword: keto tamale pie, tamale casserole, tamale pie
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 55 minutes
    Cooling Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
    Servings: 10 servings
    Calories: 387kcal

    Ingredients

    • 2 lb ground beef or pork
    • Salt and pepper
    • 3 tablespoon taco seasoning
    • 1 tablespoon chili powder (optional)
    • 1 medium jalapeno, seeded and minced (optional)
    • 2 tablespoon tomato paste
    • ½ cup water
    • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
    • ½ cup coconut flour
    • ¼ cup almond flour
    • 2 teaspoon baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 3 large eggs
    • 6 tablespoon butter melted
    • ⅛ teaspoon cornbread flavor (optional)
    • ¼ to ½ cup water
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 325F.
    • In a 10-inch oven-proof skillet set over medium heat, brown the ground beef with a little salt and pepper until mostly cooked through, breaking up any clumps with the back of a wooden spoon. Stir in the the taco seasoning, chili powder, and jalapeno.
    • In a small bowl, whisk the tomato paste with the water until well combined. Pour over the beef and stir in, then remove from heat. Sprinkle with the shredded cheese.
    • In a large bowl, whisk the coconut flour, almond flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the eggs, butter, and cornbread flavor until well combined.
    • Add the water a little a time until the batter is thick but spreadable.
    • Dollop the batter over the beef in the pan. Use a knife or an offset spatula to spread over the top and to the edges.
    • Bake 30 to 40 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the top is firm to the touch. Remove and let cool 10 minutes before serving.

    Video

    Nutrition Facts
    Keto Tamale Pie
    Amount Per Serving (1 serving = 1/10th of recipe)
    Calories 387 Calories from Fat 256
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 28.4g44%
    Cholesterol 153mg51%
    Carbohydrates 5.7g2%
    Fiber 2.8g11%
    Protein 22.4g45%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

     

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    Nutritional Disclaimer

    Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.

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    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. ABS81 says

      March 15, 2022 at 7:49 pm

      What is your favorite brand of corn extract? I can’t wait to make this!

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        March 16, 2022 at 6:22 pm

        I’ve only ever used the one-on-one flavors brand.

        Reply
    2. Franny says

      March 09, 2022 at 10:48 am

      5 stars
      This Tamale Pie is amazing. Loved the topping. Making the Almond Ricotta cake today, can’t wait!

      Reply
    3. Wendy says

      December 30, 2021 at 10:21 pm

      5 stars
      Great dinner! It has a lot of flavor and is a refreshing change of pace.

      Reply
    4. Judy Cottingham says

      August 22, 2021 at 8:20 am

      5 stars
      My husband and I made this last week. It is even better than I expected. I seem to be the one who always notices the coconut flour, but I am happy to say that the texture and flavor of this dish was just right for us. Thank you, Carolyn, for sharing this recipe!

      Reply
    5. Kris Downs says

      August 10, 2021 at 9:32 pm

      5 stars
      I made this today for my hubby and I. Even though he is not Keto, he approved of this. I cut the recipe down to 4 servings and will definitely make it again. I used the corn extract and added a dash of cayenne to kick it up a bit. So yummy.

      Reply
    6. Marianne Saint George says

      August 09, 2021 at 9:12 am

      5 stars
      Fantastic! I have missed tamale pie. Your recipe was super simple and I used my corn extract for the time time with it. I have been missing out!

      Thanks!

      Reply
    7. Deborah M Kloss says

      March 30, 2021 at 5:44 pm

      5 stars
      Wonderful! Thank you for the great recipe! I highly recommend trying this out.

      Reply
    8. Betsy says

      March 10, 2021 at 3:19 pm

      5 stars
      So delicious! My whole family gobbled this up and asked for more! Loved this! Love that it’s keto!

      Reply
    9. katerina @ diethood.com says

      March 10, 2021 at 2:44 pm

      5 stars
      This sounds incredibly delicious!! I can’t wait to try it!

      Reply
    10. Eden says

      March 10, 2021 at 12:22 pm

      5 stars
      Yum! This really turned out so good and we all loved it! Can’t wait to make it again.

      Reply
    11. staci owen says

      March 02, 2021 at 12:38 pm

      New to the Low Carb family. On your Nutritional Facts when it says Carbohydrates 5.7 am I to substract the fiber to get the net carbs and is this for all your recipes?

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        March 02, 2021 at 3:16 pm

        Yes, but please also read the nutritional disclaimer at the bottom of every post for how I treat Swerve/erythritol.

        Reply
    12. Niamh says

      January 30, 2021 at 12:12 am

      5 stars
      Made this tonight. So good. Perfect amount of spice. Served with shredded cabbage and Pico de Gallo. Will definitely makes this again! Thank you!

      Reply
    13. Wendy Mathis says

      January 23, 2021 at 4:53 pm

      5 stars
      This is delicious! I’m eating some right now. It’s comfort food that you can eat again and again. The flavor was really good. I wondered it might be bland, but the spices were perfect. I plan to make this again soon. I think it will freeze well too. I saw someone else made it with chicken. I think that’s a great idea, and I will try that too.

      Reply
    14. Karen George says

      January 23, 2021 at 4:50 pm

      Ok – I’m making this for the first time and it’s in the oven now – can’t wait! I have a few questions, though. In the recipe you say 2 tsps baking powder but in the video you say 2 TBSPs. I hope it’s really tsps? Also, my cornbread mixture was barely enough to cover the 2 pounds of meat – what size cast iron skillet did you use? Finally – people in the comments are asking about almond milk – I didn’t see anything about it in the recipe – did I miss something? Thx!

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        January 23, 2021 at 6:08 pm

        Aw crud, did I say 2 tbsp? I didn’t catch that, sorry. It’s 2 tsp. In the recipe and the video, I do believe I specify a 10 inc skillet. And the almond milk is no longer, since it’s an updated recipe. Look at the date stamp on some of those old comments… 🙂

        Reply
        • Karen George says

          January 24, 2021 at 9:51 pm

          5 stars
          Thanks so much – it was DELICIOUS!

          Reply
    15. Gerrie says

      January 23, 2021 at 9:09 am

      OMGfantastic! This was ez and amazing. I made 1/2 a recipe. Having a piece for breakfast with an egg on top and some salsa and cheese! Thank tou

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        January 23, 2021 at 2:20 pm

        Ooooh breakfast! I like your style.

        Reply
    16. Lori Kaumans says

      January 21, 2021 at 10:15 am

      This looks so good, I’m trying it tonight! This weekend I’m trying your sheet pan jambalaya. Thanks for all the work your put into your recipes. They are always so good! And I loved reading your story about Pueblo. 🙂

      Reply
    17. Ana Robin says

      December 16, 2020 at 9:59 pm

      Oh, wow… this dish is wonderful. The kiddos LOVE IT! I used 2 cans of chicken instead of beef or pork. Oh so good! I was hesitant about the sweetener, but it was amazing. Thank you for a new recipe now added to my repertoire.

      Reply
    18. Kathy Cooke says

      December 03, 2020 at 11:31 pm

      5 stars
      Wow, we absolutely loved this! Quick to make! Baked for 40 minutes to a lovely golden brown. I added in 100g of chopped onions and fried until translucent before adding the beef, followed by three minced garlic cloves. I only used a pound of ground beef and made my own taco seasoning to go with it. The crust was great. Served with guacamole, salsa, and sour cream. Perfect!

      Reply
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