Chicken Tamale Casserole Recipe - 7 Points | LaaLoosh (2024)

CHICKEN TAMALE CASSEROLE RECIPE

A Mexican tamale in casserole form, this is one incredibly delicious meal. Perfect idea for a busy weeknight dinner, it’s a snap to prepare.

Nutrition

Calories: 327 kcal (16%)Carbohydrates: 44 g (15%)Protein: 20.4 g (41%)Fat: 7.6 g (12%)Saturated Fat: 1.6 g (10%)Cholesterol: 63 mg (21%)Sodium: 1087 mg (47%)Potassium: 289 mg (8%)Fiber: 3.4 g (14%)Sugar: 8.2 g (9%)Calcium: 60 mg (6%)Iron: 2 mg (11%)

37 Comments

1. Stephanie9 years ago

   I’m entering this into my Recipe Builder now on the WW website, and I subbed in the Jiffy corn muffin mix, and I can’t seem to work it out to less than 8 Points Plus per serving! Is the difference in the mix? What could be causing this?

   • Stephanie9 years ago

     Let me add that I’m a huge fan and I make a ton of your casseroles — I usually make them on the weekends and freeze a few so I can “cook once, eat all week (and beyond)!”

2. Michelle M9 years ago

   Should the bottom be baked all the way through when it comes out…mine is still rather liquidy…should it have a cornbread texture?

   • Dawn8 years ago

     I have the same question. Making it now. I’m putting it in for a bit longer

3. Jill9 years ago

   Hi there! your site is sooo amazing! I just started WW and your site is so helpful. Just want to ask can i use regular canned enchilada for this? or the one you used has better nutritional facts?
   Thanks!

4. Shelley9 years ago

   Fantastic! Thanks for such a fabulous recipe!

5. Danielle9 years ago

   I know this recipe was posted ages ago, but I just discovered it recently. I had to stop back by and tell you that my family LOVES it. I’ve made it 3 times in the last month and it is always a hit! What a nice weight watcher friendly crowd pleaser. And a bonus, with just chicken and cornbread (always on hand) this is an easy and economical meal as well!

6. chris9 years ago

   I thank you for all your great recipes and many times I take your recipes and make them my own. I can’t imagine somebody getting upset and writing such a thing. Amanda (must be young) must not know how to variate in cooking at all. Happy holidays

7. gina10 years ago

   Can I make it gluten free. Not sure if corn bread is gluten free

8. Meghan10 years ago

   This was the inspiration for Tamale Tuesday at our house! Everyone raved over this delicious casserole. NOM NOM!

9. Amy miller10 years ago

   I think my husband will like this. Question though, can I substitute with a homemade cornbread somehow? I have a lot of cornmeal to use up. Would I basically just mix up a homemade recipe and add it like I would a mix? Thanks for being awesome.

   • LaaLooshPost Author10 years ago

     See Also

     Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Recipe

     Yes….just create the dry homemade mix, and you can use that.

10. max10 years ago

    This recipe is absolutely delicious! Can you give me a breakdown of calories per ingredient? I can’t get my 8 serving’ s below 290. Thanks

11. max10 years ago

    This recipe is absolutely delicious! Can you give me a breakdown of calories per ingredient? I can’t get my 8 serving’ s below 290. Thanks!

12. Arkilia10 years ago

    Can you use jiffy corn bread mix, and can you use the package enchilada sauce?

    • LaaLooshPost Author10 years ago

      Yes, absolutely!

13. Cindy Perkins10 years ago

    I sprinkled some fresh cilantro and green onion. We loved it thank you for this recipe it is a keeper!

14. Cindy Perkins10 years ago

    I spinkled some fresh cilantro and green onion. We loved it thank you for this recipe it is a keeper!

15. Michelle10 years ago

    I picked up the Trader Joe’s cornbread mix and as I started making the recipe, I realized it’s a 15 oz. package. Do you just weigh out 8oz? What do you do with the rest, if anything? Thanks

    • LaaLooshPost Author10 years ago

      Yes, I used a for scale to weigh it out. I actually just ended up using the rest of it when I made the casserole again about 2 weeks later…even though it was a bit less than 8oz, it still worked out just fine :). So, if you wanted, you could just divide the box in half to make the recipe twice.

    • Teresa8 years ago

      Thank you for asking this question!!! :)

16. Rachel10 years ago

    Kind of a goofy question but can you use regular eggs instead of the egg substitute?

    • LaaLooshPost Author10 years ago

      Yes, absolutely! I just use the egg beaters instead of actual eggs because it eliminates extra fat and cholesterol.

17. Debbie10 years ago

    Thank you so much for another DELICIOUS looking recipe!!! I ordered my sauce and cornbread mix today, so hoping to make this one next week :) I haven’t tried one of your recipes yet that I don’t like, so I’m very confident this one will be another winner!! Thank you so much for taking the time and energy to share with us!!

18. Lyndy10 years ago

    I made this last night and I CANNOT TELL YOU ENOUGH how amazingly delicious it was! Thank you so much!

19. Sheri10 years ago

    Hi Wendy – I am wondering if you can make this ahead of time and then just heat up? I’ve never had tamales so don’t know if the crust will get too soggy? I’d like to make it for a friend and her family, but didn’t know if I should assemble it or just have the crust and everything ready and she can assemble. Thanks!! BTW – LOVE the site and I enjoy your Friday Finds. I have tried many of the products you share.

    • LaaLooshPost Author10 years ago

      Hmmmmm…good question! I’ve reheated next day leftovers on this before with no problem whatsoever, so I’m guessing that it would be fine. Glad you are liking the recipes…thanks so much for reading!

      • Sheri10 years ago

        Thanks for the reply. I made it last night and made a pan for my parents (gave it to them un-assembled). My husband and I loved it as did my parents. My boys (6 & 12), however, took a few bites and were done – more for me :-).

20. Amanda10 years ago

    Ripping off another Emily Bites recipe without any credit… I’ve seen you do this so many times. Your recipe/word choice is way too similar to be a coincidence. I saw you do the same thing with her buffalo wing hummus recipe.

    • LaaLooshPost Author10 years ago

      Amanda…I think you may be mistaking me for someone else. I have never posted a Buffalo Wing Hummus recipe. And as for the Tamale Casserole Recipe, there are TONS of them online…and they all are very similar. That being said, I looked at the one on Emily Bites and it is identical to the one on Cooking Light, so…yeah. My version is similar, but still a little different.

    • Ms. Lee10 years ago

      Amanda, LaaLoosh is right… there are so many versions of this recipe, going back to the 80s when my mom would make it for me! Come on now, recipe mods, borrowing, and inspiration happen so often now because of the internet. I’ve seen GIna from Skinnytaste post many versions of LaaLoosh’s recipes, but I don’t hear LaaLoosh crying and bitching about it. It is what it is, and intention is everything.. your anger is misplaced. That being said, I can’t wait to try this lightened up version… it’l take me back to my childhood. Thanks, LaaLoosh, for everything you do.

    • Mandi10 years ago

      I have to agree with Ms. Lee. I have seen lots of versions of everyone’s recipes all over the net. If you like Emily Bites site so much maybe you should stick with getting your cooking inspiration from their and stop trolling Laaloosh. I am glad to have a place to come find lighten versions of recipes that actually taste good. Thank you Laaloosh!

21. Angie B10 years ago

    Where did you find the enchilada sauce? I haven’t seen that one before although I have heard of Frontera.

    • LaaLooshPost Author10 years ago

      Got mine at Whole Foods.

      • Pamela10 years ago

        You can order is from Amazon!

    • Sheri10 years ago

      I found the Frontera brand at Rainbow Foods (Roundy’s). Probably a Midwest store. I found a another brand at the other local grocery store. I made a pan for my parents with the “other” brand and they loved it so I would try any brand of sauce you can find.

22. Connie10 years ago

    This was so delicious and pantry friendly. My 2 year old and four year old ate it too. I just omitted the jalapenos and substituted red bell pepper.