So good! Next time, I will make 1 1/2 x recipe for the topping.

Back in the 1960's a dear friend left this tamale pie, ready to bake, on our front porch with a salad and garlic bread. We were just moving in to our first fixer upper home and sanding kitchen cabinets, washing down walls. So, to see this total dinner for us waiting there on our porch was the best "house warming" gift anyone could have given us. This recipe has been prepared at least 100 times in our home since then with loving memories of our dear friend every time. A family favorite. The spoon bread is amazing!!

I love this tamale pie recipe! A friend made this dish as part of a meal train during my sister's recovery from surgery. We had never had or even heard of tamale pie. Since then we've both made this recipe over and over. The dish is easy to modify as it can can easily be made with different vegetables like zucchini or any squash, pasilla peppers, colored bell peppers, carrots, green chiles... whatever you like. I always use frozen corn instead of canned and double the topping because I like a thick layer. The extra topping also allows you to make a mini casserole at the same time if there is a meat/veggie mixture overflow. Leftovers freeze well.