Budín de Tamal (Tamale Casserole)

Budín de Tamal (Tamale Casserole)

Serves 8
Budin de Tamal (which translates to “tamale pudding”) is a savory casserole featuring cooked tamales layered with ingredients like chicken, salsa, and Mexican crema. It’s super easy to assemble and pop in the oven for a hot, delicious meal.

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds chicken tamales (see cook's tips)
  • 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
  • 1 cup prepared salsa verde
  • 1/4 cup Mexican crema (see cook's tips)
  • 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Optional Ingredients

  • Chopped cilantro

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Grease an 8-inch casserole dish. Cut tamales crosswise into 1-inch thick slices. Lay half of them in a single layer on bottom of baking dish.
  3. Layer ingredients, spreading evenly, as follows: 1 cup chicken, 1/2 cup salsa, 2 tablespoons crema, 1 cup cheese, remaining tamale slices, chicken, salsa, crema, and cheese.
  4. Cover casserole with aluminum foil. Bake 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 5 to 10 minutes. Cheese should be golden and bubbly, and interior should be hot. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro, if desired.

Cook’s Tips

If you are using frozen tamales, defrost before preparing casserole.

If Mexican crema isn't available, stir 2 to 3 tablespoons water into 1/4 cup sour cream as a substitute.