Wanna be creative with the stuffing for the Thanksgiving feast? Try adding the traditional mesoamerican flavors of Tamale dressing to it. It’s a delicious dressing filled with intense flavors and fresh veggies. If you haven’t tried it before, then try it for Thanksgiving dinner and trust me, you won’t be disappointed. 

If you’ve ever been to Arizona or any South-western region, you might know that tamales have a special spot on their Thanksgiving and Christmas menu. It’s a masa (dough) filled with flavorful meat and wrapped in banana leaf. There are several dishes for tamales, but tamale dressing is my favorite. It’s an amazing side dish and goes well with the Thanksgiving turkey. You can enjoy it with any other Thanksgiving dish as well. 

Tamale dressing is a simple recipe and does not require much work. You can combine dressing with a salad or stuffing or make any celebration dish with Tamale dressing. I like Tamale dressing with bread stuffing. The recipe is written below. Also, check out the equipment list and ingredient list below and try this recipe now. 

What Equipment Will You Need To Make Tamale Dressing?

• Bowl- Mix all the ingredients of this recipe in a large glass bowl before transferring the mixture to the baking dish. 
• Skillet- Use a large skillet to cook the tamale and the veggies for this recipe.
• Spatula- To stir the veggies and the tamale in the skillet, use a spatula. You’ll also need a spatula to combine all the ingredients in the bowl before baking them in the oven. 
• Spoon- Use a wooden spoon to scrape the brown bits at the bottom of the skillet.
• Baking pan- Use the baking pan to bake the stuffing in the oven, The size of the baking pan (9×13 inch or 8×8 inch) depends on the quantity of the stuffing used. 
• Foil- Butter the aluminum foil and cover the baking pan with it while baking the stuffing. It traps in all the delicious tamale dressing flavors and also prevents the stuffing from drying out. 

How Much Time Do You Need To Make Tamale Dressing?

What Ingredients Will You Need For Tamale Dressing?

• Tamales- Tamales are the key ingredient for this recipe. Use a one-pound package of frozen green chile chicken tamales. 
• Olive oil- To cook the veggies and tamales, you need olive oil. You can also use olive oil to grease the baking pan in case you don’t have butter. 
• Celery- Chop about eight ribs of celery for this recipe. 
• Onion- Peel and chop a large yellow onion to add a mildly sweet flavor to this stuffing. The onion goes well with the taste of tamale dressing in this recipe. 
• Beets- Peel and finely chop three large raw golden yellow beets for this recipe. They add a zesty color and a slightly earthy flavor to this dish and are extremely nutritious. 
• Salt and pepper- Season the dressing with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to enhance the flavor and add a mild spiciness to it. 
• Chicken stock- Use about five cups of chicken stock to add moisture to the stuffing and to add more flavors to it. 
• Bread- Use a 22-ounce loaf of country bread for this recipe. Cut this loaf into half-inch pieces and set them out to dry overnight. 
• Parsley- Chop flat-leaf parsley and use a cup of this chopped parsley in the recipe to add a fresh aroma and herbal flavors. 
• Chives- Chop fresh chives for this recipe. You need to add a three-fourths cup of fresh chives (chopped) for tamale dressing. 
• Sage- Sage gives a nice aroma and adds an earthy flavor to the dish. So, add three tablespoons of chopped fresh sage leaves.

Steps To Make Tamale Dressing

1. Cook Tamales And Veggies

Take a pan or a skillet and cook the tamale as described on the package. Now, add oil to a large skillet over medium heat and toss in onions, beets, and celery. Season them with salt and pepper and cook for about 15 minutes until the veggies are soft. 

2. Spice Them Up And Add Stir In Bread

Now, add stock to the skillet and scrape up the stuck-on brown bits. Bring it to a boil and remove it from the heat. Transfer this to a bowl and add bread along with chopped tamales, herbs, and tomatoes. Again, season with salt and pepper.

3. Bake And Serve

Grease the baking dish with butter. Transfer the mixture from the bowl to the baking pan and cover it with buttered foil. Bake it in the preheated oven (325 F) for about 25-30 minutes. Uncover it and bake again for 5 to 10 minutes until it’s golden brown in color. 

Nutritional Information

How Will Tamale Dressing Look and Taste?

The tamale dressing is ready! This thanksgiving dish is filled with the flavors of tamale and chicken stock. It has crispy yet moist bread mixed with juicy and spicy tamales. Parsley, chive, and sage add an aromatic herbal flavor to this dish. It’s baked to perfection and seasoned with delicate spices. 

Recipe Card

If you tried this recipe too, share your experience in the comments below. Check out or other holiday recipe and try them for your Thanksgiving feast.