I love making impossible pies; they are so very easy. My mom was not a cook at all, but she did like a very easy recipe. I found this recipe of hers with no name – just ingredients and some quick instructions on a scrap piece of paper. I made it myself to try it and decided to call it Mexican Impossible Pie.
It’s such an easy recipe with very simple ingredients. It has always turned out fantastic and I have to give all the kudos to my mom. I just had to share this recipe with you, as you will love it too! Try our Easy Beef Taco Salad, Mexican Casserole (vegetarian), or Cheesy Enchilada Rice too! Another two of our favorites.
Some old fashioned recipes are the best and this one saves you loads of time and will be a family favorite. A nice light salad to go with this and you will have the kids asking for you to make this again and again.
Top a slice with a little salsa and sour cream and you have brought it all to a new level!!
What is an Impossible Pie?
Before I get to the amazingness that is Mexican Impossible Pie, I want to explain what an impossible pie is.
Impossible pies are easy to make pies – you don’t need to make a crust for them. They’re called impossible not because they’re difficult or tricky to make but rather because they’re impossibly easy.
Bisquick Impossible Pie
Impossible pie was a food fad of the 1970s that has endured and is a family favorite in many families now. It was printed on the back of Bisquick boxes because the Bisquick mix was a standard ingredient in an impossible pie.
Impossible pies were popular because they made their own crusts. All of the ingredients are put into a pie plate and then naturally settle into a pie with crust on the bottom and filling on top.
Purists will tell you that it’s not as good a crust as a traditional pie, which is true. It’s also a whole lot easier than making a traditional pie crust!
The best thing about impossible pies is that they work just as well whether you have a sweet or savory pie.
Impossible pies were so popular that they ended up in the Betty Crocker cookbooks that were ubiquitous in the late 1970s. They are also often found at potluck parties because they’re so easy to make and taste so good.
Whenever I take an impossible pie to a potluck, whether it’s as a main dish like this Mexican Impossible Pie or as a dessert, like my Impossible Coconut Rum Pie, nobody believes that they’re really quick and easy to make!
Hamilton Beach Blender
A great blender like this Hamilton Beach one will have the work done for you in a flash, easy clean up too as it all goes into the dishwasher. We love ours!
How to Make Impossible Pie
This impossible pie makes a great dinner. It only uses a skillet, the blender, and a pie plate – so clean up is a breeze! Pop the dish in the oven, sit back and relax for a minute, supper will be on the table in no time!
It’s so easy to make the Mexican Impossible Pie you’ll want to put it into your family’s regular dinner rotation. First, preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and spray a pie plate with cooking spray.
Then, sauté a pound of ground beef in a skillet until it’s cooked and drain off any fat. Stir in taco seasoning and water according to the directions on the taco seasoning package, cook until the water is absorbed.
Remove the skillet from the stove and spread the meat on the bottom of a pie plate. Layer the contents of a small can of diced green chilies on top, followed by 1 cup of grated cheddar cheese.
Next, get out your blender and add 1 ¼ cups of milk, ¾ of a cup of Bisquick mix (you can get gluten-free Bisquick if your family needs it!), 3 eggs, ½ a teaspoon of hot sauce, and salt and pepper to the jar.
Blend it for about 2 minutes on high power – until it’s thoroughly mixed. Pour the mixture over the ingredients already in the pie plate. Bake for 30-35 minutes until the top is crispy and brown. Serve immediately.
Miracle Pie
What an amazing result when you just layer ingredients into a pie plate and then pour a blended mixture on top, out of the oven comes this amazing pie. Everything falls into place.
The cheese floats to the top for a crispy upper crust and the Bisquick falls to the bottom for a tender bottom crust. It’s just so impossibly easy and delicious.
It’s like a taco pie! The best thing about making this Mexican Impossible Pie for dinner is that your family will think that you spent a long time making a delicious dinner for them when you really only spent a few minutes!
Mexican Impossible Pie
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef lean or extra lean
- 1 cup onions diced
- 1 envelope taco seasoning I use Epicure as it is low sodium
- 1 small can 4.5 oz. diced green chilies
- 1 cup cheddar cheese
- 1 1/4 cups milk
- 3/4 cup Bisquick gluten free if needed
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 tsp. hot sauce or to taste
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F. Saute the beef with the onions in a large skillet until browned and cooked through. Stir in taco seasoning and mix in water according to package. Cook until water evaporates. Spread the meat mixture into a 10″ pie pan sprayed with cooking spray. Layer on the chilies and then the cheese.
- In a blender, mix together the milk, Bisquick, eggs, hot sauce and salt and pepper. Blend on high for 2 min. Pour over meat mixture. Bake for 30 – 35 min. or until crispy browned on top.
Comments & Reviews
patricia says
Can you please let me know what pepper sauce is i never heard of it .
Tara Noland says
It is just another term for hot sauce, I changed it to avoid confusion.
Nate says
Thinking of trying this with corn bread batter in place of the Bisquick, If it works out will let you know, Thanks.
Tara Noland says
I will be interested to see how that turns out, please tell me.
Laura says
Wow! Delicious!! I made some modifications to fit our liking! I used ground turkey and seasoned it, then added some corn to the meat mixture. I also used skim milk as that is all we drink. Baked at 400 degrees and it was done to perfection in 30 minutes! Will definitely make it again!! Thank you!!
Tara Noland says
Hey Laura, so glad you made the recipe your own and turned out great for you!! Thanks for taking the time to tell me also!!
Phyllis Richardson says
I don’t know what happened but the Bisquick disappeared,,,,
Tara Noland says
It should form a bottom crust as it sinks when baking.
D. metro says
The photo seems to show a bottom crust but yet it does not have one in the recipe. Am I seeing something that is not there?
Tara Noland says
That is the beauty of an impossible pie, it makes it’s own crust!
Tasha Cooper says
Pepper sauce? May i ask what’s that and where I can find it?
Tara Noland says
Like a Tobasco or any hot sauce.
Tasha Cooper says
Perfect thanks! That’s already a staple around here 🙂
Tara Noland says
I have to make this again, so glad you liked it!
Jan says
I used picante sauce, about two tablespoons.
Shirley Wire says
Would like the Impossible Mexican Pie recipe
Tara Noland says
The recipe is in the post, just above.
Kathy says
I make the breakfast version of this with sausage and hash browns, but add extra eggs, too. It has lots of cheese, and yummy deliciousness!! Took it to work a few weeks ago and the guys said it was the best thing most had EVER eaten!!
Tara Noland says
Great idea Kathy, sounds amazing!
Teri Young says
http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/impossibly-easy-taco-pie/cad8267c-2cb0-4dc2-b6e7-9c57a9575430
They have several variations of it – gluten free, chicken, and deep dish.
Your Mom sounds like a great mom!
Tara Noland says
You are sweet, thank you Teri!
Lorraine Miller says
Would it be ok to use regular Bisquik?
Tara Noland says
Yes, regular or gluten free, sorry typo I changed it.
Danny says
I made this recipe adding cilantro, jalapeno, corn, ancho and chipotle chili powders, and used a half jar of salsa Verde cooking sauce sauté d the beef with the sauce until mostly evaporated. I couldn’t eat it fast enough… Delicious!
Tara Noland says
Nicely done Danny, it would be fantastic with all of that. So glad you liked it and you made it your own!!
Christy says
It looks like it has a crust on the bottom?
Has anyone added the bisquik mix for an extra bottom crust?
Tara Noland says
The Bisquick makes its’ own crust on the bottom, it sinks when you add it. No need to make a bottom crust, it is like magic.
peter @feedyoursoultoo says
We are such Mexican food fans in our house. Love this dish. Need to add to my to do list. What a nice memory with your mom.
Tara Noland says
Thank you so much Peter.
Camilla says
Love the look of this dish of your mum’s but am wondering what Bisquick is?
Tara Noland says
It is a product that has been around North America for a long time, here is a definition for you.
Bisquick is a pre-mixed baking mix sold by General Mills under its Betty Crocker brand, consisting of flour, shortening, salt, and baking powder.
Emily says
What would you recommend in lieu of Bisquick? Could I just use a traditional pastry?
Tara Noland says
This recipe is really designed to use the ingredients that are here. You could try a traditional pastry but I can’t tell you how it would work out. You would omit the milk, Bisquick and eggs.
Marguerite says
In a pinch, I’ve just used regular flour instead of Bisquik. Sometimes I add a teaspoon of baking powder to the flour, just for insurance.
Tara Noland says
Good to know!!
Diane Smith says
Homemade Bisquick: 3 cups flour, 3 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 3/4 cups shortning. Makes about 4 cups.
Platter Talk says
This Mexican pie is just about the best thing I’ve laid eyes on, all day! Thanks for making it possible!!!
Tara Noland says
Thanks so much for coming over, so glad you like it.
Camilla says
Love the look of this dish of your mum’s but am wondering what Bisquick is?
Platter Talk says
This Mexican pie is just about the best thing I’ve laid eyes on, all day! Thanks for making it possible!!!
Jill says
I hope this works with Gluten-free bisquick!
Tara Noland says
Please come back and tell us if it does or doesn’t would love to hear!
Jill says
Tried the GF Bisquik tonight. It worked! It had a very flat, smooth top but tasted quite nice.
Tara Noland says
Awesome so glad you tried it and came to tell us, thank you!!!
Cindi says
It works fine with GF bisquick!
Tara Noland says
Thank you very much Cindi!
Sara says
Hello! I was wondering if the the GF Bisquick worked for you? I’d love to give this a try!
Tara Noland says
I am not sure but it definetly worth a try.
Cindi says
It works fine with GF bisquick!
Tara Noland says
Great to know, thank you!
Jill says
I hope this works with Gluten-free bisquick!
Laura Dembowski says
ALways up for a fun riff on tacos! This sounds like a wonderful meal and I bet leftovers are great too.
Tara Noland says
Thank you so much Laura, enjoy!
Marina says
What is bisquik?
Tara Noland says
Hi Marina, here is what Bisquick is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisquick