Last Updated on November 29, 2025 by Krista Linares, MPH, RD
It’s officially tamal season, and every time I find myself wracking my brain trying to come up with different fillings for tamales to please everyone.
Some people don’t eat meat, others feel like the meal isn’t complete without it … some like veggies, others don’t.
That’s why I always recommend including 2-3 different fillings when you make a big batch of tamales.
Plus, as a dietitian, I’m all for including variety in your diet to get the most nutrition!
But I understand that having to cook 2-3 different fillings for tamales can be overwhelming, so that’s why I came up with this list of 10 of the easiest tamal fillings to make your tamalada go that much more smoothly.
Here are my favorite easy fillings for tamales:
9 Simple Fillings for Tamales
Many of my favorite easy fillings are vegetarian, because they involve less upfront cooking.
Vegetarian Fillings for Tamales
Beans
Any beans will do, but I’m a particular fan of well-seasoned frijoles de olla.
Beans and Cheese
Refried pinto beans and cheese are a popular combination.
Poblano Peppers and Cheese
AKA tamales de rajas, very simple to make! Try my recipe here.
Mushroom
Mushrooms are a very popular filling for many Mexican dishes, including tamales. Try this sauteed Mexican mushroom recipe.
Calabacitas
Zucchini is an appropriate substitute for zucchini. I like this simple recipe for calabacitas with tomato, onion, and jalapeño (aka “a la mexicana”).
Cheese
Any cheese will do, but I peresonally recommend Queso Chihuahua for a cheese that melts nicely.
Other Simple Ideas
Chicken in chile verde
This filling is still pretty simple, as you cook chicken in a simple green salsa. Try this recipe for green chicken tamales.
Picadillo
Picadillo is simple to make and freezes well, so you can make the day-of preparation that much simpler.
Pork in red sauce
Like the chicken recipe above, this pork in red sauce is simpler than you would think.
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