What Is Masa harina and How Can I Use It?

Wondering what to do with masa harina? This guide covers how to pick it, cook it, store it, and swap it — with 39 recipes to put it to work.

Recipes using masa harina

There are 39 recipes that contain this ingredient.

El Paso Chili

Loaded with veggies and with a hint of sweetness, this chili recipe has been my family's favorite for many, many years.

Masa Biscuits

Masa biscuits blend masa harina with all-purpose flour and buttermilk for a Southwestern twist on the classic flaky biscuit. Crisp golden tops, tender corn-flavored crumb, ready in 15 minutes.

Los Venganza Del Almo Chili

Texas-style beer chili with three meats (beef, pork, ground), masa harina thickening, and bold spices. Simmers for 3+ hours to develop deep, complex flavors.

Hot Red Chili

Texas-style red chili made from dried chile pods pureed into a fiery sauce with browned meat, cumin, and oregano. No beans, slow-simmered for hours.

Mouth of Hell Chili

Brisket chili built on beer, stewed tomatoes, and a fistful of red pepper flakes, thickened with masa harina and finished with a shot of tequila poured tableside.

Popcakes

Popcakes are buttermilk quick breads baked in muffin tins that pop up tall and golden. Includes a Mexican masa harina variation and a stovetop pancake version from the same batter.

Championship Chili

Three pounds of beef chuck simmered for nearly 3 hours with cumin, oregano, jalapeño, and tomato concassé, thickened with a masa harina slurry. No beans, no shortcuts. This is cookoff-caliber chili built on patience and bold spice.

Texas Red

Six pounds of cubed beef browned in suet, simmered in beef stock with a full cup of chili powder and crushed cumin seeds, thickened with masa harina. No tomatoes. No beans. This is Texas Red in its purest form.

Capitol Punishment

Texas-style no-bean chili with ground beef chuck, pork, and cubed beef simmered in beer with bold spices and thickened with masa harina for competition-worthy flavor.

Capitol Punishment Chili

Wesley Pitts' award-winning Texas chili with beef chuck, ground pork, beer, mole powder, and masa harina thickening. The legendary Terlingua competition formula.

Riata Grande Chili*

Texas-style beanless chili with cubed pork loin and beef brisket braised in beer, tequila, and triple cumin, thickened with masa harina. Six pounds of meat, no beans, all heat.

Wes & Kathy's Killer 4-Star Venison Chili

Texas-style venison chili simmered in beer and beef stock with chili powder, cumin, coriander, and masa harina. No beans, no tomatoes, just bold meat-and-spice flavor that deepens overnight.

Don's Venison Chili

No-bean venison chili simmered in beer and whiskey with jalapenos, cumin, and masa harina. A bold, Texas-style wild game chili with serious heat and deep smoky flavor.

Texoma Tamales

Shortcut tamale casserole with masa harina dough layered over chili and baked until golden. All the corn-and-chili flavor of real tamales without rolling a single corn husk.

Brother Dave's Chili

Hearty no-bean beef chili built on 3 pounds of stewing beef, half a cup of chili powder, masa harina for body, and a secret weapon: a dash of Peychaud's bitters and nutmeg at the finish.

Gorditas

Authentic gorditas made with masa harina, lard, and a touch of flour. Pressed thin, griddle-seared, then fried until puffed and crispy. Ready to split and fill with your favorite toppings.

Layered Tamale with Green Salsa

Layered tamale pie steamed in real corn husks with three distinct masa layers: fresh corn, green chile cilantro, and red pepper chili. Served with fresh green salsa.

Rojo Lobo Chili

Competition-style Texas chili with brisket and pork shoulder simmered in beer, tequila, and six jalapenos. No beans, massive flavor, thickened with masa harina.

Saddlebag Chili

Saddlebag chili with ground brisket, bacon fat, beer, sour mash whiskey, and eight whole jalapeños. A boozy, smoky cowboy-style chili built for the long simmer.

Gates of Hell Chili

Texas-style no-bean chili with hand-cubed beef and pork, beer, whiskey, dried chiles, and masa harina. A fiery, competition-worthy pot that feeds a crowd.

Low-Fat Tamale Pie

This succulent and tantalizing dish is fun for the whole family to make and enjoy!

Los Venganza Del Alamo Chili

Texas-style competition chili with cubed beef, pork, beer, mole, and masa harina. Slow-simmered for three hours with bold spice and no beans. Built for heat lovers.

Mushroom & Leek Crepes

Savory crepes filled with wine-braised leeks, shiitake mushrooms, and herbs, topped with a rich red wine mushroom sauce. An elegant vegetarian main that impresses.

All Beef Texas Chili- Ladies Home Journal

Authentic Texas beef chili with no beans, toasted cumin, and beer-braised chuck. Bold, chunky chili simmered low and slow until fork-tender in rich tomato broth.

Capital Punishment Chili

Capital punishment chili is a fiery Texas-style bowl of red: chunks of beef chuck and pork simmered low with beer, a mountain of chili powder and cumin, a touch of mole and masa harina. No beans, all bold.

All 39 recipes