December 31, 2023
Review RecipeCowboy Casserole
Easy and cheesy, this cowboy casserole recipe is the perfect family-friendly dinner idea!
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This easy and cheesy cowboy casserole recipe is the perfect delicious dinner for busy nights. A simple, hearty casserole made with layers of ground beef, veggies, spices, a creamy mushroom sauce, crispy tater tots, and lots of cheese.
Cowboy Casserole Ingredients
You’ll need:
- 1 (32-ounce) bag frozen tater tots
- 1 pound of ground beef
- ½ medium yellow onion, diced
- 1 (10-ounce) can Rotel tomatoes, not drained
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 (10.5-ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
- 1 (15.25-ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
- 1½ cups Monterey Jack and Colby cheese, shredded, divided
- 1 tablespoon chives, chopped
SUBSTITUTIONS AND ADDITIONS
One of the best parts of this recipe is that you can customize it to fit your family’s tastes. Love cheese? Add a few more handfuls. Not a fan of tomatoes? Leave out the can of Rotel.
This is an easy recipe to experiment with and create your own version. Here are some popular changes:
BEANS: Black beans or pinto beans give this casserole a southwestern flair. Stir them in at the same time as when you add your Rotel tomatoes.
VEGGIES: Add mixed peas and carrots to make the base layer of your casserole more similar to that of chicken pot pie.
This is a tasty twist that goes well with the creaminess and crispy tots in the recipe. You could also mix in chopped bell peppers.
HOT SAUCE: If you like your meals with a bit of a spicy kick, add a dash or two of hot sauce to your beef mixture.
MEAT: Any ground meat would work fine in this recipe. Try ground pork, ground turkey, or ground chicken for great options.
How To Make This Cowboy Casserole Recipe
STEP ONE: Lightly spray the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Place the tater tots in the dish and pre-bake at 375°F for 8 minutes.
Remove the dish from the oven and transfer the tater tots to a bowl. Turn the oven up to 425°F.
STEP TWO: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook beef and onions until the beef is no longer pink and the onions are tender.
STEP THREE: Add the Rotel tomatoes, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper into the skillet. Cook until the liquid has reduced, about 8 minutes.
STEP FOUR: Remove the skillet from the heat and add sour cream, cream of mushroom soup, drained corn, and ½ cup cheese to the beef mixture. Stir until the cheese is melted.
STEP FIVE: Pour the mixture into the bottom of the baking dish and spread it in an even layer.
STEP SIX: Sprinkle ½ cup of cheese over the top of the mixture.
STEP SEVEN: Layer the tater tots on top, pressing them down into the mixture. Layer your tater tots side by side to fit the most into your dish.
PRO TIP:
By creating an even layer of tater tots you’ll get a nice, even amount of tater tots in each slice of your casserole (plus, it looks pretty)!
STEP EIGHT: Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of cheese over the top of the tater tots.
STEP NINE: Sprinkle the chopped chives over the cheese.
STEP TEN: Cover and bake at 425°F for 20 minutes.
STEP ELEVEN: Uncover and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes until the top is golden brown. Remove from the oven and serve.
How To Serve
Since this easy casserole recipe is such a great all-in-one dinner, I usually keep the sides simple too. The recipe has potatoes and corn already so I usually make a nice side salad to go along with our cowboy casserole.
Try this Caesar salad recipe, it’s a favorite! If you want an easy dessert idea, pair this meal with our blueberry cobbler.
For more casserole recipes your family will love, check out our awesome lasagna casserole and our tuna casserole.
MORE CASSEROLE RECIPES
Storage
IN THE FRIDGE: Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
IN THE FREEZER: Once it’s completely cool, you can store it inside the freezer for up to three months in a freezer-safe dish. You’ll want to thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating in the oven.
PRO TIP:
This is a fantastic make-ahead dish. You can prepare it up to the end of Step Six and store it in the fridge or freezer before baking it later.
For a fun way to turn tater tots into an all-in-one meal, this cowboy casserole is a favorite of little cowboys and cowgirls everywhere! It’s a family favorite and the ideal comfort food that makes dinnertime easy. A creamy sauce and crispy potato topping will be a hit with the whole family.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I freeze this casserole?
This easy meal freezes well and can be stored in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Can I use hash browns instead of tater tots?
As with our other recipes that feature tater tots, you can substitute them with hash browns.
Can I cook this recipe in the slow cooker?
This recipe is also easy to make in your crockpot. Use the same instructions, but create all of the layers in your slow cooker (instead of a baking dish). Cook the casserole, covered, on low for 5 hours.
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Cowboy Casserole
Easy and cheesy, this cowboy casserole recipe is the perfect family-friendly dinner idea!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 6
Ingredients
- 32 ounces tater tots
- 1 pound ground beef
- ½ medium yellow onion, diced
- 10 ounces Rotel tomatoes, not drained
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup sour cream
- 10.5 ounces condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
- 15.25 ounces whole kernel corn, drained
- 1½ cups Colby and Monterey Jack cheese shredded, divided
- 1 tablespoon chives, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Lightly spray the bottom of a 9×13 pan with cooking spray. Place the tater tots in the dish and pre-bake for 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and transfer to a bowl.
- Turn the oven up to 425°F.
- In a large skillet cook your onions and ground beef until beef is no longer pink and onions are tender.
- Pour in the Rotel tomatoes, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Cook until the liquid has reduced, about 8 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and add sour cream, cream of mushroom soup, drained corn, ½ cup of cheese. Stir until the cheese is melted.
- Pour the mixture into the bottom of the baking dish and spread evenly.
- Sprinkle ½ cup of cheese over the top of the casserole.
- Layer the tater tots on top,pressing them down into the mixture.
- Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of cheese over the top of the tater tots.
- Sprinkle the chopped chives over the cheese.
- Cover and bake at 425°F for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes.
- Remove from oven and serve.
Video
Notes
Note: This is a fantastic make-ahead dish. You can prepare it up to the end of Step Six and store it in the fridge or freezer before baking it later.
Note: By creating an even layer of tater tots you’ll get a nice, even amount of tater tots in each slice of your casserole (plus, it looks pretty)!
Nutrition
Calories: 761kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 48g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 19g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 107mg | Sodium: 1402mg | Potassium: 956mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 651IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 323mg | Iron: 4mg
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Comments
Timothy says
It’s delicious my boys ask me to put it the meal rotation. ๐
Sara says
Can I use cheddar soup instead of cream of mushroom soup?
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Sara – we haven’t tried that but it would probably work just fine. Enjoy!
Jeana says
We love this dish! I am trying to make ahead to freeze so my aunt can simply put it in the oven when watching my kids – can I make through the full assembly then freeze? Or wonโt that work if the tater totโs are then only partially cooked. Thanks!
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Jeana – you can make it ahead of time up to step six and then put it in the freezer. Enjoy!
Donna says
Great recipe that the whole family loves, have made it several times and always throw in a can of Black Beans. If I don’t have Cream of Mushroom in the pantry, I use Condensed Cream of Chicken and it works just as well.