Description
Cowboy Casserole is an easy, hearty comfort food perfect for weeknight dinners. This dish combines ground beef, crispy tater tots, and a creamy, cheesy filling. It’s a crowd-pleasing meal that’s simple to make and highly customizable for various tastes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 pound ground beef (85/15)
- 1 cup corn
- 2/3 cup condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded and divided
- 1/3 cup whole milk
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup cooked and crumbled bacon
- 32 ounces tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned. Drain any excess fat.
- Add the corn, cream of mushroom soup, ½ cup cheddar cheese, whole milk, sour cream, onion powder, black pepper, and bacon to the skillet. Stir to combine until smooth.
- Transfer the beef mixture to a 9×13-inch baking dish. Layer the mixture evenly in the dish.
- Top with the remaining tater tots, spreading them out to cover the casserole.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy.
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle with the remaining cheddar cheese. Return to the oven for 5 minutes to melt the cheese.
- Let the casserole cool for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- Check the tater tots for doneness; they should be crispy and golden brown before removing the casserole.
- If you prefer a leaner version, substitute the ground beef with ground turkey or chicken.
- This casserole can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before baking.
- Feel free to add extra veggies like peas or carrots for added nutrition.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 593 kcal
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 1168mg
- Fat: 37g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 21g
- Trans Fat: 0.4g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 66mg