Cowboy Casserole Recipe
Cowboy Casserole is a hearty, comforting baked dish featuring ground beef mixed with creamy mushroom soup, corn, cheese, and crispy bacon, topped with golden tater tots. This flavorful casserole combines savory ingredients in layers, baked to bubbling perfection with a cheesy crust.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein
- 1/2 pound ground beef (85/15)
- 1/2 cup bacon, cooked and crumbled
Vegetables
- 1 cup corn
Dairy
- 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
Spices and Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Other
- 32 ounces tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure it’s hot and ready for baking the casserole.
- Cook Ground Beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned and fully cooked. Drain excess grease if necessary.
- Mix Ingredients: To the browned beef in the skillet, add the corn, condensed cream of mushroom soup, 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese, whole milk, sour cream, onion powder, black pepper, and crumbled bacon. Stir well to combine all the ingredients evenly.
- Assemble Casserole: In a 9×13 inch baking dish, spread the beef mixture evenly. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese over the top. Arrange the tater tots in a single layer over the cheese, lining them up evenly.
- Bake: Place the assembled casserole uncovered in the preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the tater tots are crispy and golden brown.
- Add Final Cheese Layer: Remove the casserole from the oven, sprinkle the remaining cheese evenly on top of the baked tater tots, then return to the oven for an additional 5 minutes to melt and slightly brown the cheese.
- Serve: Once done, allow the casserole to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy this hearty and satisfying dish!
Notes
- You can substitute cream of mushroom soup with cream of chicken soup if preferred.
- For extra crispiness, broil the casserole for 1-2 minutes at the end instead of baking the last 5 minutes.
- Feel free to add chopped onions or bell peppers to the beef mixture for added flavor and texture.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- Using leaner ground beef reduces fat content but may affect juiciness.
Keywords: Cowboy casserole, tater tot casserole, baked ground beef casserole, comfort food, easy dinner recipe
Find it online: https://yumwithmia.com/cowboy-casserole-recipe/
