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Wooden serving spoon filled with a generous serving of cowboy casserole including several crispy tater tots.
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5 from 3 votes

Cowboy Casserole Recipe

Topped with crispy golden tater tots, this Cowboy Casserole Recipe features flavorful ground beef, sweet corn, and black beans in a creamy, bubbly cheese sauce. It's as easy to make as it is affordable - the perfect weeknight dinner.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time1 hour 25 minutes
Course: Beef, Casserole, Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Cowboy Casserole, Cowboy Casserole Recipe, Ground Beef Casserole, Tater Tot Casserole
Servings: 8 servings
Author: Jessica Randhawa

Ingredients

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 4 tablespoon salted butter
  • 3 green onions chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper deseeded and diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 (15-ounce) can sweet corn drained
  • 1 (15-ounce) can black beans drained
  • 1 (10-ounce) can Rotel
  • 1 cup full-fat sour cream brought to room temperature
  • ¼ cup whole milk
  • ¼ cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1½ cup mozzarella cheese freshly shredded
  • 1½ cup cheddar cheese freshly shredded
  • 1 (2-pound) bag frozen tater tots
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and spray a large 9×13-inch casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart into smaller pieces as it cooks. Once cooked, use a slotted spoon to transfer the meat to a clean plate and set aside. Drain any grease from the skillet and discard.
    Cooked ground beef in a large cast iron skillet.
  • Return the skillet to medium heat and melt the butter. Once melted, stir in the onions and green bell pepper and cook until softened, about five minutes. Stir in the garlic, paprika, salt, and black pepper, and continue to cook for about a minute more, stirring continuously.
    Minced garlic, paprika, salt, and black pepper added to a large cast iron skillet filled with softened green onions and green bell pepper.
  • Stir the corn, black beans, and Rotel into the veggies. Cook, stirring often, for about five minutes (reduce the heat if you notice any burning or sticking to the bottom of the skillet).
    Canned tomatoes, canned corn, and canned black beans added to a large cast iron skillet filled with softened green onions and green bell pepper.
  • Remove from heat and stir in the sour cream, milk, and chicken broth.
    Tomatoes, corn, and black beans pooled in a mixture of milk, chicken, broth, and sour cream and contained in a large cast iron skillet.
  • Then stir in the cooked meat, mozzarella cheese, and 1 cup of the cheddar cheese until melted.
    Shredded cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, and cooked ground beef in a large cast iron skillet filled with black beans, canned tomatoes, and corn in a creamy sour cream sauce.
  • Transfer the creamy meat filling into the prepared casserole dish in an even layer and sprinkle with the remaining shredded cheddar cheese.
    Large oval-shaped casserole dish filled with the cheesy, meat, bean, corn, and veggie filling for cowboy casserole in an even layer and topped with shredded cheddar cheese.
  • Arrange the tater tots over the top in a single layer. Bake, uncovered, for 40-45 minutes or until bubbly and the tots are golden and crispy.
    A single layer of arranged frozen tater tots placed on top of a large oval-shaped casserole dish filled with the cheesy, meat, bean, corn, and veggie filling for cowboy casserole in an even layer and topped with shredded cheddar cheese.
  • Serve garnished with freshly chopped green onions plus a side of hot sauce or ketchup if desired.
    A single layer of arranged crispy baked tater tots placed in a large oval-shaped casserole dish filled with the cheesy, meat, bean, corn, and veggie filling for cowboy casserole in an even layer and topped with shredded cheddar cheese.

Notes

Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and place in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. The tater tots will soften over time, so you may want to reheat leftovers in the oven rather than the microwave. Freezing is not recommended.

Nutrition

Calories: 665kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 106mg | Sodium: 1233mg | Potassium: 975mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1132IU | Vitamin C: 29mg | Calcium: 356mg | Iron: 4mg
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