Description
This Cowboy Casserole is a hearty and comforting dish that combines savory ground beef, sweet corn, and crispy tater tots, all topped with gooey melted cheese. It’s the perfect meal for feeding a hungry crowd with minimal cleanup!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 to 2 pounds ground beef
- 2 cans (about 15 ounces each) drained whole kernel corn or about 2 cups frozen corn, thawed and drained
- 2 cups (about 8 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 32-ounce bag frozen tater tots
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can diced tomatoes (undrained)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- Optional: cayenne pepper to taste
- Optional add-ins: bell peppers, drained and rinsed black beans, or a can of mild green chilies
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- In a large skillet or Dutch oven, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain off any excess fat.
- Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 3-5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Stir in the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper, cooking for about 30 seconds.
- Pour in the undrained diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and beef broth. If using cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup, stir that in as well. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for about 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in the drained corn and any optional veggies like bell peppers or black beans.
- Pour the beef and corn mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread it out evenly. Sprinkle about 1 cup of shredded cheese over the mixture.
- Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer over the cheese.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until bubbly around the edges and the tater tots are golden brown and crispy.
- During the last 5-10 minutes of baking, sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese over the tater tots and return to the oven to melt. Let the casserole rest for about 5-10 minutes before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
Keywords: For crispy tater tots, ensure they are completely frozen before adding them to the casserole. You can customize the recipe by adding different vegetables or using a blend of cheeses.