Cowboy Casserole is a simple, comforting dinner made with ground beef, cheese, corn, sour cream and finished with a crispy layer of tater tots.
Cowboy Casserole
This hearty casserole is similar to a Shepherd’s Pie-style tater tot bake and is perfect when you want an easy, family-friendly meal. If you don’t have ground beef, feel free to swap in ground turkey, chicken, or another protein you prefer. The recipe is forgiving and adapts well to what you have on hand.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups tater tots, fully cooked
- 1 pound ground beef (or preferred ground protein)
- 10 ounce can cream of chicken soup
- 2 cups Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese, divided
- 15 ounce can corn, drained
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 chopped green onions, for garnish
Instructions:
This casserole is made in layers: a creamy meat-and-vegetable base topped with crispy tater tots. Pre-bake the frozen tater tots if you prefer them extra crisp, or add them directly and allow the oven time to crisp them slightly. The dish is versatile — swap proteins or add mix-ins to suit your taste.
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. 2. In a large skillet, brown the ground beef and season with garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. Drain any excess fat if needed. 3. Transfer the cooked beef to a large mixing bowl. Add the drained corn, cream of chicken soup, water, half of the cheese, and sour cream. Stir until well combined.
Optional Ingredients
Add cooked bacon, peas, carrots, green chiles, tomatoes, pinto or black beans, or a pinch of chili powder to change the flavor profile and bulk up the casserole.
4. Spread the beef mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish and smooth the top with the back of a spoon. 5. Arrange the tater tots in neat rows over the beef mixture to create an even layer. 6. Bake the casserole for about 25 minutes.
7. Remove the dish from the oven, sprinkle the remaining cheese over the tater tots, and return it to the oven for another 5 minutes or until the cheese melts and the tots are golden. 8. When finished, let the casserole cool for a few minutes, then garnish with chopped green onions and serve.
Ground Beef Cowboy Casserole Recipe
Serve warm and enjoy. This casserole makes great leftovers — store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Reheat portions in the oven or microwave until heated through.
Storage
Keep leftovers refrigerated in an airtight container for up to three days. Reheat thoroughly before serving.
This classic comfort food combines seasoned ground beef and vegetables in a creamy sauce beneath a golden tater tot topping — an easy, crowd-pleasing meal the whole family will enjoy.
More Casserole Recipes
Broccoli Cheese Casserole
KFC Chicken Bowl Casserole
Taco Casserole
Chicken Spaghetti Casserole
Cowboy Casserole Recipe
Cowboy Casserole
Equipment
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9×13 baking dish
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Non-stick spray
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Skillet
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Mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 2 cups tater tots, fully cooked
- 1 pound ground beef
- 10 ounce can cream of chicken soup
- 15 ounce can corn, drained
- ¼ cup water
- 2 cups Monterey jack cheese
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 chopped green onions
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 375°F and prepare a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
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In a large skillet, brown the ground beef and season with garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper.
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Transfer the beef to a mixing bowl and stir in the corn, cream of chicken soup, water, half of the cheese, and sour cream until blended.
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Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish and flatten with the back of a spoon.
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Top with tater tots arranged in rows to cover the surface.
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Bake for 25 minutes.
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Remove from the oven, sprinkle remaining cheese over the top, and bake an additional 5 minutes until the cheese melts.
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Allow to cool slightly, garnish with chopped green onions, and serve.