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Cowboy Casserole Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 130 reviews

This hearty Cowboy Casserole combines ground beef, creamy mushroom soup, corn, crispy bacon, and cheddar cheese topped with golden tater tots for a delicious, comforting meal perfect for family dinners or potlucks.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat and Protein

  • 1/2 pound ground beef (85/15)
  • 1/2 cup bacon, cooked and crumbled

Vegetables

  • 1 cup corn

Dairy and Condiments

  • 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

  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Starch

  • 32 ounces tater tots

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit to get it ready for baking the casserole.
  2. Cook Ground Beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until it is fully browned, breaking it apart as it cooks.
  3. Mix Ingredients: Add the corn, cream of mushroom soup, half of the shredded cheddar cheese (1/2 cup), whole milk, sour cream, onion powder, black pepper, and crumbled bacon into the cooked beef in the skillet. Stir everything together thoroughly to combine all the flavors.
  4. Assemble Casserole: In a 9×13 inch baking dish, spread the beef mixture evenly across the bottom. Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese on top. Then arrange the tater tots in a single layer over the cheese, covering the entire surface.
  5. Bake: Place the assembled casserole in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 40 to 45 minutes, until the tater tots are crispy and golden brown.
  6. Final Cheese Topping: Remove the casserole from the oven, sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top, and bake for an additional 5 minutes until the cheese melts and bubbles.

Notes

  • You can substitute cream of mushroom soup with cream of celery or cream of chicken soup if preferred.
  • For a spicier version, add some chopped jalapeños or a dash of cayenne pepper to the beef mixture.
  • Make sure to cook the bacon until crisp for better texture and flavor.
  • This casserole can be prepared a day ahead; assemble and refrigerate, then bake when ready.
  • To make it lower fat, use lean ground beef and reduced-fat cheddar cheese.

Keywords: cowboy casserole, tater tot casserole, ground beef casserole, comfort food, easy dinner recipe, baked casserole

Find it online: https://busyrecipe.com/cowboy-casserole-recipe/