Cowboy Casserole

This easy Cowboy Casserole is a hearty, comforting dinner made with ground beef, tater tots, corn, and cheese. A perfect family-friendly meal for busy weeknights.

Cowboy Casserole is a classic, hearty comfort food that’s perfect for busy weeknights or feeding a hungry family. Made with simple pantry staples like ground beef, potatoes, corn, and cheese, this dish is filling, flavorful, and easy to customize.

Everything bakes together into one satisfying casserole that’s creamy, cheesy, and packed with bold flavor. It’s the kind of meal that everyone goes back for seconds.

How to make Cowboy Casserole:

Ingredients:

• Oil – I typically use Olive Oil but any oil you have on hand will work.
• Onion – diced fine for easy eating and cooking.
• Ground Beef – I used a lean 90/10 ground beef.
• Seasoning Salt – a tad more flavorful than regular salt.
• Black Pepper
• Cream of Mushroom Soup
• Rotel – drained if there is a lot of juice.
• Corn – can of corn drained.
• Milk – I used 2% milk for this recipe.
• Colby Jack Cheese – I used a bag of shredded Colby Jack Cheese for this recipe.
• Tater Tots – frozen.

Directions:

Step One – Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and prepare a 9×13 casserole pan with cooking spray. 

Step Two – In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté onions in oil until translucent, then add in beef and cook until no longer pink.

Step Three – When the meat is done remove any remaining oils from the pan and then add spices.

Step Four – Next stir in the corn, Rotel, and cream of mushroom soup. Then stir in the milk.

Step Five – Add the mixture to the casserole pan and spread out evenly. Then sprinkle 1 cup of the cheese on top.

Step Six – Last line up the tater tots on top of the cheese until completely covered. 

Baking Directions:

Step Seven – Bake for 40-45 minutes until bubbly and the tater tots are crispy. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top and bake for a few more minutes to melt.

Pro Tips:

For a crispy topping, sprinkle crushed crackers or fried onions over the cheese before baking.  

Let the casserole rest before serving so it sets up nicely.

Add a pinch of garlic powder or paprika for extra flavor.

Serve with a simple green salad or cornbread for a complete meal.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make Cowboy Casserole ahead of time?
Yes! Assemble the casserole, cover, and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking.

Can I freeze this casserole?
Absolutely. Freeze unbaked or baked for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight before reheating.

Can I add other ingredients?
Yes! Black beans, green chilies, or cooked bacon are great additions.

Try some of my other favorite Tater Tot Recipes:

Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole – Tater tots have always been one of my favorites and now I’m serving them up in this amazing Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole.

Tater Tot Casserole – This Tater Tot Casserole is one of the best casseroles you will ever make. Hearty and cheesy this casserole is going to be a favorite for many dinners to come!

Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot – The tater tot casserole is a classic. This recipe for Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole is a new take on that classic and one my entire family loved.

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