Easy Cowboy Casserole with Tater Tots: Your Weeknight Hero!
Get ready for a crowd-pleasing dinner that’s hearty, cheesy, and incredibly easy to throw together! This Cowboy Casserole with Tater Tots combines savory ground beef, crispy bacon, sweet corn, and a creamy, cheesy sauce, all topped with a golden crown of crunchy tater tots. It’s a comforting, satisfying meal that comes together in under an hour, making it perfect for busy weeknights when you need delicious food with minimal fuss.
Why This Casserole is a Family Favorite
- Ultimate Comfort Food: It’s warm, cheesy, and packed with classic flavors everyone loves.
- Quick & Easy: Designed for busy schedules, you can have this on the table in less than 60 minutes.
- Minimal Cleanup: Everything bakes in one dish, simplifying after-dinner chores.
- Customizable: Easily adaptable to your family’s favorite vegetables or cheese.
- Kid-Friendly: Tater tots are always a hit, making this a dinner even picky eaters will enjoy.
What You’ll Need
Gather these simple ingredients to create your delicious Cowboy Casserole:
Ingredients:
- 1.5 pounds ground beef (85/15 recommended for flavor without excessive grease)
- 1 cup frozen corn (no need to thaw)
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 (10.5-ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup (or cream of chicken)
- 1/2 cup milk (any kind)
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (plus extra for topping, if desired)
- 4-6 slices bacon, cooked crispy and crumbled
- 1 (32-ounce) bag frozen tater tots
Instructions: Layer Up the Deliciousness!
1. Cook the Ground Beef:
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium-high heat, breaking it up with a spoon as it browns. Drain any excess grease.
2. Create the Creamy Beef Mixture:
To the cooked ground beef in the skillet, add the frozen corn and rinsed and drained black beans. Stir to combine. Stir in the condensed cream of mushroom soup, milk, chili powder, cumin, and garlic powder. Mix well until everything is combined and heated through. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese until melted and incorporated into the mixture.
3. Assemble the Casserole:
Pour the ground beef mixture evenly into a 9×13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle the crumbled cooked bacon evenly over the beef mixture. Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer over the entire top of the casserole. You can place them neatly or just spread them out.
4. Bake to Golden Perfection:
Place the baking dish in the preheated oven. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy, and the casserole is bubbly around the edges. Optional: During the last 5-10 minutes of baking, you can sprinkle an additional ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the tater tots if you want an extra cheesy topping.
5. Rest and Serve:
Once baked, remove the casserole from the oven. Let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. This allows the casserole to set slightly and makes it easier to scoop. Serve hot and watch it disappear!
Tips for Cowboy Casserole Success
- Leaner Beef: If using leaner ground beef (90/10 or 93/7), you might need to add a tablespoon of oil to the skillet when browning to prevent sticking.
- Veggie Variations: Feel free to swap corn for green beans, diced bell peppers (sauté them with the beef), or even a can of Rotel (diced tomatoes with green chilies) for a kick.
- Cheese Please: Experiment with different types of shredded cheese like Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, or a Mexican blend.
- Spice it Up: For more heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the beef mixture, or a dash of hot sauce.
- Make Ahead: You can assemble the beef mixture (without the tater tots) up to a day in advance, store it covered in the fridge, then top with tater tots and bake when ready. You might need to add 10-15 minutes to the baking time if starting from cold.
This Easy Cowboy Casserole with Tater Tots is the ultimate comfort food hack – big on flavor, low on effort. Enjoy!