Description
This hearty Cowboy Casserole is a comforting, all-in-one dish combining seasoned ground beef, creamy mushroom soup, corn, crispy tater tots, cheddar cheese, and bacon. Perfect for family dinners, it’s baked to golden perfection with a deliciously cheesy and crunchy topping.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Mixture
- ½ pound ground beef (85/15)
- 1 cup corn (fresh, frozen, or canned, drained)
- â…” cup condensed cream of mushroom soup
- â…“ cup whole milk
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Toppings
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided (½ cup + ½ cup)
- ½ cup cooked and crumbled bacon
- 32 ounces tater tots (about 4 cups)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) and allow it to reach the temperature while you prepare the other components.
- Cook Ground Beef: In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until fully cooked, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain off any excess fat to avoid greasiness.
- Prepare Beef Mixture: Stir the cooked ground beef with corn, condensed cream of mushroom soup, ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese, whole milk, sour cream, onion powder, and black pepper. Mix well and warm the mixture through on the stove to combine flavors.
- Assemble Casserole Base: Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and spread the beef mixture evenly across the bottom.
- Add Toppings: Layer the tater tots in a single layer over the beef mixture. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup cheddar cheese and the crumbled bacon evenly atop the tater tots.
- Bake the Casserole: Place the baking dish uncovered in the preheated oven. Bake for 30–35 minutes until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy, and the casserole is bubbling hot.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from the oven and let the casserole cool for about 5 minutes before serving to allow it to set slightly for easier portioning.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, broil the casserole for 2-3 minutes at the end, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- Use low-fat sour cream or milk to reduce calories if preferred.
- This dish can be prepared ahead and refrigerated before baking; add an extra 5-10 minutes to the cooking time if baking from cold.
- Substitute corn with green beans or peas for a different vegetable twist.
- To make this recipe gluten-free, ensure the cream of mushroom soup used is gluten-free.
