Description
Cowboy Casserole is a hearty, comforting dish featuring ground beef, creamy mushroom soup, corn, cheese, bacon, and crispy tater tots baked to golden perfection. Perfect for family dinners or casual gatherings, this easy bake combines savory flavors and textures in one satisfying casserole.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Dairy
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese shredded, divided
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup bacon cooked and chopped
Canned and Frozen
- 1 10.75 ounce cream of mushroom soup
- 1 1/2 cups frozen corn
- 28 ounces tater tots frozen
Spices and Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly spray a 9x13-inch baking pan with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook Ground Beef: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef while breaking it into small pieces until it is fully browned and no longer pink. Drain excess grease.
- Mix Sauce: In a large bowl, whisk together the cream of mushroom soup, milk, and sour cream until smooth.
- Season and Combine: Add onion powder, salt, and black pepper to the sauce mixture and stir until well combined. Then fold in the cooked ground beef, frozen corn, ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese, and chopped bacon.
- Assemble Casserole: Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese on top, then arrange the frozen tater tots evenly over the cheese layer.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly and the tater tots are golden brown.
- Add Final Cheese Layer and Finish Baking: Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of cheese on top. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes, until the cheese is melted and gooey.
- Serve: Optionally, sprinkle extra chopped bacon on top before serving for added flavor and crunch. Serve warm.
Notes
- You can substitute cream of mushroom soup with cream of celery or cream of chicken if preferred.
- For a lower fat option, use lean ground beef and reduced-fat cheese.
- Tater tots can be swapped with frozen hash browns for a different texture.
- Make sure to drain excess grease from ground beef to avoid a soggy casserole.
- This casserole reheats well and can be made ahead and refrigerated before baking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 410 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 670 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
