Cowboy Casserole Recipe (2024)

Cowboy casserole is a crowd-pleasing favorite!

It has ground beef, veggies, and lots of cheesy tater tots baked in mushroom soup. Everything is baked in one dish and on the table in 30 minutes!

This tasty casserole is perfect for parties, potlucks, or just to heat and eat all week long!

What is Cowboy Casserole?

• This hearty and wholesome casserole has everything in it. The meat, veggies, and cheese are all blended together and baked until hot and bubbly!
• Super easy and versatile, cowboy casserole is a great recipe for using up leftover meat, veggies, and cheeses to save valuable grocery dollars!
• Make and take! Keep cowboy casserole warm in a Crockpot and let guests help themselves!
• Simple sides! Serve with a simple salad and a side of cornbread for the perfect cold-weather meal!

Ingredients and Variations

Meat – Ground beef, turkey, chicken, and even ground pork all work in this recipe! No time to cook ground beef? No problem! Use frozen mini-meatballs or shredded rotisserie chicken! Easy peasy!

Vegetables – Besides tomatoes and corn, toss in any leftover veggies and save a few bucks! Or add a bag of frozen veggies, no need to thaw!

Tater Tots – Thaw tater tots overnight in the refrigerator or on the countertop while prepping the rest of the recipe. Other potatoes to use are hash browns, potato slices, or wedges.

Cheese – Cheddar cheese has a robust flavor that pairs well in cowboy casserole, but a Mexican blend or Monterey Jack works. If time permits, grate the cheese yourself because pre-shredded cheese has anti-caking properties that keep it from melting quite as well.

Variations – Add a can of drained black beans, green beans, or sliced mushrooms. Switch out potatoes altogether for cooked white rice or use cauliflower florets for fewer carbs! Switch out the mushroom soup for cream of chicken or cream of celery, if desired. Or omit the meat altogether and serve along with thisegg and sausage breakfast casserole for a delicious brunch or when you are feeding a crowd!

How to Make Cowboy Casserole

Serve this comfort food favorite with a dollop of sour cream, guacamole, cheese sauce, or a few dashes of hot sauce!

1. Cook onion, ground beef, and green pepper. Drain the fat and set aside.
2. Whisk soup, milk, tomatoes, and sour cream in a small bowl and add to the beef mixture.
3. Fold in corn and one cup of shredded cheese to the beef mixture.
4. Layer half the tater tots in the casserole dish and spread the beef mixture over the top. Cover with layer of tater tots and sprinkle with remaining cheese.
5. Bake until the tots are golden brown and crunchy and the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Storing Cowboy Casserole

• Cowboy casserole tastes better the next day and can even be reheated with a scoop of scrambled eggs on top, for a hearty breakfast that will keep everyone full and energized until lunch!
• Keep it covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and reheat portions in the microwave, or on the stovetop.
• Freeze portions in freezer-safe containers for up to one month and thaw in the refrigerator overnight or thaw in the microwave before reheating on the stove, if desired.

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