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Cowboy Casserole on a platecheesy cowboy casserole on a plate
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Cowboy Casserole

Cowboy casserole is a hearty tater tot casserole made with seasoned ground beef, beans, corn, and cheese baked under crispy golden tots.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword casserole recipes, dinner recipes, ground beef casseroles, tater tots recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 671kcal
Author Kathleen

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 pound 80/20 ground beef
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
  • 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced fire-roasted tomatoes including juice
  • 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce optional
  • 1 cup frozen corn thawed and well drained
  • 1 (32-ounce) bag tater tots

Topping:

  • 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat 350°F (177ºC). Spray a 9X13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
  • Heat vegetable oil (2 tablespoons) in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute onion (1), stirring frequently, until translucent, about 6 minutes. Add garlic (4 cloves), stirring constantly, and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add beef (1 pound), continue to cook, crumbling with a spoon until there is no longer any pink. Drain excess fat from skillet.
  • Sprinkle beef with chili powder (2 tablespoons), cumin (1 1/2 teaspoons), oregano (1 teaspoon), salt (1 teaspoon), pepper (1/2 teaspoon), and brown sugar (1/2 teaspoon). Continue to cook, stirring frequently, over medium heat until the spices become fragrant.
  • Stir in black beans (1 (15-ounce) can), pinto beans (1 (15-ounce) can, diced tomatoes (1 (14.5-ounce) can, green chiles (1 (4-ounce) can, sour cream (1/2 cup), 1 cup of cheddar, and hot sauce (1 teaspoon). Cook until the liquid thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Mix in frozen corn (1 cup), then pour it into the prepared baking dish.
  • Arrange a single layer of tater tots (1 (32-ounce) bag) over the beef mixture. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.
  • Remove from oven, remove and discard aluminum foil, and sprinkle cheese (1 cup) evenly over tater tots. Return to oven for 20 minutes, or until casserole is bubbly around the edges. Allow to cool slightly then serve.

Notes

  1. Toast the spices: Cooking the chili powder, cumin, and oregano briefly with the beef deepens their flavor and gives the casserole a more complex taste.
  2. Drain the beef well: Removing excess grease keeps the casserole rich and flavorful without becoming oily.
  3. Use frozen tater tots: There’s no need to thaw them first. Frozen tots bake up crisp and golden on top.
  4. Drain the corn well: Extra moisture can make the casserole watery, so make sure thawed or canned corn is well drained before adding it.
  5. Switch the meat if needed: Leaner ground beef, ground turkey, or ground chicken all work well here, though 80/20 ground beef gives the richest flavor.
  6. Corn: Make sure the corn is thawed, then drain it well. If not, the corn will add unwanted water to the casserole.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 671kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 76mg | Sodium: 1389mg | Potassium: 1066mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1207IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 328mg | Iron: 5mg