Description
Cowboy Casserole is a hearty, comforting dish layered with seasoned ground beef, creamy mushroom soup mixture, corn, bacon, cheddar cheese, and crispy tater tots. Perfect for a family dinner, this casserole combines rich flavors and textures baked to bubbly, golden perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 10.75 ounce can cream of mushroom soup
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups frozen corn
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup cooked and chopped bacon
- 28 ounces frozen tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and generously 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, breaking it into small pieces until no longer pink. Drain any excess grease from the meat.
- Mix Creamy Base: In a large bowl, whisk together the cream of mushroom soup, milk, and sour cream until smooth to create a creamy sauce base.
- Season and Combine: Add onion powder, salt, and black pepper to the creamy mixture and stir until fully combined.
- Incorporate Ingredients: Using a wooden spoon, stir the cooked ground beef, frozen corn, half a cup of shredded cheddar cheese, and chopped bacon into the creamy mixture until evenly mixed.
- Assemble Casserole: Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan. Evenly layer half a cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the mixture, then spread the frozen tater tots on top.
- Bake First Layer: Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 40 minutes or until the casserole is bubbly and the tater tots have browned.
- Add Final Cheese Layer: Remove the casserole from the oven, sprinkle the remaining half cup of cheddar cheese over the top, and return to the oven. Bake for an additional 5 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
- Serve: Optionally sprinkle with additional cooked bacon before serving. Serve hot and enjoy your hearty cowboy casserole.
Notes
- For a lower fat option, use lean ground beef or substitute with ground turkey.
- Feel free to add diced onions or bell peppers to the ground beef while cooking for extra flavor.
- If you prefer, use reduced-fat sour cream and cheese to lighten the dish.
- Tater tots can be substituted with frozen hash browns for a different texture.
- Leftovers reheat well in the oven or microwave.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 375 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg
