Cowboy Casserole

5 from 6 votes

Cowboy Casserole is creamy, cheesy, and topped with crispy tater tots. A hearty, budget-friendly dinner that’s kid-approved and weeknight easy.

Prep Time10

Cook Time50

Total Time1

Course: Dinner, entree, Main Course, main dish

Cuisine: American, southwest, texmex

Keyword: cowboy casserole, cowboy casserole recipe, easy cowbow casserole, family favorite, quick cowboy casserole, taco cowboy casserole, tater tot casserole, tater tot casserole recipe

Servings: servings

Author: Alyssa Rivers

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground beef
1 cup diced onion about 1 medium onion
1 tablespoon minced garlic about 3 cloves
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes and chiles
¼ cup milk
¾ cup sour cream
1 ½ cups frozen corn
1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 (30-ounce) bag frozen tater tots

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Add 1 pound lean ground beef to a 14-inch skillet and cook over medium-high heat until nearly cooked through, about 5-6 minutes. Add 1 cup diced onion and 1 tablespoon minced garlic and cook for 3-4 more minutes before draining off the excess gease.
Reduce the heat to medium and add 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes and chiles, ¼ cup milk, and ¾ cup sour cream to the skillet, and stir to combine.
Stir 1 ½ cups frozen corn into the beef mixture. Turn off the heat and transfer the mixture into a greased 3-quart baking dish, or keep it in the skillet as long as it is oven-safe. Sprinkle 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Layer 1 (30-ounce) bag frozen tater tots in an even layer over the top of the cheese.
Bake for about 30-35 minutes until the tater tots are crispy on top.

Notes

- Storage: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave in 30–60 second bursts.
- Make Ahead: Assemble up to 24 hours in advance. Cover and refrigerate until ready to bake.
- Baking Tip: If baking straight from the fridge, add a few extra minutes to the cook time.
- Alternate Prep: Or, prep just the filling ahead, store it separately, reheat on the stovetop, then add cheese + tater tots and bake as directed.

Nutrition

QR code

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