Description
Cowboy Casserole is a hearty and comforting baked dish featuring layers of seasoned ground beef, black beans, corn, creamy mushroom soup, melted cheddar and mozzarella cheese, all topped with crispy golden tater tots. Perfect for a family dinner, this easy-to-make casserole is packed with protein and flavor, combining classic Western ingredients into one satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Mixture
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 can black beans (15 oz, drained and rinsed)
- 1 can corn (15 oz, drained)
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup (10.5 oz)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Topping
- 1 bag frozen tater tots (32 oz)
Optional Garnish
- Chopped green onions (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) ensuring it’s ready for baking the casserole later.
- Cook Ground Beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until it is fully browned and no longer pink, then drain any excess fat to keep the casserole from being greasy.
- Combine Ingredients: Add the drained black beans, corn, cream of mushroom soup, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to the skillet with the beef. Stir everything together well and heat through to meld the flavors.
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a mixing bowl, combine the shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheeses. Set aside half of this mixture to sprinkle on top after baking.
- Assemble Base Layer: Pour the beef and bean mixture into a 9×13 inch baking dish, spreading it out evenly to create a solid base.
- Add Cheese Layer: Sprinkle the combined cheese mixture evenly over the beef and beans, ensuring full coverage.
- Top with Tater Tots: Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single, even layer over the cheese layer to guarantee crispiness on baking.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes until the tater tots turn golden brown and become crispy.
- Add Reserved Cheese: Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the reserved half of the cheese mixture on top. Return it to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: Optionally, garnish with chopped green onions to add a fresh flavor and a pop of color before serving hot.
Notes
- You can substitute cream of mushroom soup with cream of chicken or cream of celery soup if preferred.
- For a spicier kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or chopped jalapeños to the beef mixture.
- Using freshly shredded cheese provides better melting and flavor than pre-shredded varieties.
- Make sure to drain the canned beans and corn well to avoid excess liquid in the casserole.
- This casserole can be made ahead and refrigerated before baking; simply increase baking time by 10-15 minutes if baking from cold.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of casserole
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
Keywords: cowboy casserole, ground beef casserole, tater tot casserole, easy dinner recipe, comfort food, baked casserole
