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Cowboy Casserole, topped with cheesy tater tots, is a kid-friendly dinner that'll have everyone lining up for seconds!
This dinner is hearty enough to be served on its own without having to whip up any extra side dishes. However, if you're looking to add to your dinner menu, Shells and Cheese, a Classic House Salad, or Stewed Green Beans with Bacon make excellent companions for this dish.
WHAT IS COWBOY CASSEROLE MADE OF?
This easy-to-make casserole features a chili-style base fully loaded with a mix of flavorful ground beef chili, tater tots, corn, and onions, all to be topped off with a layer of crispy, cheesy tater tots.
RECIPE VARIATIONS
The great thing about this simple dish is that you can make it what you want, customizing the ingredients. Here are some ideas to change up this recipe.
- If tater tots aren't your thing, cornbread makes an excellent sub!
- Replace the ground beef with ground turkey for a leaner protein.
- Chili beans can bulk up this recipe.
- Some Cowboy Tater Tot Casserole recipes call for cream of mushroom soup. Add this for a denser, richer dish.
- If you can find fire-roasted crushed tomatoes, they will add a great deal of flavor and savoriness to your casserole.
- Want to set it and forget it? Get out the slow cooker, toss in your ingredients, and cook on low for 5 hours.
HOW TO MAKE COWBOY CASSEROLE
The flavor in this casserole is outstanding, and you'll find it just as good the next day as it was the first. Most of that has to do with the ingredients; very little skill is required for this recipe!
The best part? Cowboy Casserole is easy to make and requires very little prep. Aside from chopping an onion, it's mostly just a little sauteeing here and there, followed by a bake in the oven! Here's how you do it:
- Brown the Meat | Add the ground beef to the pan and season with chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Brown seasoned ground beef until fully cooked and remove from pan.
2. Combine Ingredients | Add the onion to the pan and cook until softened.
Add cooked beef back to the pan, along with crushed tomatoes, beef broth,
and corn.
3. Make Cornstarch Slurry | Combine cornstarch and water in a small bowl
and allow the mixture to simmer for about 3-4 minutes.
4. Assemble | Remove from heat and add sour cream and cheddar cheese.
Add half of the tater tots to a casserole dish and pour over the beef
filling. Top with remaining tater tots.
5. Bake | Bake for 25 minutes and add the remaining cheese. Bake 10
minutes more.
HOW TO MAKE COWBOY CASSEROLE AHEAD OF TIME
Make-Ahead | Follow the recipe up to the point of baking. Cover and refrigerate. Then, set out 30 minutes prior to baking or add 10 minutes to the cook time.
Store | To store leftover Cowboy Casserole, cover the casserole dish with either plastic wrap or aluminum foil and keep refrigerated for up to four days.
Freeze | Casseroles are excellent candidates for freezing! Once your casserole has cooled completely, wrap the entire dish in two layers of aluminum foil and transfer to the freezer. Freeze for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
If you love dinnertime casseroles, be sure to try our Tex-Mex Beef Enchiladas, Homemade Chicken Pot Pie, and Cheesey Chicken Spaghetti!
4.37 from 109 votes
Easy Cowboy Casserole
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
35 mins
Total Time
55 mins
An easy Cowboy Casserole Recipe loaded ground beef, tater tots, and cheese! Perfect for weeknight family dinners and feeding a crowd.
Course:Main Course
Cuisine:American
Keyword:Cowboy Casserole
Servings: 8
Calories: 644 kcal
Author: Kelly Anthony
Ingredients
- 2pounds80/20 ground beef
- 2tablespoonschili powder
- 2 ½teaspoonsground cumin
- 1tablespoonKosher salt
- 1teaspoonblack pepper
- ½teaspoongarlic powder
- 1yellow onion, finely diced
- 1(14.5 ounce)can crushed tomatoes(preferably fire-roasted)
- 1 ½ cuplow-sodium beef broth
- 1cupcorn
- 1 ½tablespooncornstarch
- ¼cupsour cream
- 2 ¼cupfreshly grated Cheddar cheese
- 1(32 ounce)package of frozen tater tots
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 375° and have ready a greased 9x13" casserole dish.
Add to ground beef, chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper, and garlic powder to a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Break apart the meat, blending in the spices and cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring often.
Use a slotted spoon to transfer the beef to a bowl and set aside. Turn off the heat and carefully, spoon out all but a thin layer of grease and discard. Resume medium-high heat setting, add the diced onion and sauté 3-4 minutes, until softened.
Add the beef back into the pan, along with crushed tomatoes, beef broth, and corn. Bring to a simmer.
In a small bowl, mix together cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water, and stir into the beef mixture. Simmer 3-4 minutes until thickened.Turn off the heat and stir in sour cream and 1 cup of Cheddar cheese.
Add half of the tater tots to the prepared casserole dish and pour over the beef mixture. Stir to combine. Top with the remaining tater tots and bake for 25 minutes, uncovered.
Add the Cheddar cheese and bake for 10 minutes more. Allow to cool slightly, serve, and enjoy.
Nutrition Facts
Easy Cowboy Casserole
Amount Per Serving
Calories 644Calories from Fat 351
% Daily Value*
Fat 39g60%
Saturated Fat 16g100%
Cholesterol 114mg38%
Sodium 1818mg79%
Potassium 1023mg29%
Carbohydrates 41g14%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 34g68%
Vitamin A 1120IU22%
Vitamin C 15.2mg18%
Calcium 301mg30%
Iron 4.7mg26%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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Reader Interactions
Comments
tayler says
This honestly sounds like perfection! Will be adding it to my dinner rotation!
Reply
Kelly Anthony says
Thank you, Tayler!
See AlsoGrounding Tea Recipes19 Deeply Satisfying Ground Beef RecipesHealthy Turkey Salisbury Steak RecipeGround Beef Veggie Skillet RecipeReply
Deborh says
would you PLEASE PUT IN THIS RECIPE IF THE TATER TOTS ARE FROZEN OR THAWED WHEN YOU PUT THEM IN THE CASSEROLE!!! I have looked for 45 minutes trying to find where that would have been said. Some recipes call for using them frozen and some thawed which is important in the bake time. Thank you!!
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Kelly Anthony says
Hi there, Kathy! The tater tots are frozen going in!
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Jessica Formicola says
I love everything about this casserole! It became an instant family favorite!
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Julia says
This casserole looks amazing! Wish I was there when you made it 🙂
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Jill says
This is most definitely a whole-family pleasing meal. Pinned!
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Elaine Benoit says
Okay, I drooled looking at your photos! I've never heard of cowboy casserole but not that I have to make it asap! Tater tots on top of cheesy beef!? Sign me up!
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Jacque Hastert says
This casserole will become a family favorite for sure. Love how simple it is to prepare and comes out with so much flavor.
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Des says
I made this and it was gone within minutes from the kiddos plates. Can't wait to make it again soon.
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Kelly Anthony says
Oh yay! I'm so glad! Thanks so much for letting me know, Des 🙂
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Eva says
I love baked dinners. I am a sucker for any pasta bake, so I'm actually picturing subbing the tater tots with pasta here! Would also taste delicious!
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Sandy Quinn says
I'm sure that pasta would taste good in this, but the tater tots are a nice change.
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Jennifer says
We love cowboy casserole!!! It's one of our go-to weekly meals!!! So good!
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Sherri says
Casseroles are just the best! And this one is surely a winner! So much flavor, what's not to love? Perfect for the whole family!
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Kelly Anthony says
Thanks so much, Sherri!
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Aleta says
YES PLEASE!! I am so sad that I have never heard of cowboy casserole until now. My kids are going to freak out when I make them this delicious casserole! Thanks for sharing 🙂
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Jessica (Swanky Recipes) says
Anything with cheese and tator tots is my favorite. This sounds amazing and hearty with ground beef. I love that I can throw it all together just in time for a quick dinner for the family.
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Michelle says
I've never heard of cowboy casserole, this looks amazing! We're vegetarian so I'm gonna try to make a veggie version of this. Thanks for the inspiration x
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Tammy says
Oooh yeah! This looks awesome ;D I've never had a cowboy casserole before but I'm eager to try this sometime ^_^
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Monica says
You had me at tater tots for dinner! And my son, too! 🙂 So nice to have a simple meal that pleases everyone!
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Kelly Anthony says
Thanks so much, Monica!
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Elizabeth Leaver says
This looks like the best comfort food! It's the kind of meal I go back for seconds, and probably thirds... plus anything topped with cheese and you've won me over! Need to make this ASAP!
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Saima says
What a hearty looking casserole! I would definitely try this on a weekend. I'm sure my family would love it!
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Sam | Ahead of Thyme says
My husband is obsessed with casseroles! I can't wait to surprise him with this. I'm loving the ingredients you have thrown in here, I have never tried anything like this. Yum!
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Kelly Anthony says
It's so yummy! He'll love it! Thanks, Sam!
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Stine Mari says
This sounds amazing! Is Cowboy Casserole a name you made yourself? I love it! All the flavors look on point!
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Amanda says
Oh, I have a major weakness for tater tots and anything cheesy, so I definitely need to try this! This looks incredible. Thanks so much for sharing!
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Gloria says
This looks like a winner of a casserole. Perfect for comfort food season. Great to take along to a potluck too.
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Byron Thomas says
Oh, sweet Lord! I'm all about this casserole right now! In my opinion, all casseroles should have ground beef, but you've taken this one to a whole new level! You totally have me with the fire roasted tomatoes. They can add flavour to just about anything!!
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Kelly Anthony says
Ha! Thanks, Bryon! You could totally sub in ground beef for the turkey here if you wanted 😉
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Linda says
Oh, that cheese on the top did it for me! What an easy casserole to throw together and everyone knows that kids just adore tater tots. I like adding some additional on the top so they can get nice and crispy and maybe, just maybe, there might be a little snitching of the tater tot and cheese before it gets to the table. lo Just sayin'!
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Sandy Quinn says
My family loves this dish. Why not put the cheese on top of the beef mixture and then add the tater tots. Nice and crispy.
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Danielle Wolter says
This is something my boyfriend would just LOVE!! Such an easy meal to throw together and so many delicious flavors!
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Linda says
Oh, I love tater tots! In fact, I always look forward to tater tots day. This cowboy casserole is perfect for a quick midweek dinner and/or a gathering. And they freeze well, too!
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Lathiya says
The casserole look super cheesy and delicious...it sounds like a perfect dinner option for cold and cozy nights
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Jori says
I've not heard of cowboy casserole. Thanks for introducing me to a dish. I love how you can make this ahead of time and you can feed the whole family with one pan!
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Jacqueline Debono says
Your cowboy casserole looks and sounds delicious. A great family meal that young and old will enjoy!
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Maman de sara says
I never added tater tots to casseroles, that looks like a great idea.
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April says
I am keen to make this casserole ASAP! It looks so good and must be the center of everyone's attention!
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Mimi says
When I think of casserole recipes, I think of exactly what you have here - rich, mouthwatering and sooo goood! Can't wait to try it.
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Carrie says
I’m trying this for the first time. I didn’t have crushed tomatoes so I used salsa instead. It smells great! Can’t wait to eat it
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Kelly Anthony says
Thank you so much, Carrie! Hope it turned out well with your salsa sub -- smart thinking!
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Lorri says
Just wondering if this can be made in a casserole crockpot?
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Kelly Anthony says
We haven't tested that cooking method yet. Sorry, Lorri! If you experiment, let us know how it turns out! 🙂
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Sandy Quinn says
Very good. My family loves it and it's in out rotation. I've also frozen it, no problems. I also increased all of the seasonings, tomatoes, corn and sour cream the 2nd time I made it.
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Anna says
How would I need to adjust the recipe to use only 1lb of ground beef?
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Kelly Anthony says
Hi Anna! You really won't need to adjust the recipe at all. It will just be less beefy 😉
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Kelli says
Do you thaw the tater tots? Or just put the frozen ones in the casserole dish?
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Kelly Anthony says
Hi Kelli! Just add them frozen 🙂
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lisamarie says
i have a smaller pan so i have a bunch of the beefy mixture leftover, any ideas don’t wanna waste it!
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Kelly Anthony says
Hi Lisa! You could always top it with some mashed potatoes and bake a make-shift/Texas-style Shepards pie! 😉
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Jeffery says
Simply Wow!!. My husband is from Minnesota and I had never heard of Tator Tot Casserole before, as I am from New Hampshire. I made this tonight for a twist on the classic casserole and we both simply loved it. Thank you.
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Kamie Moore says
I am glad yall loved it! Thank you, Jeffery!
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Nan b says
I’ve made this a few times for pot luck, everyone loves it! Do you think I can sub yogurt for the cream, just don’t feel like a grocery run lol.
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Kelly Anthony says
Hi, Nan! It looks like I'm probably seeing this too late. Yogurt would be experimental for me! Curious whether or not you tried it though!
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