Published: Jan 24, 2024 by Kelly Anthony · 56 CommentsThis post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.

Easy Cowboy Casserole Recipe

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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! Are you a casserole lover? We have so many different casserole recipes for you to try!

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.

Three-step process for browning ground beef in Cowboy Casserole Recipe with Tater Tots

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.

Water and cornstarch combination for Cowboy Casserole

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!

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