Description
Cowboy Casserole is a hearty and comforting American dinner that's perfect for busy weeknights. This casserole combines savory ground beef, sweet corn, creamy mushroom soup, and tangy sour cream, all topped with crispy tater tots for a delicious contrast in texture. Ready in under an hour, it’s a family-friendly meal that’s simple to prepare and satisfying to eat.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1/2 pound ground beef (85/15)
- 1 cup corn
- 2/3 cup condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded and divided
- 1/3 cup whole milk
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 32 ounces tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit to get it ready for baking the casserole later.
- Cook the beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until it's browned and no longer pink. This will build the savory base for your casserole.
- Mix the filling: To the browned beef in the skillet, add the corn, condensed cream of mushroom soup, half of the shredded cheddar cheese (1/2 cup), whole milk, sour cream, onion powder, and black pepper. Stir well to combine all the ingredients evenly.
- Assemble the casserole: In a 9x13 inch baking dish, spread the beef mixture evenly. Then sprinkle with the remaining cheddar cheese on top of the mixture. Finally, arrange the tater tots in a single layer over the cheese to cover the surface.
- Bake the casserole: Place the dish uncovered in the preheated oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy.
- Add finishing cheese and bake: Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheddar cheese over the baked tater tots and return the dish to the oven. Bake for an additional 5 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Notes
- Use 85/15 ground beef for a good balance of flavor and fat without being too greasy.
- If you prefer, frozen corn can be used instead of canned or fresh corn.
- To reduce sodium, consider using a low-sodium cream of mushroom soup.
- For extra crispy tater tots, you can broil them for 2-3 minutes at the end but watch carefully to prevent burning.
- This casserole can be prepared a day in advance and refrigerated before baking; increase baking time slightly if baking cold.
