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Cowboy Casserole Recipe Easy One Pan Dinner for a Crowd

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This hearty cowboy casserole combines seasoned ground beef, creamy sauce, sweet corn, gooey cheese, and crispy tater tots for the ultimate comfort food. Perfect for feeding a crowd, it’s easy to make in one pan and always a family favorite.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 1/2 pounds ground beef (85% lean recommended)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 can (15 oz) whole kernel corn, drained (or 1 1/2 cups frozen corn)
  • 1/2 cup milk (whole or 2%)
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano (optional)
  • 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (divided, sharp recommended)
  • 1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots
  • 1 can (4 oz) diced green chiles (optional)
  • Sliced jalapeños or chopped green onions (optional, for garnish)
  • Fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray or butter.
  2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef for 5-7 minutes, breaking it up as it browns. When halfway done, add diced onion and minced garlic. Cook until beef is cooked through and onions are soft, about 3 more minutes. Drain excess grease if needed.
  3. Sprinkle in smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, dried oregano, and chili powder. Stir well to coat the beef and onions evenly.
  4. In a mixing bowl, whisk together cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, milk, and corn. If using green chiles, add them now. Mix until smooth.
  5. Stir in 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese to the sauce mixture.
  6. Spread the cooked beef mixture evenly in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Pour the creamy cheese mixture over the beef and spread evenly.
  7. Arrange frozen tater tots in a single, even layer over the top.
  8. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese over the tater tots.
  9. Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes, or until tater tots are golden and crunchy and cheese is bubbling around the edges.
  10. Remove from oven and let sit for 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with green onions, parsley, or cilantro if desired.

Notes

For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free condensed soup and tater tots. You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for beef. Assemble ahead and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking (add 10-15 minutes to bake time if cold). For extra crisp tater tots, bake uncovered and move to the top oven rack for the last 5 minutes. Leftovers reheat best in the oven. Garnish with green onions, parsley, or jalapeños for extra flavor.

Nutrition

Keywords: cowboy casserole, tater tot casserole, one pan dinner, comfort food, easy casserole, ground beef casserole, crowd-pleaser, family dinner, potluck recipe, cheesy casserole

Find it online: https://blairrecipes.com/cowboy-casserole-recipe-easy-one-pan-dinner-for-a-crowd/