Description
Hearty Cowboy Casserole made easy in the slow cooker! Features ground beef, bacon, creamy soup base, and crispy tater tot topping. Perfect family dinner!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds lean ground beef (80/20)
- 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 (15-ounce) can corn, drained
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- 1 (10.75-ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 (10.75-ounce) can cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 1 (32-ounce) bag frozen tater tots
- 2–3 green onions, thinly sliced, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Brown the Ground Beef: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef. Break it up with a spoon as it cooks. Drain off any excess grease.
- Add Aromatics and Vegetables: Add the chopped onion, minced garlic, and chopped bell pepper to the skillet with the browned ground beef. Cook until the onion is translucent and the bell pepper is slightly softened, about 5-7 minutes. Stir frequently.
- Incorporate Canned Goods and Spices: Stir in the drained corn, rinsed and drained black beans, diced tomatoes (undrained), and tomato sauce. Add the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well to combine.
- Simmer the Mixture: Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add Bacon: Stir in the cooked and crumbled bacon.
- Combine Soups and Sour Cream: In a large bowl, whisk together the cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, and sour cream until smooth.
- Incorporate Cheese: Stir in 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese into the soup mixture. Reserve the remaining 1 cup for topping.
- Combine Meat and Creamy Base: Pour the meat mixture into the bowl with the creamy soup and cheese mixture. Stir well to combine thoroughly.
- Prepare the Slow Cooker: Lightly grease the inside of your slow cooker with cooking spray.
- Pour in the Mixture: Pour the combined meat and creamy mixture into the prepared slow cooker. Spread it out evenly.
- Arrange Tater Tots: Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer on top of the meat mixture.
- Top with Cheese: Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the tater tots.
- Slow Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours. The cooking time may vary depending on your slow cooker, so check for doneness. The tater tots should be golden brown and the casserole should be bubbly.
- Check for Doneness: To check if the casserole is done, insert a fork into the center. It should be heated through and the tater tots should be easily pierced.
- Optional Broiling (for extra crispiness): If you want the tater tots to be extra crispy, you can carefully remove the slow cooker insert (if it’s oven-safe) and place it under the broiler for a few minutes, watching closely to prevent burning. Alternatively, you can transfer the casserole to a baking dish and broil it.
- Garnish and Serve: Once the casserole is cooked, garnish with thinly sliced green onions (if using). Let it cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of chili powder to your liking for spice level.
- Feel free to add other vegetables to the meat mixture, such as diced carrots, celery, or mushrooms.
- You can substitute ground turkey or ground chicken for the ground beef.
- Experiment with different types of cheese, such as Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, or a blend of cheeses.
- You can use other types of frozen potatoes, such as shredded hash browns or potato wedges, in place of the tater tots.
- If you don’t have cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup, you can use cream of celery or cream of potato soup. You can also make a homemade cream sauce using butter, flour, and milk.
- You can assemble the casserole ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before cooking. Add the tater tots just before cooking to prevent them from getting soggy.
- This casserole can be frozen for up to 3 months. Let it cool completely before wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
- Serve the Cowboy Casserole with a side salad or some cornbread.
- This recipe is best suited for a 6-quart or larger slow cooker. If you have a smaller slow cooker, you may need to reduce the ingredients accordingly.
- The cooking time may vary depending on your slow cooker. Check the casserole periodically to ensure that it is not overcooking.
- Always use caution when handling hot dishes and appliances.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 360 minutes