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Overhead view of a golden brown cowboy casserole in a white ceramic baking dish topped with crispy tater tots and melted cheddar cheese, with a scoop removed showing seasoned beef and corn filling on a rustic wooden table beside sour cream and a fork.
Jana Rae

Cowboy Casserole

This easy cowboy casserole recipe is loaded with beef, cheese, beans, corn, and crispy tater tots. Ready in 30 minutes!
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 6
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 515
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 1 small yellow onion diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 can 15 oz ranch-style beans, drained
  • 1 can 15 oz sweet corn, drained
  • 1 can 10 oz diced tomatoes with green chiles, undrained
  • 1 packet 1 oz taco seasoning
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
  • 1 bag 32 oz frozen tater tots

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  2. In a skillet, cook beef and onion over medium-high heat until browned (5–7 min). Add garlic, cook 1 min. Drain grease.
  3. Stir in taco seasoning, beans, corn, and tomatoes (with juices). Simmer 2–3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup of cheese.
  4. Pour beef mixture into baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese. Arrange tater tots in a single layer on top.
  5. Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes until tots are golden and casserole is bubbly.
  6. Rest 5 minutes. Serve warm with optional toppings.

Notes

Swap ground beef for ground turkey or plant-based crumbles. For a gluten-free version, use certified gluten-free taco seasoning and check bean labels.