Easy Cowboy Casserole (NO CONDENSED SOUP!)

This cowboy casserole recipe comes together in about an hour (most of that is hands-off baking time!) and is made with simple ingredients you probably already have in your fridge and pantry! It’s a playful twist on the classic tater tot casserole, adding taco seasoning, beans, corn, and salsa into the creamy, cheesy casserole.

 

Easy Cowboy Casserole Recipe

• It’s made with real ingredients! One of my favorite things to do is take classic comfort food recipes and re-create them without condensed soup! There are so many other ways to make the creamy, cheesy hot dish filling that doesn’t require a can of Campbell’s! This casserole relies on freshly shredded cheese and sour cream to give it that classic creamy texture.
• It’s nearly a one-pan dinner! If you use a large saute pan (that can go from the stovetop to the oven) then this actually *can* be a one-pot meal! And if not, it’s still a dump-and-bake dinner that comes together super quick. This is a great way to use up that ground beef you’ve got in the fridge!

Ingredients for Cowboy Casserole

• Onion & Garlic: Fresh onion and garlic add tons of flavor to this cowboy casserole recipe. If your family picks the onions out of everything, try dicing them super finely and they’ll never even know they’re in there!
• Ground Beef: I like 85/15 ground beef for this recipe. A fattier ground beef may end up a bit greasy and anything leaner is going to lack flavor. 85/15 seems to be the sweet spot.
• Taco Seasoning: Make homemade taco seasoning or buy a packet from the store.
• Black Beans: You can also use pinto beans instead of black beans if you like. If you’re not into beans, substitute with a drained can of Rotel tomatoes!
• Corn: Canned, fresh, or frozen corn will all work for this casserole.
• Salsa: Use a salsa that you enjoy eating. For a little kick, try a spicy salsa.
• Sour Cream: Full-fat sour cream will give you the best flavor and texture. Fat-free or low-fat are going to have a higher water content which will prevent the casserole from getting creamy.
• Sharp Cheddar Cheese: You can use your favorite melty cheese in place of the sharp cheddar. I just like the bite and extra cheesy flavor that it gives.
• Tater Tots: You can use tater tots, potato crowns, potato rounds, potato puffs – any of your favorite frozen tater tot like potatoes.

How to Make Cowboy Tater Tot Casserole

Saute onion and garlic in a pan. Add ground beef and cook, crumbling with a spatula until browned. Add taco seasoning and a splash of water and combine.

Stir in black beans, corn, salsa, sour cream, and half the shredded cheese until well combined.

Transfer to a 9×13 baking dish. Top with the remaining cheese.

Add tater tots in a single layer.

Bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes or until the tater tots are cooked through and crisp and the casserole is bubbly around the edges. Broil for 1-2 minutes to get the tater tots extra crispy on top. Let rest for a few minutes. Then garnish with green onion, sour cream, jalapeno, and cilantro, and enjoy!

Tips for Making the Best Cowboy Casserole

• Switch up the beans and veggies to suit your family’s taste! Switch out the black beans for pinto beans and try diced green chilies or Rotel tomatoes instead of corn if you want. This is the perfect “clean out the fridge” meal to use up whatever you’ve got on hand.
• Switch up the protein! Use ground turkey in place of the ground beef if you like. Just be aware that it’s a bit more lean so it’s not going to have quite as much flavor as beef. You could also use leftover shredded rotisserie chicken in place of the ground beef!
• Shred your own cheese. Freshly shredded cheese melts better than pre-shredded cheese. Shredded cheese from the grocery store is coated in cellulose to prevent it from clumping but that also keeps it from melting well.
• Spice it up if you want! Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or chipotle powder to add some heat or smokiness. You can also use pepper jack cheese instead of sharp cheddar if you’re looking for a little extra kick.

Make-Ahead Instructions

• This cowboy casserole is one of my favorite make-ahead meals.
• You can prep the casserole up to 2 days in advance – just don’t add the tater tots yet! Cover tightly and store it in the fridge.
• The tater tots cook best when they’re frozen so you don’t want to let them sit in the fridge for days or they’ll get soggy and won’t get crispy when baked.
• When you’re ready to bake, pull the casserole from the fridge and let it sit out on the counter for 30-60 minutes to come to room temperature.
• Then add frozen tater tots and bake according to recipe instructions.
• Plan to add 10-15 extra minutes of baking to account for the colder temperature.

Storing Cowboy Casserole

Store leftover casserole in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Freezing Cowboy Casserole

This cowboy casserole is the perfect freezer meal. Assemble the casserole as instructed but before adding the cheese and tater tots, allow it to cool a bit. Top with cheese and frozen tater tots. Seal tightly with foil and place inside a freezer-safe Ziploc bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight before baking. Plan to add 10-15 minutes or more of baking time to account for the colder temperature.

Reheating Cowboy Casserole

Reheat cowboy casserole in a 350-degree oven until warmed through. Or reheat in the microwave in 30-60 second increments until warmed through. Season to taste before serving.

Try these casserole recipes next!

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