Best Cowboy Casserole with Tater Tots (Recipe + VIDEO)

User Reviews

5.0

3 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    15 mins

  • Cook Time

    15 mins

  • Total Time

    1 hr 10 mins

  • Servings

    12 servings

  • Calories

    428 kcal

  • Course

    Main Course

  • Cuisine

    American

Best Cowboy Casserole with Tater Tots (Recipe + VIDEO)

Hearty and delicious cowboy casserole is loaded with ground beef, Rotel chiles, beans and cheese, all topped with tater tots and baked to crisp, golden perfection. It's easy to make ahead and great to feed a crowd!

I Made This!

Be the first!

Save this

Be the first!

Ingredients

Servings
  • 3-4 strips Bacon chopped
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 3-4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 – 15 ounce cans ROTEL diced tomatoes and chiles
  • 15 ounce can kidney beans drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 8 ounces cream cheese cut into cubes
  • 32 ounce bag frozen tater tots
  • ¾ cup chopped green onions
Add to Shopping List

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Set out a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and spray with cooking spray.
  2. Set a large sauté pan over medium heat. Place the chopped bacon in the pan. Stir and fry the bacon for 3-5 minutes to brown. Then add in the ground beef. Chop the ground beef into small pieces with a wooden spoon. Then stir in the onions, garlic, chili powder, and salt. Stir and cook the meat mixture until the ground beef is cooked through and the onions are soft.
  3. Stir in the Rotel, kidney beans, frozen corn, shredded cheese, and cream cheese cubes.
  4. Scoop the meat mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread out into an even layer.
  5. Arrange the tater tots over the surface of the meat mixture. You can do this in straight lines or create a pattern with the tater tots.
  6. Bake the casserole for 40-50 minutes, until the casserole is bubbly around the edges, the tater tots are gold-brown, and a knife inserted into the center of the casserole comes out HOT.
  7. Once out of the oven, sprinkle chopped green onions over the top of the casserole. Serve warm.

Notes

  • Make Ahead Tips: Tater tot cowboy casserole with ground beef is terrific to make ahead! Cook the filling and assemble the entire dish, then freeze or refrigerate to bake later. I suggest using an aluminum disposable pan or other freezer-to-oven safe baking dish.
  • To freeze, wrap the casserole dish in a layer of plastic wrap, followed by one or two layers of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months, and thaw in the fridge overnight before baking.
  • Or, you can put together the casserole, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and store in the fridge for a day or two.
  • How to Store Leftovers: Baked cowboy casserole leftovers will keep well for up to 3 days. Let it cool completely before transferring to an airtight container and storing in the fridge.
  • I don't suggest freezing the casserole after it has baked. Tots that are frozen, baked, frozen again, and baked again tend to lose their crispness.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Serving 1sq Calories 428kcal (21%) Carbohydrates 33g (11%) Protein 17g (34%) Fat 26g (40%) Saturated Fat 10g (50%) Polyunsaturated Fat 4g Monounsaturated Fat 9g Trans Fat 0.5g Cholesterol 60mg (20%) Sodium 892mg (37%) Potassium 556mg (16%) Fiber 5g (20%) Sugar 3g (6%) Vitamin A 559IU (11%) Vitamin C 9mg (10%) Calcium 201mg (20%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 428 kcal

% Daily Value*

Serving 1sq
Calories 428kcal 21%
Carbohydrates 33g 11%
Protein 17g 34%
Fat 26g 40%
Saturated Fat 10g 50%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g 24%
Monounsaturated Fat 9g 45%
Trans Fat 0.5g 25%
Cholesterol 60mg 20%
Sodium 892mg 37%
Potassium 556mg 12%
Fiber 5g 20%
Sugar 3g 6%
Vitamin A 559IU 11%
Vitamin C 9mg 10%
Calcium 201mg 20%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Genuine Reviews

User Reviews

Overall Rating

5.0

3 reviews
Excellent

Write a Review

Drag & drop files here or click to upload
Other Recipes

You'll Also Love

Hot Dog Casserole with Tater Tots

American
5.0 (12 reviews)

Big Mac Casserole with Tater Tots

American
0.0 (0 reviews)

Shepherd's Pie with Tater Tots

American
0.0 (0 reviews)

Chicken Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

American
4.6 (207 reviews)

Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

American
4.7 (78 reviews)

Hamburger Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

American
5.0 (147 reviews)

Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

American
5.0 (30 reviews)

Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

American
4.9 (72 reviews)

Slow Cooker Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

American
5.0 (6 reviews)

Easy Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

American
5.0 (9 reviews)

Cowboy Cornbread Casserole Recipe

American, Mexican
4.5 (24 reviews)

Tater Tot Taco Casserole

American
5.0 (15 reviews)