0 from 3 votes
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!
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
Ingredients
- 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
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Set out a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and spray with cooking spray.
- 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.
- Stir in the Rotel, kidney beans, frozen corn, shredded cheese, and cream cheese cubes.
- Scoop the meat mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread out into an even layer.
- 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.
- 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.
- Once out of the oven, sprinkle chopped green onions over the top of the casserole. Serve warm.
Cup of Yum
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
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
% 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.