Cowboy Casserole
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
10 mins
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Cook Time
1 hr 10 mins
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Total Time
1 hr 20 mins
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Servings
8
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Calories
636 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
American
Cowboy Casserole
Description
This casserole starts by frying bacon until crisp, then browning ground beef with onions in the rendered bacon fat for added flavor. Garlic and taco seasoning season the mixture before it’s combined with cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, black beans, corn, diced green chilies, half the cooked bacon, and some shredded cheddar cheese. This filling forms the base layer in a casserole dish.
The mixture is topped with remaining cheese and bacon, then covered with a layer of frozen tater tots arranged evenly. Baking at 375°F allows the flavors to meld while the tater tots turn golden and crisp, providing a crunchy finish contrasting the creamy filling beneath.
Served hot, the casserole offers a rich combination of smoky bacon, spiced beef, creamy beans and corn, and crispy potato topping. It’s filling and suitable for feeding several people, making it a practical option for casual dinners.
Using a tater tot package close to 32 ounces is recommended, adjusting quantity to fit your dish. Low-sodium ingredient substitutions help control saltiness due to the inherently salty components. The casserole typically serves 6 to 8 people.
Ingredients
- 6 trips Bacon cut into small pieces
- 1 pound ground beef lean
- 1/2 medium onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 (1 ounce) packet taco seasoning
- 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 (14 ounce) can black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 (12 ounce) can corn drained
- 1 (4 ounce) can green chilies diced
- 2 cups cheddar cheese divided, shredded
- 32 ounces tater tots see note, frozen
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- scallions for serving (optional, to taste, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375F and move the rack to the top third of the oven.
- Add the bacon to a skillet over medium heat and cook until crispy (about 10 minutes). Transfer the bacon to a paper towel lined plate and leave the bacon fat in the pan.
- Add the beef and onions to the skillet, stirring occasionally and breaking the beef up with your spoon, until it's browned and the onions have softened (about 7-8 minutes). Spoon out most of the excess fat.
- Add the garlic and taco seasoning to the skillet and cook for about a minute.
- Turn the burner off, and then stir in the condensed soup, sour cream, black beans, corn, diced green chilies, half of the cooked bacon, and about a 1/2 cup of the cheddar. Combine well (I use 2 large spoons to make this easy).
- Transfer the skillet mixture to a 9x13 casserole dish and smooth in an even layer.
- Sprinkle the casserole with the rest of the cheese, the remaining bacon, and then top it with the tater tots.
- Bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes or until the tater tots are nicely browned and the cheese is hot and bubbly. You may want to broil at the end for a few minutes (watch it carefully). Serve with chopped scallions and season with salt & pepper if needed.
Notes
- Frozen tater tot package sizes vary; use about 32 ounces or adjust to fit your casserole dish.
- Use low-sodium versions of canned ingredients to reduce overall saltiness.
- Serves 6 to 8 depending on portion size.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 8Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 636 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 636kcal | 32% |
| Carbohydrates | 54g | 18% |
| Protein | 31g | 62% |
| Fat | 34g | 52% |
| Saturated Fat | 13g | 65% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 6g | 35% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 11g | 55% |
| Trans Fat | 0.2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 85mg | 28% |
| Sodium | 1524mg | 64% |
| Potassium | 866mg | 18% |
| Fiber | 8g | 32% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 737IU | 15% |
| Vitamin C | 16mg | 18% |
| Calcium | 261mg | 26% |
| Iron | 4mg | 22% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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