Description
Cowboy Casserole is a hearty, flavorful one-dish meal combining seasoned ground beef, black beans, corn, salsa, and creamy cheese, all topped with crispy tater tots baked to golden perfection. This comforting casserole is perfect for family dinners and easy to customize with your favorite toppings.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup diced yellow onion
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound ground beef
- 3 tablespoons homemade taco seasoning (or 1 packet storebought taco seasoning)
- 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 ounce) can corn, drained
- 3/4 cup restaurant style salsa
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 12 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
- 32 ounce bag frozen tater tots
Toppings and Garnishes
- Sliced green onion, for garnish
- Sour cream, for garnish
- Sliced jalapeno, for garnish
- Fresh chopped cilantro, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Heat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Sauté Onion: Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add diced onion with salt and pepper, cooking and stirring frequently for about 3 minutes until softened.
- Add Garlic: Add minced garlic to the pan and cook, stirring frequently, for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Cook Ground Beef: Add raw ground beef along with salt and pepper. Turn heat to medium-high and cook, crumbling the meat with a spatula until fully cooked through.
- Season Beef: Stir in the taco seasoning until the meat is well coated; add a splash of water if the mixture seems too dry to help distribute seasoning evenly.
- Mix in Beans, Corn, and Dairy: Stir in drained black beans, corn, salsa, sour cream, and half of the shredded cheddar cheese until all ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- Prepare Casserole Dish: Transfer the beef mixture to a 9×13-inch baking dish and top evenly with the remaining shredded cheese. Arrange tater tots in a single layer on top of the cheese.
- Bake: Bake uncovered for 45 minutes or until the tater tots are cooked through, golden, and crisp, and the casserole is bubbly around the edges.
- Broil for Crispness: For an extra crispy top, broil the casserole for 1–2 minutes, watching carefully to avoid burning the tater tots.
- Rest and Garnish: Let the casserole rest for a few minutes before garnishing with sliced green onions, additional sour cream, sliced jalapeno, and fresh chopped cilantro. Serve and enjoy!
- Optional: Leave a 5-star rating and review if you loved this flavorful and comforting recipe!
Notes
- This casserole can be customized with different types of cheese or additional vegetables like bell peppers or diced tomatoes.
- For a spicier kick, add diced jalapenos to the beef mixture or use spicy salsa.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven for best texture.
- You can make your own taco seasoning to control salt and spice levels.
- Be sure to watch the casserole carefully during broiling to avoid burning the tater tots.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
