Cowboy Casserole: The Ultimate Comfort Food
This cowboy casserole is the ultimate comfort food for busy weeknights. Made with seasoned ground beef, sweet corn, creamy sauce, melted cheese, and crispy tater tots, it’s a hearty, family-friendly dinner that comes together quickly using simple pantry staples.
Ingredients
Beef Mixture
- 1 lb ground beef lean preferred
- 15 oz corn canned, drained
- 10.5 oz cream of mushroom soup
- 0.5 cup milk
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 0.5 tsp salt or to taste
- 0.5 tsp black pepper or to taste
Topping
- 2 cups shredded cheese cheddar or blend
- 32 oz frozen tater tots do not thaw
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat until fully cooked. Drain excess fat.
- Stir in the cream of mushroom soup, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 2 minutes.
- Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish and spread the beef mixture evenly on the bottom.
- Layer the corn evenly over the beef, then sprinkle shredded cheese on top.
- Arrange frozen tater tots in a single layer over the cheese.
- Bake for 30–35 minutes until the tater tots are golden and crispy.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
For extra crispy tater tots, broil for the last 2–3 minutes. Ground turkey or chicken can be substituted for beef, and additional vegetables like bell peppers or beans can be added for variety.