Description
Cowboy Casserole is a hearty and comforting baked dish featuring layers of crispy bacon, seasoned ground beef, creamy mushroom soup, black beans, corn, diced green chilies, cheddar cheese, and topped with golden tater tots. This crowd-pleasing casserole blends savory flavors and textures, making it perfect for family dinners or potlucks.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Seasonings
- 6 strips bacon (cut into small pieces)
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 medium onion (chopped)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 (1 ounce) packet taco seasoning
- Salt & pepper (to taste)
Dairy and Canned Ingredients
- 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (divided)
Vegetables and Toppings
- 1 (14 ounce) can black beans (drained and rinsed)
- 1 (12 ounce) can corn (drained)
- 1 (4 ounce) can diced green chilies
- 32 ounces frozen tater tots
- Chopped scallions (for serving, optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and position the oven rack to the top third for even cooking and browning.
- Cook Bacon: Place the bacon pieces in a skillet over medium heat. Cook until crispy, about 10 minutes. Remove the bacon onto a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess fat, but keep the bacon fat in the skillet.
- Brown Beef and Sauté Onions: In the same skillet with bacon fat, add the ground beef and chopped onions. Stir occasionally and break up the beef with a spoon until the beef is browned and onions are softened, approximately 7 to 8 minutes. Drain most of the excess fat from the skillet.
- Add Garlic and Seasoning: Stir in the minced garlic and taco seasoning. Cook for about one minute to release the flavors.
- Combine Mixture: Remove the skillet from heat. Stir in the condensed cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, black beans, corn, diced green chilies, half of the cooked bacon, and about 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese. Mix thoroughly using two large spoons to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Prepare Casserole Layer: Transfer the beef mixture from the skillet to a 9×13 inch casserole dish, spreading it out in an even layer.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheddar cheese and cooked bacon evenly over the beef layer. Then, top the casserole with the frozen tater tots, covering the surface.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 45 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown and crisp and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Optionally, broil for a few minutes at the end to achieve extra browning, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven. Garnish with chopped scallions if desired. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste before serving.
Notes
- For a crispier top, broil the casserole for the last 2-3 minutes, watching closely to prevent burning.
- Use lean ground beef to reduce grease and fat content.
- If you prefer, substitute cheddar with a Mexican cheese blend for a different flavor.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- Drain and rinse black beans thoroughly to avoid excess moisture in the casserole.
