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Cowboy casserole in a deep skillet with crispy tater tots, seasoned ground beef, corn, and a creamy sauce topped with melted cheddar.

Cowboy Casserole

Cowboy Casserole is a cheesy tater tot casserole loaded with seasoned ground beef, crispy bacon, corn, and a creamy sauce. Easy comfort food for potlucks, family dinners, and leftovers.
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Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, bacon casserole, cheesy beef casserole, potluck casserole, tater tot casserole
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Rest Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 10
Calories: 720kcal
Author: Hannah Cooking
Cost: $18–$24

Equipment

  • 1 9x13 baking dish (glass or ceramic)
  • 1 Large skillet (for beef)
  • 1 Baking Sheet (for bacon (or skillet))
  • 1 Mixing bowl (for sauce)
  • 1 Spatula (for stirring/spreading)
  • 1 measuring spoon set (seasonings)

Ingredients

  • 2 lb ground beef - 80/20 or lean
  • 1 lb bacon - cooked crispy & crumbled
  • 1 onion - diced
  • 2 cloves garlic - minced
  • 1 can cream of mushroom soup - 10.5 oz
  • 1 can corn - 15 oz, drained
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt - to taste
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper - to taste
  • 1 bag frozen tater tots - 32 oz
  • 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • ½ cup green onions - sliced, for topping (optional)
  • 2 tablespoon parsley - chopped, for topping (optional)
  • ½ cup jalapeños - sliced, optional

Instructions 

  • Let rest 10 minutes, then top with parsley, green onions, and reserved bacon.
  • Brown Beef: Cook ground beef with onion until browned; add garlic 30 seconds. Drain excess grease.
  • Season Beef: Stir in paprika, Worcestershire, salt, and pepper.
  • Make Sauce: Mix soup + sour cream until smooth; stir into beef.
  • Add Corn: Fold in drained corn and most of the crumbled bacon (save some for topping).
  • Layer Tots: Spread frozen tater tots in a single layer in a greased 9x13 dish.
  • Spread Filling: Spoon beef mixture evenly over the tater tots.
  • Top Cheese: Sprinkle cheddar + mozzarella over the top (add jalapeños if using).
  • Bake Covered: Bake at 375°F for 30 minutes, covered with foil.
  • Bake Uncovered: Remove foil and bake 15 minutes until bubbly and golden.
  • Rest: Let rest 10 minutes, then top with parsley, green onions, and reserved bacon.

Nutrition

Serving: 1pan | Calories: 720kcal (36%) | Carbohydrates: 33g (11%) | Protein: 31g (62%) | Fat: 52g (80%) | Saturated Fat: 21g (131%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 18g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 145mg (48%) | Sodium: 1220mg (53%) | Potassium: 820mg (23%) | Fiber: 3g (13%) | Sugar: 4g (4%) | Vitamin A: 650IU (13%) | Vitamin C: 8mg (10%) | Calcium: 320mg (32%) | Iron: 4mg (22%)