Cowboy Casserole

Craving beef, beans, cheese and potatoes with a little spicy kick? Saddle up and make this delicious Cowboy Casserole! This savory and comforting meal is incredibly easy to make and is great for busy nights. Creamy, filling and topped with crispy tater tots, this stick-to-your-ribs family dinner is also kid approved!

Cowboy tater tot casserole is one of those tasty recipes I find myself making again and again. It's so easy to whip together and makes a complete, satisfying meal--all in one dish.

Honestly, I think I could layer just about anything with a ton of cheese and crispy tater tots and it would be a winner here (I mean, what's not to like about those ingredients--am I right?).

But for me, the best part of this easy cowboy casserole recipe are the Tex-Mex ingredients. Ground beef, chili and onion powder, crumbled bacon, hearty red kidney beans, corn and green bell pepper take this dish to the next level when mixed with a can of cream of celery soup. Top it with shredded Colby Jack cheese and frozen tots, pop it in the oven, and dinner is done!

I never thought I would make a tater tot casserole that I enjoyed more than Cracked Hamburger Hash Casserole (seriously, the first love of my life). But the spicy, savory flavors that come together in this creamy and super cheesy cowboy casserole are really second to none!

Why You'll Love It

Easy, make ahead recipe- After browning the ground beef and briefly cooking it with the seasonings and bell pepper, you then mix in the bacon, beans, corn, half the cheese and soup. Place the mixture in a 13x9 dish and then layer on the rest of the cheese and frozen tater tots. Bake it immediately, or refrigerate/freeze for later. It's seriously that simple. Complete Meal- This cowboy casserole with tater tots recipe checks off all the boxes for a wholesome family meal. With plenty of protein from the beef, beans and cheese, vitamins from the fresh pepper, and heartiness from the corn and tater tots, this meal's got you covered for dinner--one-dish Texas style! Kid approved- Kids love beef, cheese and tater tots. You can get away with adding a lot of extra ingredients alongside them in a one-dish meal. 'Nuff said. Keeps well- Because cowboy casserole is filling and makes a lot, you will most likely have leftovers. This dish keeps well in the fridge and freezer both before and after it's made! For more info, see Storing Cowboy Casserole below.

For more family friendly ground beef casseroles, check out Cracked Hamburger Hash Casserole, Beef Ragu Italiano, Chow Mein Beefy Rice Casserole, Mexican Stuffed Peppers, and Three Layer Cheesy Taco Bake!

Ingredients for Cowboy Casserole with Tater Tots

Please note that not all ingredients are pictured.

For a complete list with measurements, see the printable recipe card below.

• lean ground beef, cooked and drained--I often use extra lean; with all the other flavors, you won't miss the extra fat and calories from a higher fat percentage
• chili powder and onion powder--provide a nice savory, spicy kick to the browned beef
• green bell pepper, diced --may substitute with any color pepper; I like green for the flavor and color variety in this dish
• bacon--I use real bacon crumbles (bought in a bag) to save time, but feel free to add your own cooked, chopped bacon
• red kidney beans--their hearty, robust flavor is a great addition to this recipe
• thawed frozen corn--feel free to use canned corn or fresh corn instead; you could also use defrosted or canned mixed vegetables
• cream of celery soup--I like using reduced fat; may substitute cream of mushroom, potato, chicken, or asparagus
• shredded Colby Jack cheese--I use reduced fat; feel free to swap this with shredded cheddar or pepper jack
• frozen tater tots-- do NOT defrost--they get golden crisp on top when baking and taste delicious

Click here for a list of equipment needed for this recipe

• skillet with lid
• meat chopper
• cutting board
• chef's knife
• colander
• large mixing bowl
• measuring cups
• measuring spoons
• sturdy mixing spoon
• 13 x 9 casserole dish, lightly greased

What is Cowboy Casserole and why does this recipe have tater tots in it?

There are many different versions of Cowboy Casseroles out there, though almost all have ground beef, bacon, onion, corn, beans and cheese. The variation mainly comes from the choice of starchy topping. While some are topped with biscuits or cornbread, most cowboy recipes use some form of potato. I like using tater tots because they get golden crisp on top and taste so good with the Western/Tex-Mex ingredients in this recipe.

How to Make Easy Cowboy Casserole

For a more complete set of instructions, see the printable recipe card below.

1. Brown the ground beef in a large skillet; drain.
2. Add diced pepper, chili and onion powder to the skillet; mix. Cook until peppers are soft.
3. Place the drained kidney beans, defrosted frozen corn, bacon crumbles and soup in a large bowl; mix.
4. Then add the cooked beef and peppers to the bowl. Stir in half of the shredded cheese; mix.
5. Transfer mixture to a greased 13x9 casserole dish.
6. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the beef mixture.
7. Top with frozen tater tots and bake for 35-40 minutes or until tater tots are golden crisp and filling is bubbling.

Helpful Tips for this Recipe

• To save time, while I'm browning the ground beef, I dice the pepper, drain the beans, defrost the corn and preheat the oven.
• I sometimes add a can of black beans and diced green chiles to give this more of a Mexican flare.
• When arranging the frozen tater tots on top, pack them in single file style--no overlapping, or the casserole won't bake evenly!
• When serving, I sometimes top this with chopped chives, green onions and/or jalapeños.

Storing Cowboy Tater Tot Casserole

Store leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate. Enjoy within five days.

Reheating instructions: Bake covered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 5-10 minutes or until the tater tot casserole is heated through.

You may also freeze this for up to 2 months. If never cooked, thaw completely and follow original baking instructions. If cooked and then frozen, thaw completely and then bake covered at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until heated through.

***You can also assemble this casserole earlier in the day, refrigerate and bake later (it usually bakes for close to an hour if you chose this option).

What to Serve with this Cowboy Casserole Recipe

Honestly, this hearty casserole is a meal within itself. We typically enjoy it with just a tossed salad and a slice of garlic bread or cornbread.

A few of our fav desserts with this are Mini Lime Cheesecakes, Peach Upside-Down Cake, and Strawberries and Cream Pie.

Back to top↑