Cowboy Tater Tot Casserole

Cowboy Tater tot casserole is a combination of lean ground beef, corn and tater tots baked with cheese. An easy family favorite weeknight dinner that is great for potlucks as well.

If you love tater tot, next time try this taco tater tot casserole.

Cowboy casserole is so easy to make! Once the ground beef is browned with onions and garlic, the rest of the seasonings and ingredients are added. Everything is mixed together, frozen tater tots are scattered on top and the whole dish is baked in the oven until hot, bubbly and the cheese is melted. It doesn't get any easier and every bite will leave you wanting more!

Jump to:

• ❤️ Why You'll Love It
• 📝 Ingredients
• 🥄 Instructions
• 💡 Expert Tips
• 💬 FAQs
• ⌛ Make Ahead
• 🍽️ Serve With
• 👩‍🍳 Variations
• 🧺 Storage
• 📣 More Ground Beef Recipes
• Related Recipes
• Cowboy Tater Tot Casserole

❤️ Why You'll Love It

• An easy ground beef casserole.
• Makes a comfort weeknight dinner.
• Cowboy casserole is perfect for a potluck dish as it feeds a crowd.
• Great way to get veggies in your kids.
• A delicious make ahead meal for your family or even a friend.
• Budget friendly dinner the whole family will love, especially the kids!

This casserole is a super easy weeknight dinner for your family. Cheesy, crispy on the outside yet creamy inside hot and bubbly casserole that is a meal in itself.

📝 Ingredients

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• Ground beef: I like to use lean ground beef, but you can you whichever you prefer.
• Oil: to brown the ground beef.
• Onion and garlic
• Cardamom, cinnamon, salt & pepper
• Flour: used to thicken the creamy sauce in the meat mixture.
• Milk: used for the sauce but you can also use heavy cream or stock for richer flavor.
• Frozen corn: traditionally frozen corn, but you can use fresh, canned or a different vegetable.
• Cheddar cheese: I feel it gives a nice flavor but you can use your favorite shredded cheese.
• Tater tots: we will need frozen tater tots for this recipe.

🥄 Instructions

1. In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté onion and garlic then add beef and cook beef until no longer pink. Drain grease.
2. Add seasonings and sprinkle flour on top, mix well.
3. Pour in milk and mix for a minute.
4. Take off heat, add corn and ½ cup of cheddar cheese then mix well.

1. Pour the ground beef mixture into a 3 qt oven safe dish.
2. Arrange Tater Tots on top in a single layer and bake for 20 minutes. Take it out of the oven and sprinkle remaining cheese on top and bake for another 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.

💡 Expert Tips

• You can use canned corn or even fresh corn if you prefer.
• For crunchier Tater Tots, pop them in the oven for 10-15 minutes while you are preparing the meat mixture.
• You can make Tater Tot casserole in a cast iron skillet.
• Make sure to season the dish well and taste the mixture before covering it with cheese and then the tots.
• This can also be made in your slow cooker. Just put everything in the slow cooker, cover and cook on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours until heated thoroughly. You will not get much crunch on the top but the edges will crunch really nice.

💬 FAQs

⌛ Make Ahead

• Tater Tot casserole is the perfect make ahead meal. Make up the whole casserole, wrap tightly and put in the freezer for up to 3 months or the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

🍽️ Serve With

• Cowboy Tater Tot casserole is a complete meal by itself, but it also goes well with a green salad or a side of roasted vegetables.

👩‍🍳 Variations

• Try peas, green beans, black beans, carrots, mushrooms or even a combination as you really can't go wrong in the recipe.
• Use a can make this casserole with a cream of chicken soup or even cream of mushroom soup.
• Use can try using heavy cream or stock for a richer flavor.
• You can add bell pepper or green chiles for additional flavor. Add it when you sauté the onions and garlic.

🧺 Storage

• Cowboy casserole can be put into an air tight container and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 or 4 days.

📣 More Ground Beef Recipes

• This pasta bake is so creamy and delicious done in one pot.
• Low carb stuffed pepper casserole is here to save your mid-week dinner plans, so easy to make.
• Here is a a family recipe for an amazing artichoke casserole.
• This moist meatloaf with bread crumbs is tender, old fashioned with a delicious glaze. Sticky sweet and super delicious! You can eat the whole thing in one sitting – I won't tell.
• Warm comfort food at its best. Ground beef doritos casserole is a super delicious, savory mix of seasoned ground beef, cheese and doritos. A kid friendly meal for busy parents.
• Hamburger potato casserole is the perfect easy weeknight dinner made with tender potatoes, ground beef and cheese all cooked in a creamy sauce . A casserole that your whole family will love.

Related Recipes

• This sour cream chicken enchilada casserole has been a hit especially with kids.
• Mashed Potatoes Chicken Casserole is a family favorite delectable comfort food that will take your mashed potatoes to a whole new level. Great for a satisfying weeknight dinner or as a side dish for the holidays.
• Everyone loves this recipe for Cowboy Cornbread Casserole! It's filled with big beefy flavors and super easy to make and hello.... cornbread!
• Try this Chili Tater Tot Casserole for a fresh take on chili night. This comforting dish of crispy tater tots and melt-in-your-mouth cheese with flavorful chili meat will have everyone begging for more!
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First published Oct 11, 2019 . Last updated May 5, 2022 with important tips, clear step by step instructions and readability.