Description
Whip up this easy cowboy casserole recipe for a hearty, comforting dinner. Simple ingredients, big flavors, and perfect for busy weeknights!
Ingredients
Scale
- Base Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 recommended)
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 bell pepper (any color), chopped
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 (15 oz) can corn, drained
- 1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
- Flavor Boosters:
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)
- 1/4 tsp black pepper (or to taste)
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- Topping Essentials:
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 (32 oz) bag frozen tater tots
- Optional Extras:
- Fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
- Sour cream (for serving)
- Diced jalapeños (for heat)
Instructions
- Brown the Beef & Veggies:: Alright, first things first, grab a big skillet and get it hot over medium-high heat. Toss in your ground beef and break it up with a spoon. You want it nice and browned, no pink bits left! This is where all that foundational flavor really starts. Once it’s cooked through, drain off any excess fat – seriously, don’t skip this, or you’ll end up with a greasy mess like I did that one time. Then, add your chopped onion and bell pepper. Sauté them until they soften up and get fragrant, about 5-7 minutes. The kitchen will start smelling amazing, I promise.
- Season & Simmer:: Now for the good stuff! Sprinkle in your chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper over the beef and veggies. Give it a good stir, letting those spices toast for about a minute – it really wakes up their flavor. Then, pour in the diced tomatoes (undrained!), corn, and black beans. Add the beef broth. Stir everything together until it’s well combined. Bring it to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet, and let it cook for about 10-15 minutes. This allows all those delicious flavors to really get to know each other.
- Preheat & Prepare:: While your meat mixture is simmering, go ahead and preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grab a 9×13 inch baking dish – my old trusty ceramic one always does the trick. You don’t usually need to grease it because the meat mixture has a bit of liquid, but if you’re worried about sticking, a quick spray won’t hurt. This simple step makes assembling your casserole a breeze, honestly.
- Assemble the Casserole:: Carefully pour the simmering meat and veggie mixture into your prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly. It should look rich and inviting, a perfect base for what’s coming next. Then, sprinkle a generous layer of shredded cheddar cheese over the entire meat mixture. I usually go a little overboard here, because, well, cheese! Make sure it’s a nice, even layer so every bite gets some cheesy goodness.
- Top with Tots:: Now for the fun part! Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer over the cheese. Don’t overlap them too much, you want them to get nice and crispy. I sometimes get a little OCD trying to make them perfectly straight, but honestly, a slightly messy topping works just as well. Just make sure there are enough tots to cover most of the surface. This is what gives our casserole its signature look and crunch.
- Bake to Golden Perfection:: Pop that dish into your preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy, and the cheese underneath is bubbly and melted. You might even see a little bit of the delicious meat mixture peeking through the edges. The aroma filling your kitchen will be incredible – that’s how you know it’s ready! Let it cool for a few minutes before serving, because that bubbly cheese can be a little fierce.