Description
This hearty Cowboy Casserole combines ground beef, vegetables, beans, and cheese topped with crispy tater tots for a comforting, delicious, and easy-to-make one-dish meal perfect for family dinners or game day gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 3 green onions, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, deseeded and diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Spices and Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Canned Ingredients
- 1 (15-ounce) can sweet corn, drained
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained
- 1 (10-ounce) can Rotel (diced tomatoes with green chilies)
Dairy and Liquids
- 4 tablespoon salted butter
- 1 cup full-fat sour cream, brought to room temperature
- ¼ cup whole milk
- ¼ cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1½ cup mozzarella cheese, freshly shredded
- 1½ cup cheddar cheese, freshly shredded (divided)
Topping
- 1 (2-pound) bag frozen tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Dish: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Spray a large 9×13-inch casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook Ground Beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks. Remove cooked beef using a slotted spoon and set aside. Drain and discard any grease from the skillet.
- Sauté Vegetables: Return skillet to medium heat and melt butter. Add chopped green onions and diced green bell pepper; cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in minced garlic, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper; cook for another minute while stirring continuously.
- Add Corn, Beans, and Rotel: Stir in the drained corn, black beans, and Rotel tomatoes. Cook while stirring frequently for about 5 minutes, reducing heat if mixture sticks or burns.
- Combine Dairy and Liquids: Remove skillet from heat. Stir in sour cream, whole milk, and chicken broth until well combined.
- Mix in Meat and Cheeses: Stir cooked ground beef, mozzarella cheese, and 1 cup of the cheddar cheese into the creamy vegetable mixture until the cheeses melt and the mixture is uniform.
- Assemble Casserole: Transfer the creamy meat and vegetable filling evenly into the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
- Add Tater Tots and Bake: Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer over the cheese. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly and the tater tots are golden brown and crispy.
- Serve: Garnish with additional freshly chopped green onions. Serve hot with optional sides like hot sauce or ketchup for dipping.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. The tater tots will soften over time, so reheat leftovers in the oven rather than the microwave to maintain some crispness.
- Freezing is not recommended as the texture of the tater tots and casserole may change detrimentally.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of casserole
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
