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Cowboy Casserole

A warm and simple dish combining beef, corn, cheese, and tater tots, perfect for a quick weeknight meal or potluck.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 can (15 oz) corn, drained
  • 2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar or your choice) Sharp cheddar for a bolder flavor or milder cheese if preferred.
  • 1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots
  • 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup Use full-fat for richer taste.
  • 1/2 cup milk Whole or low-fat versions.
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • Salt and pepper To taste.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. In a skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat until fully cooked. Break it up into small pieces as it cooks.
  3. Drain excess fat from the beef carefully.
  4. Add the cream of mushroom soup, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to the beef. Stir until well combined and smooth.
  5. In a greased baking dish, layer the beef mixture evenly on the bottom.
  6. Spread the drained corn over the beef layer.
  7. Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the corn in a single layer.
  8. Finally, arrange the tater tots evenly over the cheese layer, placing them close together for a crisp top.
Baking
  1. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy.
  2. Let it cool for a few minutes before serving.

Notes

For extra crunch, broil for 1-2 minutes at the end watching closely to prevent burning. Options to swap ingredients include using ground turkey or chicken, adding black beans, or sweet potato fries for topping.