Description
Hearty slow cooker cowboy casserole brings rustic ranch flavors straight to your kitchen with minimal effort. Savory ground beef, tender potatoes, and melted cheese create a comforting one-pot meal you’ll crave after a long day’s work.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 1 pound (453 grams) ground beef
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (15 ounces/425 grams) corn kernels, drained
- 1 can (10 ounces/283 grams) diced tomatoes with green chilies
- 1 can (6 ounces/170 grams) tomato paste
Seasonings and Additional Ingredients:
- 2 cups frozen tater tots
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Sizzle the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat, transforming chopped onions and minced garlic into a fragrant base. Break down the meat thoroughly, ensuring even browning, then carefully drain away excess fat.
- Awaken the mixture with vibrant spices: chili powder, earthy paprika, warm cumin, with a touch of salt and pepper. Incorporate diced tomatoes, rich tomato paste, and sweet corn, allowing flavors to harmonize for several minutes.
- Prepare the slow cooker with a light coating of cooking spray. Create the first foundation layer using half the crispy frozen tater tots, spreading them evenly across the bottom.
- Cascade the seasoned beef mixture over the initial tater tot layer, generously blanketing with shredded cheddar cheese. Repeat the stratification with remaining tater tots, beef, and cheese, building a hearty landscape of textures.
- Secure the lid and allow the slow cooker to work its magic on low temperature for 4-5 hours. The casserole is ready when tater tots reach golden perfection and cheese melts into a tempting blanket.
- Elevate the dish with a crowning dollop of cool, tangy sour cream, providing a luxurious contrast to the robust, spiced casserole.
Notes
- Drain the ground beef thoroughly to prevent a greasy casserole and ensure a crispy texture for the tater tots.
- Experiment with different cheese varieties like pepper jack or a Mexican blend to add exciting flavor variations.
- For a healthier version, swap regular tater tots with sweet potato tots or use lean ground turkey instead of beef.
- Prep ingredients ahead of time and store in the refrigerator to make this a quick weeknight meal that saves time during busy schedules.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 hours (on Low)
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg