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Hearty One-Pot Cowboy Casserole

A hearty ground beef and tater tot casserole with a creamy mushroom base, sweet corn, and melted cheddar cheese baked until golden and bubbly.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 610
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb ground beef 80/20 recommended
  • 1 can sweet corn 15 oz, drained
  • 1 can cream of mushroom soup 10.5 oz
  • 0.5 cup milk
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 bag frozen tater tots 32 oz
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese or Monterey Jack

Equipment

  • large skillet
  • 9x13-inch baking dish
  • spatula
  • Oven

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish and set aside.
  2. Cook ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain excess fat thoroughly.
  3. Stir the drained corn, cream of mushroom soup, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper into the skillet with the beef. Mix until fully combined.
  4. Spread the beef mixture evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
  5. Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single, even layer over the beef mixture. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the top.
  6. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy and the cheese is melted and bubbling.
  7. Let the casserole rest for 3 to 5 minutes before serving to allow the filling to set.

Notes

Storage: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 375°F or in an air fryer at 350°F to restore crispiness to the tater tots. Substitutions: Ground turkey or chicken can replace the beef. Hash browns can replace tater tots for a different texture. Cauliflower tots work for a low-carb version. Pro tip: Arrange tater tots in a true single layer for maximum crispiness. Overlapping causes the bottom tots to steam rather than crisp.