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HomeBakingCowboy Casserole - The Nation Prepare dinner

Cowboy Casserole – The Nation Prepare dinner


Cowboy Casserole is a filling dinner made with seasoned floor beef, cheese and corn in a cream sauce topped with crispy spherical tater tots. A comforting fave!

A FAMILY FILLING CASSEROLE

This cowboy casserole has a enjoyable title and is straightforward to make! in case you’re curious as to the place the title got here from, I’m not fairly positive. However, my greatest guess is that it’s as a result of it’s a hearty and filling sufficient meal to fulfill even a hungry cowboy after a protracted day of labor. Like most casseroles, it seems to be like a pile of slop, proper? Ha! However these are typically those with one of the best style for my part!

A full baking dish of Cowboy Casserole with garnishes on top.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: 

Can I make this casserole forward of time?

You possibly can totally assemble the casserole with out including the crispy crowns, cowl it tightly, and refrigerate it for as much as 24 hours. When able to bake, take away it from the fridge, add the crispy crowns on prime, and bake as directed, including a couple of further minutes, if wanted, because it’s beginning chilly.
If you wish to prep it even additional forward, you’ll be able to assemble and freeze the casserole (once more, with out the crispy crowns) for as much as 2 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge, add the crispy crowns, and bake as directed till sizzling and bubbly with a golden, crispy topping.

What else can I add to this Cowboy Casserole?

You possibly can add chopped bell peppers or mushrooms when you find yourself cooking the meat.

How can I carry some spice to this?

When you like a contact of warmth in your casseroles, that’s completely potential. You possibly can add chopped up jalapeños, cayenne pepper, or crimson pepper flakes. 

Can I make this within the Crock Pot?

It may be executed however you may be doing many of the cooking forward of time and popping it into the crock pot and prime with the hash rounds. Begin by browning the bottom beef with the onion and seasonings on the stovetop, then stir within the cheese, corn, cream of rooster, bitter cream, and milk. Switch the combination to the sluggish cooker and unfold it evenly.
Prime with the frozen crispy crowns or tater tots, cowl, and cook dinner on low for 3-4 hours or excessive for 1½-2 hours, till heated by means of. Understand that the crispy crowns shall be a lot softer within the sluggish cooker since there’s no dry warmth to crisp them. I
When you want a crunchy topping, you’ll be able to end the crispy crowns below the oven broiler for a couple of minutes earlier than serving, or bake them individually and add them on prime simply earlier than serving. Simply be sure to have an oven protected crock pot insert that may deal with that prime warmth.

Can I modify up the seasonings?

Certain. As an alternative of the seasonings used- chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, salt and pepper, you’ll be able to simply use one packet of taco seasoning. I like utilizing Home made Taco Seasoning too.

What to serve with Cowboy Casserole?

A casserole could be a complete meal in itself, however you’ll be able to completely serve it with a few of your favourite sides. An enormous, inexperienced salad is my favourite possibility, or toss collectively a vegetable of your selection (the microwaveable steam veggies are a straightforward facet!)

How do I retailer leftovers?

You possibly can preserve any leftover casserole in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 5 days. You possibly can freeze leftovers in a freezer protected container for as much as 3-4 months. Thaw within the fridge in a single day and reheat when wanted.

A spoon getting a scoop of Cowboy Casserole from the baking dish.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)

  • floor beef – you might use floor pork, floor rooster, floor turkey or a meat substitute like Past meat.
  • yellow onion – don’t like onion? Go away it out.
  • garlic – I at all times want contemporary garlic however I do typically use the jared stuff fin a pinch. Use what works greatest for you.
  • chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, coarse kosher salt, black pepper, floor cumin, and paprika – When you don’t like a number of of the seasonings right here, simply go away it out or change with ones you favor.
  • colby jack cheese – You need to use any cheese you’re keen on for the dish. I believe Pepper Jack can be good for a kick of warmth!
  • corn – You need to use canned or frozen corn. When you don’t take care of corn, you’ll be able to substitute it with a can of beans or simply go away it out.
  • cream of rooster – you should use cream of mushroom instead of the cream of rooster. As at all times, I really like utilizing Home made Cream of Rooster Soup, or if it’s essential swap it out, an excellent Home made Cream of Mushroom Soup is a pleasant various.
  • bitter cream – You need to use any model. I want the full-fat because it provides to the creaminess of the dish. You don’t style the bitter cream as a separate ingredient on this however in case you’re completely fearful about it, you might, perhaps, use mayonnaise since that’s much less tangy. The bitter cream is actually simply serving to with the general creaminess. Or you might substitute the bitter cream and milk with about ½ cup heavy cream.
  • Milk – you should use a milk substitute like almond milk in case you crucial.
  • frozen crispy rounds – You need to use any model of crispy rounds (or crowns as some manufacturers name them). They’re simply spherical, disc formed tater tots. I’ve been preferring these to tater tots currently as a result of I believe they cook dinner extra evenly than the tater tots typically do however you might use tater tots. I might go together with the mini ones if yow will discover them.
Ground beef, yellow onion, garlic, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, ground cumin, paprika, Colby Jack cheese, corn, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, milk, frozen crispy crowns or tater tots, and fresh cilantro.

HOW TO MAKE COWBOY CASSEROLE:

Preheat the oven to 400° F. To a big skillet, add the bottom beef and onion. Prepare dinner and crumble over medium warmth till totally cooked and the juices run clear. Drain any extra grease and put again into the skillet (you’ll be able to flip off the warmth at this level.)

Ground beef and onion cooking in a skillet.

To the skillet, add the garlic and dried seasonings. Stir till mixed. 

Garlic and seasonings being added to a ground beef mixture.

Add half of the cheese, corn, cream of rooster, bitter cream, and milk. Stir till mixed. 

A ground beef mixture with cheese, corn, cream of chicken, sour cream, and milk.

Switch the meat combination to a 9×13-inch baking dish. Prime with the remaining shredded cheese after which evenly prime with the crispy rounds (you’ll use about 54 of the crispy rounds)

An unbaked casserole in a baking dish and shredded cheese on top.

Bake uncovered on the center rack for 25-Half-hour, or till the crispy rounds are golden brown. 

A baking dish with an unbaked and baked Cowboy Casserole mixture.

NOTE: If you wish to get them further crispy, you’ll be able to place below the broiler for 1-2 minutes. DO NOT WALK AWAY whereas something is below the broiler. Stand by and verify continuously to ensure it doesn’t burn as a result of it could possibly burn very quick below the broiler in case you aren’t cautious. Prime with cilantro, is utilizing.

A small stack of plates with a huge scoop of Cowboy Casserole.

CRAVING MORE RECIPES? 

A large baking dish of Cowboy Casserole.

Stop your display from going darkish

  • Preheat the oven to 400° F.

  • To a big skillet, add 1 pound lean floor beef and 1/2 cup finely diced yellow onion the bottom beef and onion. Prepare dinner and crumble over medium warmth till totally cooked and the juices run clear. Drain any extra grease and put again into the skillet (you’ll be able to flip off the warmth at this level.)

  • To the skillet, add 1 Tablespoon minced garlic, 2 teaspoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon floor cumin and 1/2 teaspoon paprika. Stir till mixed.

  • Add 1 cup shredded colby jack cheese, 15.25 ounce can corn, drained, 10.5 ounce can cream of rooster, 1/2 cup bitter cream and 1/4 cup milk . Stir till mixed.

  • Switch the meat combination to a 9×13-inch baking dish.

  • Prime with the remaining one cup shredded colby jack cheese after which evenly prime with frozen crispy crowns (you’ll use about 54 of the crispy rounds)

  • Bake uncovered on the center rack for 25-Half-hour, or till the crispy rounds are golden brown.

  • NOTE: If you wish to get them further crispy, you’ll be able to place below the broiler for 1-2 minutes. DO NOT WALK AWAY whereas something is below the broiler. Stand by and verify continuously to ensure it doesn’t burn as a result of it could possibly burn very quick below the broiler in case you aren’t cautious.

  • Prime with 2 Tablespoons contemporary cilantro or parsley, if utilizing then serve!

  • Please consult with my FAQ’s (Ceaselessly Requested Questions) and ingredient checklist above for different substitutions or for the solutions to the most typical questions.
  • Crispy rounds are simply disc formed tater tots. I discover they cook dinner much more evenly and get a bit crispier than the larger barrel-shaped tater tots however you should use common tater tots in case you can’t discover these. The mini tater tots may work greatest.

Course: Dinner, Fundamental Course

Delicacies: American

Energy: 680kcal | Carbohydrates: 83g | Protein: 24g | Fats: 28g | Sodium: 1285mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 47g

“The Nation Prepare dinner” will not be a dietician or nutritionist, and any dietary info shared is an estimate. If calorie rely and different dietary values are vital to you, we suggest operating the components by means of whichever on-line dietary calculator you favor. Energy and different dietary values can differ fairly a bit relying on which manufacturers had been used.

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