Cowboy Casserole Is the Easy Dinner Everyone Loves

Cowboy Casserole Is the Easy Dinner Everyone Loves

from simplyrecipes.com
50 min

When you need a satisfying, one-pan meal, you cannot beat a casserole. Cowboy casserole has all of the flavors of a beef taco, including melty cheese, with crispy potato tots on top.

Ingredients

  • Nonstick spray
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
  • 1 1/2 pounds 90/10 ground beef
  • 1 (1-ounce) envelope taco seasoning mix
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 (15-ounce) cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 (10-ounce) cans diced tomatoes with green chiles
  • 1 cup frozen corn kernels
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 (8-ounce) package shredded Mexican-blend cheese, divided (about 2 cups)
  • 1 (32-ounce) package frozen potato tots
  • Chopped fresh cilantro, optional

Directions

  1. 1

    Preheat the oven to 425°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

  2. 2

    Cook the beef: Heat the oil in a large high-sided skillet over medium-high. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, until softened and translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the beef and break it apart with a spoon. Cook, stirring often, until browned, 5 to 6 minutes.  Stir in the taco seasoning, garlic powder, and salt and cook, stirring constantly, until the meat is fully coated and fragrant, about 1 minute.

  3. 3

    Finish the filling: Add the pinto beans, tomatoes, and frozen corn and stir until incorporated, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and stir in the sour cream and 1/2 cup of the shredded cheese. Stir until creamy and saucy, about 1 minute.

  4. 4

    Assemble and bake: Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with the remaining 1 1/2 cups cheese. Arrange the potato tots in a single layer over the cheese.  Bake until the potato tots are golden brown and cooked through and the filling is bubbling around the edges, 25 to 30 minutes. Garnish with cilantro, if desired. Store the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, skip the microwave (nobody likes soggy tots) and reheat the casserole in the oven or toaster oven at 350°F until warmed through. Love the recipe? Leave us stars and a comment below!