Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole

If you're craving a cozy delicious meal that the entire family will love, Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole is a must try! This rustic dish combines seasoned savory ground beef, beans, veggies and tender tater tots all cooked together in a flavorful cheesy sauce. Making cowboy casserole in a slow cooker is a fuss-free way to do it. Start it in the morning and come home to enjoy your dinner without any more work to do.

If you love easy dump and go crockpot recipes like this, I think you'll also like this unstuffed cabbage roll casserole, delicious pepper steak and stuffed pepper casserole too. Pepperoni pepperoni pizza tater tot casserole isn't made in the slow cooker, but is also a favorite that families can't get enough of.

• 1 lb lean ground beef (plus seasonings of paprika, chili powder, dried oregano, dried thyme and cumin)
• 1 bag (about 20 oz) frozen tater tots
• 1 can (15 oz) sweet corn
• 1 can (15oz) black beans
• 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
• ½ cup sour cream
• 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 small sweet onion
• 6 cloves of garlic
• Salt and pepper

Ingredient Substitutions

Ground beef: use ground turkey or ground chicken for a leaner variation.

Frozen tater tots: substitute with frozen hash browns, frozen breakfast potatoes, diced red potatoes or diced yellow potatoes.

Black beans: substitute with white or red kidney beans or pinto beans. Or use a combination of beans.

Cream of chicken soup: substitute with cream of mushroom soup or cream of celery soup

Beef seasonings: use a couple packets of taco seasoning for a Mexican-twist. You can use this delicious homemade beef taco seasoning or enchilada seasoning to give it great flavor.

Add tomatoes: add a can of diced tomatoes or fire roasted tomatoes.

Step-By-Step Instructions

1. Spray the inside of the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray or lightly grease with butter.
2. In a large frying pan, brown the ground beef mixed with the seasonings over medium-high heat. Drain the excess fat and add to the slow cooker.
3. Add the sweet corn, black beans, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Spread the frozen tater tots in a single layer on top.
4. Cover and cook on low for 4–5 hours* or high for 2–3 hours*, until hot and bubbly. Tater tots should be soft but cooked through. *If not browning the beef beforehand, add 2 hours to the cook time.
5. If desired, transfer to a baking dish and broil for 2–3 minutes to lightly brown the tater tots before serving.

How To Store

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Microwave or warm in the oven until heated through. Cowboy casserole can be frozen before or after cooking.