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Cowboy Casserole – The Ultimate Comfort Dish

Cowboy Casserole is the perfect comfort food for the whole family. With layers of ground beef, cheese, and crispy tater tots, this easy casserole recipe is great for weeknight dinners.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Course: Casserole
Cuisine: American
Keywords: cheesy casserole recipes, comfort food recipes, easy weeknight dinners, family dinner ideas, ground beef recipes, tater tot casserole recipe
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Elena

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  2. In a large skillet, cook ground beef over medium heat until browned. Drain excess fat.
  3. Add chopped onion and minced garlic to the beef and cook until softened.
  4. Stir in cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, milk, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika. Mix well.
  5. Spread the beef mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
  6. Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the beef mixture.
  7. Arrange frozen tater tots in a single layer on top of the cheese.
  8. Bake uncovered for 30-35 minutes until tater tots are golden brown and crispy.
  9. Remove from oven, sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top, and bake for an additional 5 minutes until cheese is melted.
  10. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Notes

For extra flavor, add cooked bacon or green chilies to the beef mixture. Serve with a side salad or steamed vegetables.