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Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole

Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole layers ground beef, tater tots, corn, and cheddar, then slow cooks until the tots turn tender. Finished with a final cheese melt, it delivers an easy, cheesy comfort casserole with minimal hands-on time.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours 5 minutes
Total Time 5 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 540
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

ground beef mixture
  • 1.5 lb ground beef
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1 can (10.75 oz) cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 cup corn kernels
  • 2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
tater tot layer
  • 32 oz frozen tater tots
seasoning
  • 1 Salt and pepper, to taste

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet
  • 1 Dutch oven

Method
 

Brown the beef and build the filling
  1. Brown the ground beef with the diced onion in a skillet over medium heat, then drain excess fat.
  2. Season with salt and pepper, then stir in the cream of mushroom soup and corn kernels.
  3. Spread the beef mixture in the bottom of the slow cooker.
  4. Sprinkle 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese over the beef layer.
Slow cook
  1. Arrange the frozen tater tots in an even layer on top.
  2. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or high for 2-3 hours until the tots are tender.
  3. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top and cook for 10 more minutes until melted before serving.

Notes

Pro tip: Browning the beef on the stovetop first adds extra flavor before the slow cook step. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3-4 days; reheat in the microwave or oven until hot. Freezing is not recommended because tater tots can soften further after thawing. For a dietary swap, use reduced-fat cheddar and a lighter cream of mushroom soup to cut calories while keeping the cheesy texture.