Description
This hearty Cowboy Casserole combines ground beef, vegetables, beans, and cheese topped with crispy tater tots for a comforting, delicious, and easy-to-make one-dish meal perfect for family dinners or game day gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 3 green onions, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, deseeded and diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 (15-ounce) can sweet corn, drained
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained
- 1 (10-ounce) can Rotel (diced tomatoes with green chilies)
- 4 tablespoon salted butter
- 1 cup full-fat sour cream, brought to room temperature
- ¼ cup whole milk
- ¼ cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1½ cup mozzarella cheese, freshly shredded
- 1½ cup cheddar cheese, freshly shredded (divided)
- 1 (2-pound) bag frozen tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Spray a large 9×13-inch casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks. Remove cooked beef using a slotted spoon and set aside. Drain and discard any grease from the skillet.
- Return skillet to medium heat and melt butter. Add chopped green onions and diced green bell pepper; cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in minced garlic, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper; cook for another minute while stirring continuously.
- Stir in the drained corn, black beans, and Rotel tomatoes. Cook while stirring frequently for about 5 minutes, reducing heat if mixture sticks or burns.
- Remove skillet from heat. Stir in sour cream, whole milk, and chicken broth until well combined.
- Stir cooked ground beef, mozzarella cheese, and 1 cup of the cheddar cheese into the creamy vegetable mixture until the cheeses melt and the mixture is uniform.
- Transfer the creamy meat and vegetable filling evenly into the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
- Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer over the cheese. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly and the tater tots are golden brown and crispy.
- Garnish with additional freshly chopped green onions. Serve hot with optional sides like hot sauce or ketchup for dipping.
Notes
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of casserole
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg