Cowboy Casserole

This cast-iron skillet dinner is sure to make a regular appearance in your weeknight rotation. After all, any casserole that starts with crisping bacon then cooking onions in the bacon fat is bound to be delicious! Starring a creamy filling loaded with corn, spinach, and ground beef along with a cheese and potato topping, this one-pan meal is pure comfort food. Just grab a bag of convenient frozen tater tots and this ground beef casserole will be on the table in under an hour. Bonus: Because there's veggies in the filling, there's no need for any additional sides. Now, saddle up for this cowboy-approved easy casserole!

What is cowboy casserole?

The filling is made with ground beef, chopped onion, garlic, spinach, and corn. It gets its creaminess from a can of cream of mushroom soup and milk. Once the filling is done, you add it to a casserole dish, top with cheddar cheese, a layer of tater tots, and parmesan on top. Then it bakes in the oven until the tots are crisp and golden brown. The final step? A sprinkle of crispy bacon and chives on top!

What else can you add to cowboy casserole?

This dish is easily customizable! For an extra veggie kick, you could stir cooked or canned green beans, frozen peas, or sautéed bell pepper into the filling when you add the corn. Or try kicking up the heat with diced jalapeño or diced green chiles.

Can you make cowboy casserole in a baking dish?

Yes! If you don't have an oven-safe skillet like a cast-iron skillet, you can make the filling in any pan, then transfer it to a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Simply top it with cheese and tater tots and bake as directed.

Should a casserole be covered when baking?

It depends on the recipe. For this cowboy casserole, you'll want to forgo the foil. The time required in the oven is relatively short when compared to other hearty casseroles because of the precooked filling. Tater tots help lock in the moisture of the meat mixture, but you'll want to leave them exposed so that they can get nice and crunchy on top.

Can I make cowboy casserole ahead of time?

You could make the entire filling a day ahead, let it cool, then refrigerate. When ready to bake, heat the filling on the stovetop over medium heat until warm, then top with tater tots and cheese and bake as directed.