Hearty Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole for Weeknights (Print Version)

Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole: A hearty, easy one-pot meal with ground beef, beans, and cheesy potatoes. Perfect for busy weeknights your family will love!

# Recipe Info:

Prep Time: 20 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 4 Hours minutes
Total Time: 24 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings
Difficulty: Beginner
Cuisine: American
Dietary: Comfort Food

# Ingredients:

→ Hearty Base

01 - 1.5 lbs ground beef (80/20 or 90/10)
02 - 1 large onion, chopped
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
05 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
06 - 1 (15 oz) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
07 - 1 (15 oz) can corn, drained

→ Flavor Boosters

08 - 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
09 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
10 - 1 tsp chili powder
11 - 1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)
12 - 1/4 tsp black pepper (or to taste)

→ Cheesy Topping

13 - 1 (32 oz) bag frozen tater tots or diced potatoes
14 - 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

→ Optional Garnishes

15 - Fresh cilantro, chopped
16 - Sour cream or Greek yogurt

# Instructions:

01 - First things first, get that ground beef browned in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Break it up with a spoon as it cooks, you want nice crumbles! Once it’s no longer pink, drain all that excess fat – seriously, don't skip this, or your Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole will be greasy. Then, toss in your chopped onion and minced garlic. Sauté them until they’re softened and smell absolutely divine, about 5 minutes. Oh, the aroma already! This is where the magic starts, setting the savory foundation.
02 - Now, to that skillet, add the diced tomatoes (undrained!), tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, chili powder, and a good pinch of salt and black pepper. Stir it all together, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan – that’s flavor, folks! Bring it to a gentle simmer for about 5-7 minutes, letting those flavors meld. This step is crucial; it really wakes up all the spices before they hit the slow cooker. I always taste it here to adjust seasonings, sometimes adding a little more chili powder if I'm feeling feisty!
03 - Pour that glorious beef mixture into your slow cooker. Then, stir in the drained and rinsed kidney beans and corn. Give it a good mix to make sure everything is evenly distributed. This is the easy part, just dump and stir! Make sure your slow cooker is ready to go. I've had moments where I've forgotten to plug it in and realized hours later... not my finest moment, but we learn, right?
04 - Now for the fun part! Arrange your frozen tater tots or diced potatoes evenly over the beef and bean mixture. Don't stir them in; they need to sit on top to get that lovely texture. I sometimes try to make a pretty pattern, but honestly, just getting them in a single layer is the goal. This is where the casserole really starts to look like a Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole!
05 - Cover your slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. The goal here is for the potatoes to be tender and the sauce to be bubbly and thickened. Every slow cooker is a little different, so keep an eye on it. Mine tends to run a bit hot, so I usually check around the 6-hour mark on low. The smell filling your house will be incredible, I promise you.
06 - About 30 minutes before serving, sprinkle that generous layer of shredded cheddar cheese all over the top of the potatoes. Recover the slow cooker and let it cook until the cheese is beautifully melted and gooey. Sometimes I even pop the lid off for the last 10 minutes to let it brown slightly. The sight of that bubbly, cheesy topping? Pure bliss! Serve it hot, maybe with a dollop of sour cream or a sprinkle of fresh cilantro. So good!

# Notes:

01 - Always drain the fat from your ground beef; I learned the hard way that extra grease makes for a sad casserole.
02 - Don't stir the potatoes into the mixture; they need to stay on top to cook properly and get that nice texture.
03 - A little extra smoked paprika really elevates the flavor, giving this Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole that authentic campfire vibe.
04 - This makes amazing leftovers for lunch the next day, just saying!

# Equipment Needed:

01 - Slow cooker (6-quart or larger)
02 - large skillet

# Nutrition (Per Serving):

Calories: 450-550 kcal
Total Fat: 25-35g
Total Carbohydrate: 40-50g
Protein: 30-40g

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