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Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole

Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole is a hands-off dinner with seasoned ground beef, beans, and corn simmering under a layer of melty cheddar. Finish with a top of oven-fresh-style tater tots cooked through right in the crockpot for a hearty, casserole-like bite.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours
Total Time 5 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 620
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Meat and vegetables
  • 1.5 lb ground beef
  • 1 yellow onion
  • 1 can (15 oz) pinto beans drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup corn kernels
  • 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes with green chiles
Seasonings
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 0.75 tsp kosher salt
Cheese and topping
  • 2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots
  • 2 tbsp fresh chives chopped, for serving

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet
  • 1 Dutch oven

Method
 

Brown the filling
  1. Brown the ground beef and diced yellow onion in a skillet over medium-high heat for 6–7 minutes, breaking the beef apart as it cooks.
  2. Transfer the browned beef mixture to the crockpot along with the pinto beans, corn kernels, diced tomatoes with green chiles, chili powder, garlic powder, and kosher salt.
Layer and cook
  1. Stir the crockpot mixture to combine, then sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
  2. Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer over the cheese.
  3. Cover and cook on low for 4–5 hours, or on high for 2–3 hours, until the tater tots are cooked through.
Serve
  1. Garnish the casserole with chopped fresh chives and serve warm.

Notes

For best texture, keep the tater tots in a single layer so they cook through evenly under the cheese. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days; reheat in the microwave or oven until hot. Freezing is not recommended for the tater-tot layer, which can soften after thawing. For a lower-sodium swap, use reduced-sodium diced tomatoes with green chiles and reduce the kosher salt slightly to taste.