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A close-up photo of a finished Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole featuring layers of ground beef, beans, and melted cheese.

Ultimate Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole

This is the ultimate no-fuss comfort food, a hearty and flavor-packed casserole made easy in your slow cooker. Featuring savory ground beef, a creamy and slightly spicy sauce, sweet corn, and a crispy, cheesy tater tot topping, it's a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that makes dinner the best part of the day.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 6
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 550
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5 to 2 pounds ground beef 85/15 blend recommended
  • 1 large onion, finely chopped
  • 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup beef broth
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Equipment

  • Large Skillet
  • Wooden spoon or spatula
  • Colander or strainer
  • Can opener
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Chef's knife
  • Cutting board
  • Slow Cooker (6-quart or larger)

Method
 

  1. Brown the ground beef with the chopped onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat until the beef is no longer pink and the onions are soft. Add the minced garlic in the last minute and cook until fragrant. Drain any excess fat and transfer the mixture to the slow cooker insert.
  2. To the slow cooker, add the cream of mushroom soup, drained corn, undrained diced tomatoes with chilies, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir in 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese. Mix everything thoroughly until well combined.
  3. Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single, snug layer over the top of the beef mixture, covering it as completely as possible.
  4. Cover the slow cooker with the lid. Cook on LOW for 5-6 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours. Do not stir during cooking.
  5. About 30 minutes before the end of the cooking time, sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the tater tots. Replace the lid and continue cooking for the final 30 minutes to melt the cheese. Serve hot.

Notes

For crispier tater tots, transfer the slow cooker insert to a preheated 400°F oven for the last 15-20 minutes of cooking, or use the 'crisp' function if your slow cooker has one. Variations: add a drained can of black beans, use ground turkey, substitute frozen diced hash browns for tater tots, or stir in a cup of sour cream at the end for extra richness. To prep ahead, brown the beef and onion mixture the night before and refrigerate. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Reheat in the microwave or a 350°F oven until warmed through.