Ground beef and vegetables in a creamy sauce topped with golden tater tots – this Cowboy Casserole (Tater Tot Casserole) is the perfect weeknight dinner for the whole family.
I had never had “Cowboy Casserole” (aka Tater Tot Casserole) until after I met my husband and it quickly became a family favorite. This dish is also very affordable and comes together in minutes!
You can throw it together super quick on those super busy weekday nights when you are running all over the place.
Ingredient Notes
- Ground beef
- Diced onion
- Corn
- Cream of mushroom soup *
- Cheddar cheese
- Milk
- Sour cream
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Salt
- Pepper
- Frozen tater tots
How to make Cowboy Casserole (Tater Tot Casserole)
- Start by preheating your oven to 375 degrees.
- Then, in a large skillet add in the ground beef and diced onion.
- Heat it all the way through until the beef is no longer pink and onions are transparent and soft.
- Once the beef is cooked pour it into the colander to drain the grease from the meat.
- Then return the meat back into the skillet and pour in the can of corn (drained), cheese, milk, sour cream, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper to taste.
- After everything has been added to the skillet, stir it all together until everything is well combined.
- Then, pour the beef and corn mixture into the 9×13 baking pan and spread it out evenly.
- Pull out the frozen tater tots and place them on top of the beef mixture.
- Try as best as you can to keep the tater tots to one layer so that everything bakes evenly.
- Then just sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese on top of the tater tots until it is covered.
- Now that cowboy casserole is put together, put the 9x 13 pan in the oven uncovered for about 25-30 minutes or until you see the cheese start to bubble.
- Be sure to check the tater tots and see if they are cooked all the way through.
Storing and Other Tips
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, making it a convenient option for next-day meals on busy nights.
If you want to add some extra tastes and maybe hide in some veggies, you can always throw in a can of green beans, a bell pepper, green chiles or a bag of frozen veggies. It also tastes delicious with hot sauce!
If you or someone in your family doesn’t like mushrooms, you could also substitute it with cream of chicken or celery, but it will change the overall taste a bit.
Freezer Meal Instructions
Instead of popping it in the oven, after everything is made up and mixed together place the casserole in the freezer.
You will want to be sure that you place the hearty casserole in an aluminum pan that is freezer-friendly. Then be sure to cover it tightly in aluminum foil.
When you are ready to bake it just take it out and thaw it completely before cooking. If it doesn’t thaw the whole way while by the time you are ready to cook it, add on a few more minutes for it to bake to make sure the ground beef mixture is cooked all the way through.
Use the casserole within 2 months to avoid freezer burn.
Serving Suggestions
- Seven Layer Green Salad Recipe
- Kale and Brussels Sprouts Salad
- Twisted Cheese Breadsticks Recipe
- Sheet Pan Garlic Breadsticks Recipe
Cowboy Casserole (Tater Tot Casserole)
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef, (or ground turkey)
- ½ onion, diced
- 15 ounces canned corn, drained
- 10.75 ounces condensed cream of mushroom soup, (1 can)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup milk
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 20 ounces frozen tater tots, (1 bag)
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until beef is no longer pink.
- Drain grease, then stir in the corn, soup, 1/2 cup cheese, milk, sour cream, and seasonings.
- Pour beef mixture into a 9 x 13 inch baking pan.
- Top with frozen tater tots (try to keep them in a single layer) and then sprinkle remaining cheese on top.
- Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and tater tots are thoroughly cooked.
Notes
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave a review or a question in the comment section below the post.
Hi ladies! Love the simplicity and deliciousness of how this recipe looks, but before I make it, I want to confirm a step: I do drain the meat once browned, right? I know that’s “a given”, but I always ask because I *have* had a few that said No, because there was a purpose for not doing so.
Thanks!
You will want to drain the grease. We made changes to the post! Thanks for alerting us to that correction! Thanks so much for stopping by our blog!!
Can you add something else in place of Cream of Mushroom soup as my family will not eat anything with mushrooms?!
We make a version of this that is found in the Dump Casserole cookbook – but is also fondly called the Tater Tot Casserole. We use Cream of Chicken, and instead of onions, we use 1/2 a packet of Lipton Onion Soup mix and pour over the cooked hamburger and cream of chicken soup mix. I’ve also switched it up and used beef gravy or chicken gravy instead of the soup. And to even switch up the tater tot idea even more, we changed the meat, and changed the “sauce”/”gravy”. For example, I used diced ham, and made a cheese sauce, then topped w the tater tots. And another version I used chicken and used an alfredo sauce, and topped w tater tots. Of course we change things up w different cheeses each time.
i see the tater tots get crispy on the outside but are they soggy underneath?
Can I use ground venison in lua if the ground beef?
Yes, you can use ground venison.
What may be a good thing to have with this??? I’m making a large batch for vacation (22 ppl!) and am thinking I may need some sort of side??? Thanks 🙂
Grape salad is quick and perfect for summer – https://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2014/12/grape-salad-recipe.html
Cheddar Bay Biscuits are easy – https://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2012/11/red-lobster-cheddar-bay-biscuits.html
Baked Zucchini Bites – https://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2014/01/baked-zucchini-bites-recipe.html
Fresh Veggies and Spinach Dip – https://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2013/11/fresh-spinach-dip-recipe.html
Lunch Lady Brownies – https://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2013/04/lunch-lady-brownies.html
Instead of baking this has anyone ever tried it in a slow cooker???
I have seen a recipe close to this and it called for tomato soup …I have made it and it was very good …. and it called for mozzarella cheese instead of cheddar .
My sister in law uses either the Fiesta nacho cheese or the cheddar cheese Campbell’s soups.
I have heard of this casserole for years, but never made it until tonight. My family gave it great reviews. There was very little left over by the time we each had several helpings!
My family loved this especially my 19 month and myself! I accidentally bought condensed mushroom soup so I used that but did everything else as written-yum! Thanks for the recipe!
http://www.hitormisshomemaker.com
Can this one be does as a freezer meal? If so, what would be the steps?
Just make as directed in a pan that can be put in the freezer. Do not bake. Cover tightly and when ready to bake, take out and thaw. Cook as directed. May need a little extra cooking time if not thawed completely. Just watch it closely.
This has become my family’s favorite dish. However, since we don’t eat beef, I make it with ground turkey and it’s just great. Also, we don’t do dairy for the most part, so I’ve substituted Tofu sour cream, almond milk and non-dairy (Dayia) shredded cheddar cheese. All work perfectly. I’ve always made it with Cream of Mushroom soup (I know it has some dairy in it) but I’ll try it with Cream of Chicken soup next time. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Is this the cowboy casserole a gluten free dish?
Oreida tator tots are gluten free and you can find GF cream of mushroom soup.
How many calories per serving?
Scroll down to the bottom of the post and you’ll see where it says “Get Nutrition Info”
I’ve always made mine with Cream of Celery soup and it’s great!
I cooked my tater tots until crisp before adding them. I also partially baked the casserole and then added the crisp tater tots and finished baking the casserole. Then topped it with cheese, etc. It turned out really good, not soggy.
Correction on my previous comment. I added the crisp tater tots and topped it with cheese and THEN I finished baking it. :o)
I made this tonight exactly how the recipe instructed. It turned out yummy. The tatertots were crisp and the filling was tasty. Everyone in my family gave it a thumbs up. We’ll make it again!
I have made this recipe a number of times and it’s delicious. I’m expecting baby #1 in a little over a month and am looking for freezer meals. Do you think this would freeze ok?
Hi Brenda. Congrats on the upcoming baby. How exciting!! I went back and read over the cowboy casserole post. I think you could assemble it and cover well to be used as a freezer meal. Just thaw and cook. It should work great.
Has anyone tried this using onion soup mix? If so how did it turn out?
I made this casserole with the assumption that my kids (picky teens) might not like it. They loved it! Even the hubby was lovin it! They asked if I could make it at least once a week. Big win! It’s so easy to make. Wouldn’t change a thing in the recipe.
Made this and it was a hit. Will definitely make it again.
My daughter and I made this today. She renamed it Lazy Shepherds Pie! Our first tater tot receipe. Thanks.
Made this cowboy casserole and it was delicious,would not change a thing in the recipe!
Do you have any nutrition facts for this recipe . I do WW. Wondering how many points and the portion size
Great taste, very easy. I used turkey instead of hamburger and it was amazing. I also precook my tater tots while the meat is cooking. I’ve made this several times and it’s always a hit. I also used a large can of cream of mushroom with 1 cup of milk. We like it creamy. Reheats well in the microwave.
It does freeze very nicely.
We have done it and since my family is cheese heads, we use cream of cheddar soup.
Hi, do you thaw the tots ?
The tots can be frozen.
Do you drain the corn?
Yes, drain the corn. It says to drain it on the list of ingredients. Hope this helps.
I love this casserole but I actually prefer the version which doesn’t require precooking the beef. One fewer pan to wash!
I made this today.i used ground pork.everything else i did as written.i also added a can of drained pinto beans and smokey paprika.i used cauliflower tots.it was good.
If I made this up earlier today and put in the fridge (did not put on tator tots yet) to cook tonight, but plans changed and need to make it tomorrow is it okay to just keep in the fridge? Or do I need to go ahead and put in the freezer for tomorrow.
Thanks
It should be just fine covered and placed in the fridge.
While your recipe calls for the canned soup, and tells when to add it, your comments about making it before the actual recipe don’t mention it. It confused the hell out of me at first, since I just got done watching the video where you make it.
“Once the beef is cooked pour it into the colander to drain the grease from the meat. Then return the meat back into the skillet and pour in the can of corn (drained), cheese, milk, sour cream, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper to taste.”
Do you have nutrition facts for your recipes?
Would it work to use frozen hash browns instead of tater tots?
Hashbrowns would work too. They could cook a little faster where they are cut smaller. So just watch them closely and you should be just fine.
It can be. Use gluten free cream of mushroom soup. Double check on the tater tots though.
Only if it is canned. I used frozen. Just mixed with the cooked hamburger. No need to precook.
I make this using onion tater tots & Cream of Poblano soup
I want to know if you’ve used this recipe in your instant pot? I’m traveling with mine and don’t have access to an oven. I have prepped for it and have it ready to dump in the pot…but not sure what I would use for the settings/or the slow cook option. Help?
I love your videos and your tips btw…I use your youtube channel and another lady all the time for getting to know my instant pot (DUO). It’s been so helpful.
Thank you!
Hi Melissa. We have not made this cowboy casserole in the instant pot. But we have a post on converting recipes to the instant pot. Here is the link – https://www.sixsistersstuff.com/how-to-convert-recipes-into-instant-pot-recipes/
Thank you, I saw your post late and unfortunately I tried it in the instant pot the night I wrote the post and got my first “burn” notice on my instant pot. I will use your link you posted. I was hoping your comment would post in my email so I’d see it show up there. This is the first time I’m posting to a website blog. 🙂
Great dish but I deep fry my potato tots first
First recipe i’ve tried from your site, made the casserole ahead of time and added to my freezer meals for the holdays. I knew it would take a bit linger because it was frozen but would have liked an idea of how much time should be added for the freezer version. A houseful of hungry kids, hubby and in-laws was not the ideal time to have to guess at this.
I wonder if you could substitute French fries for the tater tots? We always have half bags of frozen fries we need to use up.
Lost my recipe for this that someone gave me. Glad I found yours! Added a couple tsp. of dry onion soup mix, partially cooked the tots before putting them on top, otherwise followed your recipe and it was delicious!!!
My 14 year old ate cowboy casserole for lunch and dinner (rare she asks to eat something twice in same day). Made it on the stovetop and added jalapenos. Yum! Thank you for this recipe!
Yes, you could definitely use French Fries.
Made this recipe & it was delicious!
I have been making this recipe for 4 years now, and all I can say is Thank you!! It’s so simple yet so tasty. It’s perfect for when i either have to cook late or I’m in a rush. My whole family loves it so much that it has become a staple recipe. So thank you for sharing this recipe.
Hi Becky. Thanks for making our day with your sweet comment! This is a great recipe when life gets super busy. Best of luck with back to school!
Cream of celery works as well!
I make this casserole AT LEAST once a week. Working mom of two- this fills the belly wishing you had room for thirds
This was easy and delicious! My Midwest relatives gave it a thumbs up!
There’s no measurements for milk or cheese or sour cream…
You didn’t scroll down far enough to the recipe card. All of the measurements and ingredients, along with instructions are all there.
So yummy! The toddler even loved it! Super easy and delicious!
We are a Tater Tot Casserole loving family and this is “Cowboy Casserole” is easy and delicious! 🤠😋
I have made this countless times
“as is”…*except* that I do add a generous dash of worchestershire sauce (about 1 Tbsp.) to the cooked ground beef mixture, and along with the corn I add a can of rinsed and drained black beans 😊
As I didn’t have an onion so I topped it with French’s onions and then shredded cheese and it came out great!
That sounds delicious!