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Easy Cheesy Dump-and-Bake Cowboy Casserole

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A quick and comforting casserole featuring ground beef, cheese, and tater tots, perfect for busy weeknights or cozy dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound (450g) ground beef, preferably 80/20
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 cup (150g) frozen corn kernels, no need to thaw
  • 1 can (15 oz/425g) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (10 oz/283g) diced tomatoes with green chilies
  • 2 cups (200g) shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 packet (1 oz/28g) ranch seasoning mix
  • 2 cups (about 160g) frozen tater tots
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Optional: sliced jalapeños for extra heat

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease your 9×13-inch baking dish with a light coating of cooking spray or butter.
  2. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spatula, until no longer pink, about 6-8 minutes. Drain any excess fat if necessary.
  3. To the browned beef, add diced onion and minced garlic. Cook until onions are translucent and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes. Stir frequently to avoid burning.
  4. Stir in the ranch seasoning, frozen corn, drained black beans, and diced tomatoes with green chilies. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook for another 2 minutes just to combine flavors.
  5. Spread the beef and vegetable mixture evenly in the bottom of your baking dish. Sprinkle 1 cup (100g) of shredded cheddar cheese over the top. Then, arrange the frozen tater tots evenly across the casserole.
  6. Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy, and the cheese has melted through.
  7. Five minutes before the casserole finishes baking, sprinkle the remaining 1 cup (100g) of cheddar cheese on top of the tater tots. Return to the oven until cheese is bubbly and melted.
  8. Let the casserole sit for about 5 minutes after removing it from the oven before serving.

Notes

If tater tots brown too quickly, loosely cover the dish with foil halfway through baking. Use sharp cheddar for best flavor. Let casserole rest 5 minutes before serving for easier slicing and better flavor cohesion. For gluten-free, verify ranch seasoning and tater tots or substitute with gluten-free corn chips. Pre-cooked ground beef can be used but browning fresh adds better flavor.

Nutrition

Keywords: cowboy casserole, dump-and-bake, cheesy casserole, quick dinner, comfort food, ground beef casserole, tater tots casserole

Find it online: https://cooksyla.com/easy-cheesy-dump-and-bake-cowboy-casserole-recipe-for-quick-comfort-meals/