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Pioneer Woman Cowboy Casserole

This Pioneer Woman Cowboy Casserole is perfect for a fun weeknight meal the whole family will enjoy, or as an easy and delicious main dish for movie night! This dish is quite simple to prepare, and it can be cooked ahead of time and kept warm in a crockpot.

I can guarantee that this Pioneer Woman Cowboy Casserole, which features ground beef, corn, cheddar cheese, and sour cream as its key ingredients, will become a fast favorite in your household.

Cowboy Casserole Pioneer Woman
Pioneer Woman’s Cowboy Casserole

What is Cowboy Casserole?

Cowboy casserole is a dish that is hard to resist, and it is created by putting a creamy minced beef sauce, sweet corn, and cheddar cheese in a casserole dish, and then topping it all with tater tots and baking it until the casserole is bubbling and the tots are nice and crispy.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Inexpensive Ground Beef: It’s an easy and inexpensive protein that everyone loves, especially kids. This recipe is definitely budget-friendly.
  • No Canned Soup: The sour cream will give this cowboy casserole a creamy texture. No condensed soup is required.
  • All-in-one Meal: This casserole has protein, carbs, and veggies all in one dish, which means less cleaning.
  • A Make-Ahead Option: This recipe can be made ahead of time and stored either in the fridge or the freezer.

Ingredients That You’ll Need:

  • Ground Beef: This Pioneer Woman Cowboy Casserole calls for 80 or 85% lean ground beef, as it has more flavor.
  • Onion and Garlic: These will add flavor to the casserole and give it a magical flavor.
  • Canned Tomatoes: This recipe uses diced tomatoes, including the liquid, which will add moisture, flavor, and acidity to the cowboy casserole.
  • Corn: The easiest option to go for is frozen corn. Make sure to let it thaw on the counter before adding it to the casserole.
  • Sour Cream: Sour cream pairs perfectly with the tomatoes and beef, providing a creamy, tangy base layer.
  • Cheddar Cheese: Some of the cheese goes in the casserole and the rest goes on top as a topping. I recommend using freshly shredded cheddar.
  • Tater Tots: They make a beautiful top layer for this cowboy casserole.

How to Make Pioneer Woman’s Cowboy Casserole

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven or pan. Add the ground beef and cook it, while breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until it is no longer pink.
  • When done, drain any excess fat and season the beef with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Add the onion and cook for 2-3 minutes or until the onion is transparent. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
  • Add the tomatoes, corn, sour cream, and 1 cup of cheddar.
  • Cook until the cheese melts and everything is fully combined. Remove from heat.
  • Pour the creamy mixture into the casserole dish. Top it with the remaining cheese and place the tater tots on top.
  • Bake the casserole for 30-35 minutes.
  • Serve the cowboy casserole garnished with fresh parsley.

Recipe Tips & Variations

  • Veggies: If you want to add extra veggies to your Pioneer Woman Cowboy Casserole, make sure to layer them on top of the beef but below the cheese. Remember to add an additional 10 minutes of cooking time to allow the frozen vegetables to cook through.
  • Meats: You can substitute the ground beef with almost any other type of ground meat, such as ground turkey, chicken, or Italian pork sausage, or you can add crumbled extra firm tofu for a meatless option.
  • Taco Cowboy Casserole: Flavor your ground beef with 1 teaspoon of chili powder or a packet of taco seasoning. Then, add canned chilies or jalapeños to the layers and top with salsa or a can of Rotel. This casserole will need an additional 10 minutes of cooking time.

What to Serve With Cowboy Casserole

This Pioneer Woman Cowboy Casserole really doesn’t require any side dishes. It has all of the necessary food groups included, however, if you want to pair it with a side dish, you can try serving it with:

How to Reheat Cowboy Casserole

Cover leftover cowboy casserole in a pan with foil and reheat in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. Place leftovers on a microwave-safe platter and reheat for 1-2 minutes on high power. (Keep in mind that the tater tots will lose their crispiness in the microwave.)

Cowboy Casserole Pioneer Woman
Pioneer Woman Cowboy Casserole

FAQ Section

How Can I Make Cowboy Casserole Ahead of Time?

Making this cowboy casserole ahead of time is simple; simply follow the recipe until just before the tater tots are added. Allow the dish to cool before covering and storing it in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, preheat the oven to the desired temperature and bake the tater tots according to package directions.

How Long Does Pioneer Woman’s Cowboy Casserole Last at Room Temperature?

Your cowboy casserole should not be left out at room temperature for longer than 2 hours. Make sure to store it either in the fridge or the freezer after covering it well with plastic wrap and foil.

How Long Does Cowboy Casserole Last in the Fridge?

Store your cowboy casserole in an airtight container and then place it into the fridge. Properly stored, cowboy casserole can last for up to 4 days in the fridge.

Can You Freeze Cowboy Casserole?

Yes! Add tater tots to your cowboy casserole, cover it with plastic wrap and foil, and freeze it for up to 3 months. Bake the cowboy casserole for 40 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove the cover and bake until the tots are golden and the filling is bubbling, about 5-10 minutes.

Can I Make This Cowboy Casserole Recipe Vegetarian?

Yes, this cowboy dish is easy to adapt to a vegetarian diet. Simply substitute the ground beef with a plant-based protein product like Beyond Beef or Impossible Burger, or experiment with sautéed mushrooms or your favorite variety of beans.

Can I Use Other Types of Beans in Cowboy Casserole?

Yes, feel free to use any type of canned or pre-cooked beans in your cowboy casserole. Other types of beans such as black beans, pinto beans, navy beans, or cannellini beans will work great in this cowboy casserole.

Should I Cover the Cowboy Casserole When Baking?

For this cowboy dish, skip the foil and leave the tater tots uncovered so they can become nice and crispy. Additionally, the tater tots will play the role of foil by keeping the moisture in the meat mixture.

Can You Make Cowboy Casserole in a Slow Cooker?

This cowboy casserole recipe is readily adapted for use in a slow cooker. Simply follow the exact recipe directions below, but instead of a baking dish, layer in a crockpot and cook on low for around 5 hours without removing the lid.

Can I Add Other Vegetables to Cowboy Casserole?

I believe it is fine to add canned, frozen, or fresh veggies such as carrots, peas, or peppers such as jalapenos, bell peppers, poblano peppers, or chopped canned green chilies to your cowboy casserole.

Can I Use Cooked Potatoes in this Cowboy Casserole?

Yes, you can use any leftover cooked or baked potatoes, whether they are mashed or cubed, int this cowboy casserole.

Cowboy Casserole Pioneer Woman
Pioneer Woman Cowboy Casserole

Amount Per Serving

  • Calories 513
  • Total Fat 34.3g
  • Saturated Fat 13.2g
  • Cholesterol 84.3mg
  • Sodium 1176.3mg
  • Potassium 391.4mg
  • Total Carbohydrate 28.7g
  • Dietary Fiber 2.9g
  • Sugars 2.8g
  • Protein 24.3g
  • Vitamin A 10.7%
  • Vitamin C 2.5%
  • Calcium 49.3%
  • Iron 8.6%

Nutrition Facts Source: Source

Pioneer Woman Cowboy Casserole

Difficulty:BeginnerPrep time: 10 minutesCook time: 50 minutesRest time: minutesTotal time:1 hour Servings:6 servingsCalories:513 kcal Best Season:Available

Description

This Pioneer Woman Cowboy Casserole is perfect for a fun weeknight meal the whole family will enjoy, or as an easy and delicious main dish for movie night! This dish is quite simple to prepare, and it can be cooked ahead of time and kept warm in a crockpot.

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven or pan. Add the ground beef and cook it, while breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until it is no longer pink.
  3. When done, drain any excess fat and season the beef with salt and pepper to taste.
  4. Add the onion and cook for 2-3 minutes or until the onion is transparent. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
  5. Add the tomatoes, corn, sour cream, and 1 cup of cheddar.
  6. Cook until the cheese melts and everything is fully combined. Remove from heat.
  7. Pour the creamy mixture into the casserole dish. Top it with the remaining cheese and place the tater tots on top.
  8. Bake the casserole for 30-35 minutes.
  9. Serve the cowboy casserole garnished with fresh parsley.

Notes

  • Veggies: If you want to add extra veggies to your Pioneer Woman Cowboy Casserole, make sure to layer them on top of the beef but below the cheese. Remember to add an additional 10 minutes of cooking time to allow the frozen vegetables to cook through.
  • Meats: You can substitute the ground beef with almost any other type of ground meat, such as ground turkey, chicken, or Italian pork sausage, or you can add crumbled extra firm tofu for a meatless option.
  • Taco Cowboy Casserole: Flavor your ground beef with 1 teaspoon of chili powder or a packet of taco seasoning. Then, add canned chilies or jalapeños to the layers and top with salsa or a can of Rotel. This casserole will need an additional 10 minutes of cooking time.
Keywords:Cowboy Casserole Pioneer Woman, Cowboy Casserole Pioneer Woman recipe, Cowboy Casserole, Cowboy Casserole with tater tots
Nutrition Facts

Servings 6-8


Amount Per Serving
Calories 513
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 34.3g53%
Saturated Fat 13.2g66%
Cholesterol 84.3mg29%
Sodium 1176.3mg50%
Potassium 391.4mg12%
Total Carbohydrate 28.7g10%
Dietary Fiber 2.9g12%
Sugars 2.8g
Protein 24.3g49%

Vitamin A 10.7 IU
Vitamin C 2.5 mg
Calcium 49.3 mg
Iron 8.6 mg

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.