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Complete with hearty ground beef, potatoes, beans, veggies, and cheese, this amazing Cowboy Casserole is the perfect comfort food! Prep is easy, and cooking it is even easier: just set it in the slow cooker and it's ready in time for dinner.
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Crockpot Cowboy Casserole
Raising 4 kids, I think it goes without saying I have always been in need of easy slow cooker dinner recipes that even picky eaters will love! There have been plenty of nights where I have had a fridge full of ingredients without any time to put together dinner.
Cowboy casserole is the perfect solution to a flavorful, filling dinner everyone will love - including picky kids! - because it has everything you could possibly want in a casserole. It's filled with ground beef, potatoes, onions, cheese... one bite will blow your mind!
Not only is it out-of-this-world delicious, this cowboy casserole crockpot recipe only takes minutes to prepare! Personally, nothing makes me happier then walking into my aroma-filled kitchen to a big crockpot full of slow-cooked deliciousness.
Crockpot casseroles are one of the best budget-friendly meals that can easily feed a crowd in no time. Everyone will love the comfort in each bite - I promise they'll end up going back for seconds.
My crockpot casserole will quickly become one of your family's favorite slow cooker ground beef recipes!
Beef and Potatoes Casserole Ingredients
- ground beef
- sea salt
- pepper
- cumin
- minced garlic
- sweet onion
- red potatoes
- kidney beans
- fire-roasted diced tomatoes
- corn
- hot sauce
- cheddar cheese
- beef broth
For additional flavor, you can use our beef taco seasoning!
How to Make Crockpot Cowboy Casserole
- In a medium-sized skillet over medium-high heat, add ground beef and season with salt and pepper.
- Cook until browned, then season with cumin. Add diced onions and minced garlic and cook down until soft. Drain any excess fat.
- In a 6-quart slow cooker, add cooked beef and all other ingredients except the cheddar cheese.
- Stir ingredients well, cover with the lid, and cook on high for approximately 3 to 3.5 hours or until the potatoes are tender.
- Remove lid and sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Cover with the lid again and cook for an additional 20 minutes, or until the cheese has melted.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Cowboy Casserole Recipe Tips
- Before adding the cheese, make sure your potatoes are soft and fork-tender.
- You can easily substitute the red potatoes for hash browns or tater tots!
- Brown your ground beef in a skillet before adding it to your slow cooker. This gives the dish much more flavor.
- Have company coming over? Toss in a few extra cans of beans and tomatoes and this meal can easily be stretched to feed more!
- Add in a variety of beans, such as black beans or pinto beans!
- Easily make dairy-free cowboy casserole by omitting the shredded cheese, or using a dairy-free alternative.
Beef and Potato Casserole Toppings
- extra shredded cheese
- cilantro
- bacon pieces
- sour cream
- green onions
- jalapeno peppers
Serve with your favorite buffalo sauce, bbq sauce, or even plain ketchup (usually a fan-favorite with the kiddos).
Storing Cowboy Casserole
- To store any leftover cowboy casserole in the fridge, place it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can reheat it in the slow cooker, the stovetop, or microwave for a few minutes, until leftovers are warmed through.
- To freeze cowboy casserole, simply brown ground beef and place in a freezer bag. Place freezer bag with ground beef in the freezer for up to 6 months. When you are ready to cook it, add your frozen ground beef to the crockpot along with the other ingredients and cook normally.
Slow Cooker Beef Casserole FAQs
My crockpot cowboy casserole is made with sliced red potatoes, browned ground beef, spices, beans, diced tomatoes, and topped with shredded cheese! Perfect to serve for a busy weeknight dinner or for a family gathering. Cowboy casserole typically uses tater tots, but regular red potatoes work just as well.
Although it is safe to put raw ground beef in the slow cooker, for this recipe we browned the ground beef separately in a skillet. This ensures your beef is cooked to perfection and locks in all the flavor!
Beef Casserole Recipes
📋 Recipe
Cowboy Casserole
Equipment
- 1 6qt. slow cooker
Ingredients
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- ½ cup sweet onion diced
- 4-5 red potatoes sliced
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic 1 clove
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 can dark kidney beans drained (14.5 oz)
- 1 can fire-roasted diced tomatoes 14.5 oz, or regular diced tomatoes
- 1 bag frozen corn 10 oz
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce use your favorite
- 1 cup cheddar cheese sharp
- ½ cup beef broth
See our Beef Temperature Chart for helpful tips on cooking any cut of beef!
Instructions
- In a medium-sized skillet over medium-high heat, add ground beef and season with salt and pepper.1 lb. lean ground beef, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon sea salt, 1 teaspoon cumin
- Cook until browned, then season with cumin. Add diced onions and minced garlic and cook down until soft. Drain any excess fat.½ cup sweet onion, 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- In a 6-quart slow cooker, add cooked beef and all other ingredients except the cheddar cheese.4-5 red potatoes, 1 can dark kidney beans, 1 can fire-roasted diced tomatoes, 1 bag frozen corn, 1 tablespoon hot sauce, ½ cup beef broth
- Stir ingredients well, cover with the lid, and cook on high for approximately 3 to 3.5 hours or until the potatoes are tender.
- Remove lid and sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Cover with the lid again and cook for an additional 20 minutes, or until the cheese has melted.1 cup cheddar cheese
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Try using our homemade beef taco seasoning for even more flavor.
- Before adding the cheese, make sure your potatoes are soft and fork-tender.
- You can easily substitute the red potatoes for hash browns or tater tots!
- Brown your ground beef in a skillet before adding it to your slow cooker. This gives the dish much more flavor.
- Have company coming over? Toss in a few extra cans of beans and tomatoes and this meal can easily be stretched to feed more!
- Add in a variety of beans, such as black beans or pinto beans!
- Easily make dairy-free cowboy casserole by omitting the shredded cheese, or using a dairy-free alternative.
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