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Easy Cowboy Casserole with Tater Tots and Ground Beef

A hearty, cheesy casserole featuring crispy tater tots, seasoned ground beef, and melty cheddar cheese perfect for weeknight dinners or potlucks.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American, Autumn
Calories: 520
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ground Beef Mixture
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 medium onion diced
  • 1 medium green bell pepper diced
  • 1 medium red bell pepper diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 can cream of mushroom soup 10.5 oz
  • 0.5 cup tomato paste
  • 0.5 cup milk
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 0.5 tsp onion powder
  • 0.25 tsp cayenne pepper optional
  • 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded, divided
  • 32 oz tater tots frozen
  • 2 tbsp parsley chopped, for garnish

Equipment

  • Mixing bowls
  • Baking dish
  • Skillet
  • Spatula

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef until fully cooked. Drain excess fat.
  3. Add diced onions, bell peppers, and garlic; sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
  4. In a medium bowl, mix cream of mushroom soup, tomato paste, milk, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, chili powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper until smooth.
  5. Pour sauce over cooked beef and vegetables in the skillet, stirring until evenly coated.
  6. Spread half of the beef mixture in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle 1 cup of cheddar cheese on top, then layer remaining beef mixture and frozen tater tots.
  7. Bake 30–35 minutes until tater tots are golden brown. Remove, sprinkle remaining cheddar cheese, and bake additional 5–7 minutes until melted.
  8. Garnish with parsley. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Optional: Partially bake tater tots for crispier topping or add extra vegetables for nutrition.