Pioneer Woman Cowboy Casserole Recipe

Introduction

This Pioneer Woman Cowboy Casserole is a hearty, comforting dish perfect for family dinners. Loaded with ground beef, vegetables, and topped with crispy tater tots and cheese, it’s a satisfying meal that’s simple to make and sure to please everyone at the table.

Ingredients

• 1 (32-oz) bag tater tots
• 4 strips bacon
• 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 lb ground sirloin
• 1 (10.75-oz) can cream of mushroom soup
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 tsp black pepper, divided
• 3 cups baby spinach, chopped
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 8 oz shredded cheddar or colby jack cheese
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
• Chives or scallions for topping

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Allow the tater tots to thaw slightly while preparing the other ingredients.
2. Step 2: Cook the bacon strips in a skillet over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon, drain on paper towels, and chop into small pieces.
3. Step 3: In the same skillet with the bacon grease, sauté the chopped onion and garlic until softened and fragrant. Add the ground sirloin and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks.
4. Step 4: Stir in the cream of mushroom soup, milk, salt, ½ teaspoon of black pepper, chopped spinach, and frozen corn. Mix everything well to combine.
5. Step 5: Transfer the beef mixture to a baking dish. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar or colby jack cheese evenly over the top. Arrange the tater tots in a single layer on top of the cheese. Then sprinkle the grated parmesan cheese and the remaining ¼ teaspoon black pepper over the tater tots.
6. Step 6: Bake the casserole in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, until the tater tots are golden and crispy and the filling is bubbly. Remove from oven, sprinkle the chopped bacon over the top, and let rest for 5 minutes.
7. Step 7: Garnish with fresh chives or scallions before serving. Enjoy!

Tips & Variations

• Use ground turkey or chicken instead of sirloin for a lighter version.
• Swap baby spinach for kale or swiss chard for added texture.
• For extra gooeyness, add a layer of mozzarella cheese under the tater tots.
• If you prefer crispier tater tots, you can pre-bake them for 10 minutes before layering.

Storage

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, cover with foil and warm in a 350°F oven until heated through, about 15–20 minutes. Avoid microwaving to keep the tater tots crispy.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I prepare this casserole ahead of time?

Yes, you can assemble the casserole the day before and store it covered in the refrigerator. Bake it fresh before serving, adding 5–10 minutes to the cooking time if baking from chilled.

Can I use fresh corn instead of frozen?

Absolutely. Fresh corn kernels can be used in place of frozen; just make sure they’re cooked or lightly sautéed before adding, to ensure they soften properly in the casserole.

Pioneer Woman Cowboy Casserole Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.5 from 660 reviews

Pioneer Woman Cowboy Casserole is a hearty and comforting dish that layers crispy tater tots over a savory ground sirloin mixture with creamy mushroom soup, vegetables, and plenty of cheese. Perfect for a family dinner, this casserole combines the smoky flavor of bacon, tender spinach, and sweet corn in a baked one-pan meal.

• Author: Victoria
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 6 servings 1x
• Category: Casserole
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Base and Meat

• 1 (32-oz) bag tater tots
• 4 strips bacon
• 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 lb ground sirloin

Sauce and Seasoning

• 1 (10.75-oz) can cream of mushroom soup
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 tsp black pepper, divided

Vegetables and Cheese

• 3 cups baby spinach, chopped
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 8 oz shredded cheddar or colby jack cheese
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Garnish

• Chives or scallions for topping

Instructions

1. Preheat and prepare tater tots: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Allow the frozen tater tots to thaw slightly to ensure even cooking during baking.
2. Cook bacon: In a skillet, cook the bacon strips over medium heat until they are crispy. Remove the bacon from the pan and chop it into small pieces; reserve the bacon grease in the pan for flavor.
3. Sauté aromatics and brown beef: Using the bacon grease, sauté the chopped yellow onion and garlic until translucent and fragrant. Add the ground sirloin to the pan and cook until browned and fully cooked through.
4. Mix in sauce and vegetables: Stir in the cream of mushroom soup, milk, salt, half a teaspoon of black pepper, chopped spinach, and frozen corn. Mix well until all ingredients are combined evenly.
5. Assemble the casserole: Transfer the beef and vegetable mixture to a baking dish. Evenly sprinkle shredded cheddar or Colby Jack cheese on top. Arrange the thawed tater tots in a single layer over the cheese. Finally, sprinkle grated parmesan cheese and the remaining black pepper over the tots.
6. Bake and finish: Bake the casserole in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden and crispy and the cheese is bubbly. Remove from the oven and sprinkle the chopped bacon pieces over the top. Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before garnishing with chopped chives or scallions and serving.

Notes

• Allowing tater tots to thaw slightly before baking ensures they cook evenly and get crispy.
• You can substitute ground sirloin with ground beef or turkey if preferred.
• Feel free to use your favorite cheese blend; a sharper cheddar adds extra flavor.
• Make sure to chop the spinach finely so it blends well in the casserole.
• For a spicier kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the beef mixture while cooking.
• This dish reheats well and can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Keywords: Pioneer Woman, Cowboy Casserole, tater tots casserole, ground beef casserole, comfort food, baked casserole