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Pioneer Woman Cowboy Casserole Recipe

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★★★★★

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.

Ingredients

Scale

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

Find it online: https://victoriablair.com/pioneer-woman-cowboy-casserole-recipe/