Description
Rich cowboy casserole brings hearty Midwestern comfort to dinner tables across America. Ground beef, potatoes, and cheese blend into a satisfying one-pot meal you’ll crave on chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
- 3 cups (450 g) frozen diced hash brown potatoes or fresh potatoes, cubed
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 can (15 oz / 425 g) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz / 425 g) diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 can (10.5 oz / 300 g) condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1 cup (120 g) shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup (120 ml) milk
- ¼ cup (30 g) chopped green onions or parsley
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Meat Preparation: Brown ground beef with onions in a skillet over medium heat, draining excess fat and seasoning with salt and pepper for enhanced flavor profile.
- Slow Cooker Setup: Lightly spray the slow cooker interior with cooking spray to prevent ingredient adhesion and simplify post-cooking cleanup.
- Layer Construction: Methodically arrange sliced potatoes as the base layer, then spread the seasoned beef and onion mixture evenly across the potato foundation.
- Ingredient Distribution: Uniformly scatter kidney beans and diced tomatoes over the meat layer, creating a rich textural landscape.
- Sauce Creation: Blend cream of mushroom soup with milk, incorporating garlic powder, smoked paprika, and half the cheese. Carefully pour this creamy mixture to blanket the layered ingredients.
- Slow Cooking Process: Cover and cook on low heat for 6-7 hours (or high setting for 3-4 hours) until potatoes become perfectly tender and the casserole develops a tantalizing bubble.
- Final Touches: Sprinkle remaining cheese across the surface during the last cooking phase, allowing it to melt into a golden, appetizing topping. Optionally, garnish with chopped green onions or parsley to introduce a fresh, vibrant element.
Notes
- Prevent Potato Browning: Soak sliced potatoes in cold water before layering to stop discoloration and maintain a fresh appearance.
- Manage Meat Moisture: Ensure ground beef is thoroughly drained to avoid excess liquid that could make the casserole soggy or watery.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Add cheese during the last 30 minutes of cooking to achieve perfect golden-brown melting without burning.
- Dietary Adaptation: Substitute ground beef with turkey or plant-based crumbles for a lighter, vegetarian-friendly version of the casserole.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours (low) or 3 hours (high)
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg