Description
Hearty Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole delivers a rustic ranch-style meal packed with robust flavors and comforting ingredients. Layers of ground beef, potatoes, and melted cheese create a satisfying dish that brings western charm directly to your dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 can (15 ounces / 425 grams) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 4 cups (about 1.5 pounds / 680 grams) sliced potatoes
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1 can (14.5 ounces / 411 grams) diced tomatoes with green chilies
Liquid, Seasonings, and Cheese:
- 1 can (10.75 ounces / 305 grams) condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Brown ground beef with onions and garlic in a skillet over medium heat until meat is no longer pink and onions are translucent, approximately 8-10 minutes.
- Drain excess grease thoroughly from the meat mixture.
- Transfer beef and onion mixture into the slow cooker ceramic insert.
- Pour cream of mushroom soup, milk, kidney beans, diced tomatoes with green chilies, and frozen corn into the slow cooker.
- Season the mixture with chili powder, salt, and pepper, stirring until ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Arrange sliced potatoes in a uniform layer across the top of the beef mixture, ensuring complete coverage.
- Set slow cooker to low temperature and cook for 6-7 hours, or on high temperature for 3-4 hours until potatoes become fork-tender.
- During the final 20 minutes of cooking, distribute shredded cheese evenly over the potato layer.
- Replace lid and allow cheese to melt completely, creating a golden, bubbly topping.
- Carefully remove lid and serve hot directly from the slow cooker, portioning into individual serving dishes.
Notes
- Trim visible fat from ground beef to reduce overall calorie content and create a leaner dish.
- Rinse canned kidney beans before adding to lower sodium levels and remove excess starch.
- Swap regular potatoes with sweet potatoes for added nutritional benefits and a slightly different flavor profile.
- Consider using low-fat cheese or reducing cheese quantity for a healthier version of the casserole.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6–7 hours (Low) or 3–4 hours (High)
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 337 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 670 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg