Description
Hearty slow cooker cowboy casserole brings rustic ranch-style comfort straight to dinner tables with bold southwestern flavors. Robust ground beef, tender potatoes, and zesty seasonings blend perfectly for a satisfying meal that hungry families will devour.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
- 3 cups (450 grams) diced potatoes
- 1 can (15 ounces/425 grams) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (14 ounces/397 grams) diced tomatoes with green chilies
Dairy and Cheese:
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) milk
Seasonings and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 can (10.5 ounces/298 grams) cream of mushroom soup
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Sauté ground beef and onions in a skillet until meat is thoroughly browned, carefully draining any accumulated fat to ensure a rich, clean flavor profile.
- Create a strategic layering technique in the slow cooker, arranging sliced potatoes as a foundational base, followed by the seasoned beef and onion mixture.
- Distribute kidney beans and diced tomatoes evenly across the layered ingredients, ensuring balanced distribution throughout the casserole.
- Gently pour cream of mushroom soup over the existing layers, allowing it to seep between ingredients and create a cohesive, creamy texture.
- Enhance the flavor profile by sprinkling a blend of garlic powder, smoked paprika, kosher salt, and freshly cracked black pepper across the surface.
- Drizzle milk over the entire composition, providing moisture and helping to integrate the various components.
- Generously crown the casserole with a blanket of shredded cheddar cheese, creating a golden, melted topping.
- Secure the slow cooker lid and allow the casserole to simmer on low temperature for 6-7 hours, or alternatively on high for 3-4 hours until potatoes reach a tender, fork-friendly consistency.
- Once cooking is complete, let the casserole rest briefly before serving to allow flavors to harmonize.
- Optional: Garnish with freshly chopped parsley for a vibrant, herbaceous finish that adds visual appeal and subtle freshness.
Notes
- Customize the meat by swapping ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a leaner or vegetarian version.
- Reduce sodium content by using low-sodium canned beans and soup, and cutting back on added salt.
- Boost vegetable intake by adding diced bell peppers, corn, or zucchini between the layers for extra nutrition and color.
- Enhance flavor complexity by experimenting with different cheese blends like pepper jack or a smoky gouda instead of standard cheddar.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg