Description
Hearty slow cooker cowboy casserole delivers a robust taste of western-style comfort cuisine. Layers of ground beef, potatoes, and cheese create a satisfying meal you’ll savor with friends and family.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 can (15 oz/425 g) diced tomatoes with juices
- 1 can (15 oz/425 g) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (10.5 oz/298 g) cream of mushroom soup
- 4 medium potatoes, sliced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Sauté ground beef with onions in a skillet over medium-high heat until meat is thoroughly browned and onions are translucent, approximately 7-8 minutes.
- Carefully drain excess fat from the meat mixture using a colander.
- Arrange thinly sliced potatoes as a uniform base layer inside the slow cooker.
- Distribute the cooked beef and onion mixture evenly across the potato foundation.
- Cascade kidney beans, diced tomatoes, cream of mushroom soup, and minced garlic over the beef layer.
- Generously dust the surface with smoked paprika, salt, and freshly ground black pepper for robust seasoning.
- Gently cascade milk across the entire layered composition.
- Secure slow cooker lid and cook on low temperature for 6-7 hours or high temperature for 3-4 hours until potatoes become tender.
- During the final 30 minutes of cooking, sprinkle sharp cheddar cheese across the top, allowing it to melt completely.
- Remove lid, let casserole rest for 5-10 minutes, then serve piping hot with additional garnish if desired.
Notes
- Slice potatoes uniformly to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the casserole.
- Thoroughly drain ground beef to prevent excess grease, which can make the dish heavy and less appetizing.
- Add cheese during the final 30 minutes to achieve perfect melting without overcooking or burning.
- Swap ground beef for ground turkey or plant-based protein to create a lighter, healthier version of the casserole.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 hours (on Low) or 4 hours (on High)
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 335 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 570 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg