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Crockpot Cowboy Casserole has everything you need for a delicious meal in the slow cooker. This slow cooker recipes takes 15 minutes to prep and each bite is loaded with ground beef, melty cheese, veggies and beans!
This crock-pot cowboy casserole recipe gives you the flavor of traditional casserole dishes without any baking. Packed with flavorful ground beef, hearty beans, hash browns, and cheese, this is one recipe your family is going to love.
We love one pot meals and it is even better if you can use the crockpot. This meal definitely is easy and has everything you need for a great meal. If you have a large family like I do, this is the perfect meal to feed a bunch of hungry kids without ruining your budget. If you love this recipe, try Ground Beef Enchilada Casserole, Cowboy Casserole and Hamburger Potato Casserole.
What's in this post: Crockpot Cowboy Casserole
What is Cowboy Casserole?
Cowboy Casserole is a rich, hearty and budget-friendly dish that has layers of melted cheese and cream of mushroom soup. Blended together with the hash browns, ground beef and more for the absolute best casserole recipe and perfect to meal prep with.
No baking dish needed, because the slow cooker gives you that casserole flavor without ever having to watch the oven. It’s known for its Tex-Mex flavors, cheesy, the ultimate comfort food, stick-to-your-ribs quality and a family favorite.
Ingredients
- Ground Beef – You will want to brown it over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain any fat. Feel free to also use ground turkey
- Diced Onion – I love to use frozen diced onion to save even more time
- Cream of Mushroom Soup – You can use our homemade cream of mushroom is so easy
- Frozen Diced Hash Browns – You can also use shredded hashbrowns, sweet potatoes
- Diced Tomatoes with Liquid – Use any type of tomatoes
- Frozen Corn – No need to thaw before pour into slow cooker
- Kidney Beans – Drain the beans before adding. I also like to rinse them
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese – I recommend you buy the block cheddar cheese and then shred it by hand. The cheese will melt smoother that way.
Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe in the recipe card.
How to Make Cowboy Casserole in the Crockpot
Step 1 – Place all of the ingredients except for the cheese in a 6 quart crockpot and stir well. It is that simple. Put the lid on and let the slow cooker do the work. I like to cover and cook it for 4 hours on high or on low for 7 to 8 hours. Cooking time will vary.
Step 2 – Remove the lid after it has finished cooking and add the shredded cheese. Put the lid back on and let this cook for another 30 minutes to allow the cheese to melt.
Step 4 – Top with your favorite toppings and enjoy!
Crockpot Cowboy Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef browned and drained
- ¼ cup diced onion I used frozen diced onion.
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 can of cream of mushroom soup
- 1 lb frozen diced hash browns
- 1 can of diced tomatoes with liquid
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1 can kidney beans drained
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients including beans beef etc with the exception of the cheese in a 6 quart crockpot and stir well.
- Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 7-8 hours.
- Uncover crock-pot and sprinkle shredded cheese over top and recover and let cook an additional 30 minutes.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Facts
Variations Ideas
- Different Beans – Add pinto beans or black beans.
- Spices – Stir in a tablespoon of taco seasoning. You can also just use ½ tablespoon of chili powder and garlic powder
- Potatoes – Substitute red potatoes instead of hash browns.
- Try other Cheeses – Mozzarella, Colby Jack, Sharp Cheddar and more would be good.
- Rotel – Add Rotel to give the tomatoes a little kick.
- Green Chilies – Toss in a can for extra kick.
- Jalapeños – Toss in diced Jalapeno Peppers to the mixture.
We love trying new thing and using what we have. Plus, my family thinks we are eating new recipes when really it is the same meal.
Topping Ideas
- Shredded Cheese (Try cheddar cheese, Colby, mozzarella and more.)
- Sour Cream
- Diced Onion
- Hot Sauce
- Diced Jalapeno Peppers
What to Serve with Cowboy Casserole?
- Cornbred – Add a side of homemade cornbread or you also try Cheddar Jalapeno Cornbread Recipe for a little extra kick. I like to crumble the cornbread all over the casserole.
- Garden Salad – Because this dish is so hearty, add a light side dish such as a garden salad for a complete meal idea.
- Roasted Vegetables – Roasted Zucchini, Roasted Cauliflower or Parmesan Roasted Broccoli are also great ideas for an easy side dish.
FAQs
Yes, you can cook ground beef in the slow cooker if you have the right crockpot. See How to Cook Ground Beef in a Crock Pot for all the tips.
Yes, this is a great recipe to sneak in veggies such as green beans, carrots, chopped cabbage, bell peppers, black olives and slice mushrooms are some that we have added in.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat the leftovers in the microwave or on the stovetop in a skillet.
Yes, you can freeze this casserole leftovers or toss the ingredients in a freezer zip lock bag and cook within about 2 months. Thaw in the fridge or dump the ingredients in the slow cooker and heat.
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If you make Crockpot Cowboy Casserole Recipe, please leave us a comment or a star review. We love to hear from you.
Wanted to make this Western (think A1 steaksauce). Been having a lot of Tex-Mex lately. Added 2 Tbs of Worcestershire Sauce to the browned beef and onions overnight, and sprinkled Red Pepper flakes on top of the cheese. Tasted like it’d been cooked over a campfire.
That sounds delicious Chris. Thank you so much for sharing your tweaks to the recipe and for the positive review!
What size of can of diced tomatoes do I need and what size can of beans do I need for crockpot cowboy casserole please let me know I’m excited about fixing it but want to get it right
Thanks We love this casserole, especially my 3 grandsons. In years past, I baked a similar cowboy casserole but this is much easier and it doesnโt require stove baking. We like Southwest flavors so as Iโm browning the beef I add the onion and chopped red, orange and yellow peppers. I also add different spices according to the flavors Iโm after such as Taco, Italian, Basil, Oregano a little crushed pepper or cayenne pepper. I like to use fresh hash browns that can be found in the refrigerated section with eggs, etc. We love the Southwest ones with peppers and onions. I also use a can of chopped tomatoes that are seasoned with onions and garlic. Sometimes I will go ahead and brown the beef, add the onions and peppers and seasonings, put it in the fridge overnight to marinate the flavors then next day put it in crockpot, add vegetables and cook on high or low for designated times depending on how quickly we want to eat. You canโt mess this casserole up! Itโs delicious, healthy and filling.
This was great! I also added fire roasted canned corn and it was delicious! Thanks for the recipe.
Made this last night, so good and makes a lot! I will freeze the left overs for a busy night. We topped it with green oinion and black olives, yum!