Description
Hearty slow cooker cowboy casserole brings rustic ranch flavors straight to your dinner table. Packed with ground beef, potatoes, and cheesy goodness, this comforting meal delivers southwestern charm you’ll savor until the last delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 pound (450 g) ground beef
Vegetable Components:
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 cups (450 g) frozen diced hash brown potatoes or fresh potatoes, cubed
- ¼ cup (30 g) chopped green onions or parsley
Pantry and Dairy Ingredients:
- 1 can (15 ounces / 425 g) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can (15 ounces / 425 g) diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 can (10.5 ounces / 300 g) condensed cream of mushroom soup
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) milk
- 1 cup (120 g) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Sizzle ground beef with diced onions in a skillet over medium flame until meat browns completely and loses its raw appearance. Drain excess grease and enhance with salt and pepper for robust flavor.
- Prepare the slow cooker by lightly coating interior surfaces with cooking spray to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Create a foundational layer of sliced potatoes across the bottom of the slow cooker, ensuring even distribution for consistent cooking.
- Strategically arrange the seasoned beef and onion mixture directly atop the potato layer, creating a hearty foundation for the casserole.
- Distribute kidney beans and diced tomatoes evenly over the meat layer, adding depth and textural complexity to the dish.
- Craft a creamy sauce by whisking cream of mushroom soup with milk, incorporating garlic powder, smoked paprika, and half the cheese allocation. Pour this mixture uniformly across the layered ingredients.
- Shield the slow cooker with its lid and allow the casserole to simmer on low temperature for 6-7 hours or accelerate on high setting for 3-4 hours until potatoes reach perfect tenderness and mixture bubbles enticingly.
- During the final cooking phase, scatter remaining cheese across the surface, allowing it to melt and create a golden, appetizing topping.
- Optional: Garnish with freshly chopped green onions or parsley to introduce a vibrant, fresh element. Serve piping hot and savor the rustic, comforting flavors.
Notes
- Customize meat choices wisely by swapping ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for lower fat or vegetarian options.
- Reduce sodium naturally by using low-sodium canned tomatoes and kidney beans, which helps control salt intake without sacrificing flavor.
- Make the dish gluten-free quickly by selecting cream of mushroom soup that’s certified gluten-free and checking ingredient labels carefully.
- Boost vegetable nutrition by adding diced bell peppers, zucchini, or spinach during the layering process for extra vitamins and minerals.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours (low) or 3 hours (high)
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg