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Creamy homemade family dinner served with fresh ingredients and delicious flavors.

Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole

A creamy, comforting casserole filled with savory ground beef, tender vegetables, and melted cheese, perfect for family dinners or chilly nights.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 7 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 480
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Meat and Vegetables
  • 1 pound lean ground beef Look for lean ground beef for a balanced dish.
  • 1 cup finely diced sweet yellow onions You can also use red onions for a sharper taste.
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic Freshly minced garlic enhances flavor.
  • 1 cup frozen corn No need to thaw; add directly to the slow cooker.
  • 1½ pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, sliced about ⅛ inch thick These potatoes hold their shape well during cooking.
Canned Ingredients
  • 1 16-ounce can dark red kidney beans, undrained Can swap for black beans or chickpeas.
  • 1 14.5-ounce can petite diced tomatoes with juice Adds moisture and flavor to the dish.
  • 1 10-ounce can diced tomatoes with fire roasted hatch chilies, with juice For a spicy kick.
Spices and Cheese
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon chipotle powder Adjust based on spice preference.
  • 1¼ cups Colby and Monterey Jack cheese, freshly shredded Cheese added at the end for melting.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Lightly spray your crockpot with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. In a 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef, diced onions, and minced garlic until the beef is no longer pink.
  3. Drain any excess grease from the skillet and transfer the cooked mixture to the prepared crockpot.
Cooking
  1. Add the kidney beans, petite diced tomatoes, diced tomatoes with chilies, frozen corn, kosher salt, black pepper, and chipotle powder to the crockpot.
  2. Stir everything together until well combined.
  3. Remove 1½ cups of the meat mixture and set aside. Layer the sliced Yukon Gold potatoes into the crockpot, and sprinkle the reserved meat mixture evenly over the top.
  4. Cover and cook on high for 5 hours or on low for 7 hours.
  5. Before serving, sprinkle shredded cheese over the top, cover again, and let it melt completely.

Notes

For best results, stick to recommended cooking times to avoid mushy potatoes. You can customize flavors with additional vegetables or spices.