Description
A hearty comfort food casserole featuring seasoned ground beef, corn, and bacon in a creamy sauce, topped with crispy tater tots and melted cheddar cheese. Perfect for family dinners and crowd-pleasing meals.
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ pound ground beef (85/15 lean)
- 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, canned, or frozen)
- ⅔ cup condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (divided)
- ⅓ cup whole milk
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup cooked bacon, crumbled
- 32 ounces frozen tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat until browned and cooked through. Drain excess fat.
- Turn off heat and add corn, cream of mushroom soup, ½ cup shredded cheddar, milk, sour cream, onion powder, black pepper, and crumbled bacon to the skillet. Stir until well combined.
- Lightly grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish. Spread the beef mixture evenly across the bottom.
- Arrange frozen tater tots evenly over the filling, covering the entire surface.
- Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until tater tots are golden and crispy.
- Sprinkle remaining ½ cup cheddar cheese over the top and bake for another 5-7 minutes until cheese melts and bubbles.
- Let cool for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow layers to set.
Notes
- For crispier tater tots, arrange in a single even layer and consider broiling for 2-3 minutes at the end
- Drain excess fat from beef to prevent greasiness
- Can be assembled up to one day in advance and refrigerated before baking
- Freezer-friendly – assemble unbaked, wrap tightly, and freeze up to 3 months
- Customize with different proteins like ground turkey or chicken
- Add vegetables like bell peppers, onions, or jalapeños for extra flavor
- Use freshly shredded cheese for better melting
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of recipe
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 875mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 29g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 17g
- Cholesterol: 64mg
Keywords: cowboy casserole, tater tot casserole, comfort food, ground beef casserole, family dinner, one-dish meal, hearty casserole, bacon casserole