Go Back
Two bowls of hearty Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole, topped with melted cheese, sour cream, and fresh parsley on a marble surface.

Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole: Your New Favorite Weeknight Meal

This comforting slow cooker cowboy casserole combines seasoned ground beef, potatoes, beans, corn, and tomatoes in a creamy, cheesy sauce, making it an ideal hearty weeknight meal with minimal effort.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours 15 minutes
Total Time 4 hours 35 minutes
Servings: 6 portions
Calories: 650
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 lb. 90/10 lean ground beef
  • 0.5 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1 medium-size yellow onion chopped (about 2 cups)
  • 3 medium garlic cloves finely chopped (about 1 Tbsp.)
  • 1 envelope taco seasoning mix 1-oz.
  • 12 oz. baby red potatoes scrubbed and chopped (about 8 medium [1 1/2 oz. each]) (2 cups chopped)
  • 1 can dark kidney beans 15.5-oz., rinsed and drained
  • 1 can fire-roasted corn 14.75-oz., drained
  • 1 can fire-roasted diced tomatoes 14.5-oz., drained
  • 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup 10.5-oz.
  • 1 can mild or hot diced green chiles 4-oz., undrained
  • 2 oz. Cheddar-Jack cheese shredded (about 1/2 cup)
  • Sour cream
  • Fresh cilantro leaves

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • Spoon
  • 6-qt. slow cooker

Method
 

Cooking Steps
  1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and salt, cooking until browned and broken up, approximately 6 minutes.
  2. Stir in chopped onions, garlic, and taco seasoning with the beef mixture. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until the onions have softened, about 3 minutes.
  3. Transfer the beef mixture to a 6-quart slow cooker and combine with potatoes, kidney beans, corn, diced tomatoes, cream of chicken soup, and green chiles, pressing into an even layer. Cover and cook on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are tender.
  4. Evenly sprinkle the shredded Cheddar-Jack cheese over the casserole. Cover and cook on HIGH for about 15 minutes, or until the cheese has completely melted.
  5. Serve the slow cooker cowboy casserole hot, garnished with sour cream and fresh cilantro leaves.

Notes

For an extra kick, use hot diced green chiles and a pinch of cayenne pepper in the beef mixture.