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A delicious slow cooker cowboy casserole filled with ground beef, beans, and cheese.

Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole

A comforting and hearty dish packed with flavor, perfect for busy days and family dinners.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 7 hours
Total Time 7 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Meat and Vegetables
  • 1 pound lean ground beef Browned for flavor
  • 1 cup finely diced sweet yellow onions
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
Canned and Frozen Ingredients
  • 1 can (16-ounce) dark red kidney beans, undrained
  • 1 can (14.5-ounce) petite diced tomatoes with juice
  • 1 can (10-ounce) diced tomatoes with fire roasted hatch chilies, with juice
  • 1 cup frozen corn
Seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 0.5 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
  • 0.25 teaspoon chipotle powder
Potatoes and Cheese
  • 1.5 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, sliced about ⅛ inch thick
  • 1.25 cups Colby and Monterey Jack cheese, freshly shredded Sprinkled on top before serving

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.
Combining Ingredients
  1. Add the undrained 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.
Layering and Cooking
  1. Remove 1½ cups of the meat mixture and set it aside.
  2. Layer the sliced Yukon Gold potatoes into the crockpot and sprinkle the reserved meat mixture evenly over the top.
  3. Cover and cook on high for 5 hours or on low for 7 hours.
Finishing Touch
  1. Before serving, sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top and cover again until it melts completely.
Serving
  1. Serve hot with a side salad or some crusty bread. Optionally, add hot sauce for an extra kick.

Notes

For storage, let the casserole cool completely and place it in an airtight container. It can be kept in the refrigerator for about 3-4 days or frozen for longer storage. Consider brown the meat properly for added flavor and using fresh vegetables for the best taste. Also, customize with your favorite spices or fresh herbs.