This Cowboy Casserole is a simple yet hearty meal. You can add your favorite herbs or season as you wish. The recipe for this cowboy casserole doesn’t include a bunch of seasonings, so you can choose your favorites or just stick with good old-fashioned salt and pepper.
Cowboy Casserole
I actually made this Cowboy Casserole several years ago and it’s been very popular on this blog. So I pulled out the recipe recently and made it for dinner. Then I remembered why it was so popular! It combines simple ingredients and the end result is a warm, satisfying meal.
RELATED – Our crockpot mac and cheese is simple and you don’t have to boil the noodles!
This is a great meal for one of those soccer game nights or for busy recital and dance evenings. You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for the beef if you prefer, and I’ve used both Russet and red skinned potatoes with this dish.
It’s super simple, though you do need to brown the ground beef first. This is why I like to brown several pounds ahead of time and keep them in the freezer. Then you can just bring out the cooked beef and layer your ingredients in the crockpot. Let it cook all day on low or cook it on high for 4-5 hours.
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To make this popular slow cooker cowboy casserole, you will need:
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1½ pounds ground chuck, browned and drained
- 6 medium potatoes, sliced
- 1 can red beans, drained
- 1 can tomatoes mixed with 2 tablespoons flour ORÂ 1 can tomato soup
- Salt, pepper and garlic to taste
- Slow cooker
You can print the full recipe below!
More ground beef recipes
Looking for more ideas to use ground beef? I have quite a few ground beef recipes here, or you can browse a few of my favorites below.
- Taco Bell Enchirito Copycat
- Southwest Ground Beef Casserole
- Salisbury Steaks
- The Best Meatloaf Recipe Ever
- 15-Minute Soft Taco Dinner – 100 Directions
And here’s a bonus… this crockpot dinner is kid friendly and family approved!
Cowboy Casserole
IMPORTANT - There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Pin It Rate ItIngredients
- 1 cup onion chopped
- 1 ½ pounds ground chuck browned and drained
- 30 oz potatoes about 6 medium, sliced
- 15 oz can red beans
- 15 oz can tomatoes
- 2 tbsp flour
- 10 oz can tomato soup
- Salt, pepper and garlic to taste
Instructions
- Put chopped onion in the bottom of the crockpot; layer with browned ground beef, sliced potatoes and beans. Spread tomatoes or soup over all. Sprinkle with seasonings as desired. Cover and cook on LOW for 7 to 9 hours or on HIGH for 4 to 5 hours.
Nutrition
Amanda Davis
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Sharyn says
Do you stir this occasionally, or just fix and forget? I’m thinking about preparing everything tonight and having my teen throw it in the crock pot while I’m at work tomorrow. Thanks!
Amanda Formaro says
You can just fix it and forget it, but one stir halfway or three quarter the way through won’t hurt :) I didn’t stir. You don’t want to open the lid of a crockpot during cooking because it lets all the heat escape. They say that every time you open the lid, you need to add another 15 minutes to the cooking time.
Catherine A. McClarey says
It’s a little too hot in the summer in my part of the Midwest for this, but this sounds like it would be yummy come fall – a bit like a cross between chili and a more traditional stew. If I wait until fall to prepare it, though, I will probably want to halve it as was suggested in an earlier comment, as the kids will all be off at college then. (Now I just need to shop for a smaller crockpot or a smaller Dutch oven!)
Amanda Formaro says
If you have a smaller pan Catherine, you could use that. Like a brownie baking pan (8×8 or 9×9) :)
Terrell Delgado says
I made tbiz in my Celebrating Home Bean Pot…family loved it. Thanks T
Amanda Formaro says
So glad you enjoyed it Terrell!
norman says
i liked it but thot it a little dry. i used the tomatoes and flour, not the soup.any suggstions to moisten?
Amanda Formaro says
Hi Norman. Without knowing any variations that you may have made, I would just say to check it before it’s done and add a bit of water or broth if it seems to be drying out.
Tammy says
I’m not sure if it will work…gonna try. Because I dont eat beef I will try this with smoked sausage…
(the kind packaged in a horse-shoe-shape) I will let you know hoe it turns out.
Amanda Formaro says
Hope the substitution worked for you Tammy! You could also try ground chicken or turkey :)
Heidi S says
I made this yesterday omitting the onion & used red ball potatoes cut in half. I put half the tomato soup in the bottom of my crock, added the potatoes & put the beef in raw (I only buy 93% lean) then the rest of the soup & seasoned with garlic powder, onion powder & pepper. I loved it!!!
Amanda Formaro says
Sounds wonderful Heidi!
Theresa says
I grew up with a similar recipe called “Shipwreck.” With Shipwreck, you start with the browned meat in the bottom of a dutch oven, layer sliced onions, sliced raw potatoes, sliced raw celery, 16 oz. can kidney beans (drained or undrained, your choice), 1 can condensed tomato soup, 1 soup can water, 1 T sugar sprinkled over top. Cover, bake 2 hours at 350 deg. This would be a quicker way to get the same flavor if you don’t have 6-8 hours to wait for a crockpot.
Robert Montgomery says
Do you drain the beans?
Amanda says
No do not drain the beans :)
Deborah M. says
This sounds great. I might try this for a church pot luck. Do you think I could cook half-way through the night before and the remaining time the next day?
Amanda says
I think as long as the meat has been browned that would be okay to do :)
Sue b. says
I wonder…if I added little carrots & diced celery…am I back at reg. stew w/grnd meat, or, am I still eatin’ with the Cowboys(& girls)? hhmmm. I’ll try it & let you know, when the weather cools down! I always serve dinner at my staff meetings …this could be a winner!
Amanda says
I’m sure you could, easily adaptable!
Annie McCoy says
How many does this feed?
Amanda says
I would say 4-6
Cherie says
I made this and it was great. I also had enough left over to freeze for 2 other meals. I took out enough for 2 meals after 1 hour so I could freeze it. It worked great! I did not use the tomatoe soup however I used 2 cups of fresh tomatoes diced and no garlic.
I also can half the recipe for the smaller crockpot which is great too!
Thanks!
Amanda says
Sounds like a fabulous substitution!
Diane says
Small or large can of tomatoes?
Amanda says
Sorry about that, a 14 oz can
Amanda S. says
Amanda, what size slow cooker is this recipe made for? I have a little 2-quart since it’s just me and the hubby, and would love to make this, but need to figure out the appropriate ingredient amounts!
Amanda says
Hi Amanda. I have always had what I believe is a 4 or 5 quart? So you may want to cut it in half.
Caroline Embleton says
Oh, this looks like a Dutch Oven meal to me! I think I will try it soon,
Amanda says
I’m sure it would be great in a Dutch oven!
Doris says
How long to cook in a Dutch Oven?
Amanda Formaro says
Hi Doris. I haven’t made this in a Dutch oven yet, but I would imagine a good starting point would be 30 minutes and check after that.
"Chunny" (Barbara Zion) says
I love this recipe…..but, have added chunks of onions and, on occasion, to spice things up…..a can of Rotel diced tomatoes!
Amanda says
Glad you enjoyed it Amber, love the addition of the Fritos!
Amber says
I whipped this up yesterday morning. After 2 hours of being in the crockpot it was already smelling good throughout the house. Put it on top of Frito's with some cheese. It was yum!! Thanks!!
Amanda says
i actually wasn’t sure if we were going to like it, but there were so many people on the FamilyCorner.com message boards that had tried it and liked it I figured it must be good… and it was : )
Bridgett says
I love dinners like this! Look at those thick slices of potato….I would be in heaven eating this.
Maian says
these are the “good for youi”beans-potatoes-lean beef and great to eat foods! Thank you
Amanda Formaro says
Enjoy Maian!