Easy Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole for Hearty Dinners

Easy slow cooker cowboy casserole is the ultimate comfort food for busy weeknights. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to keeping it from drying out. The result is a hearty, cozy dinner that’s better than takeout and ready in just 15 minutes of prep. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Iced Matcha Strawberry Latte Recipe for Summer and Easy Spicy Cranberry Salsa Recipe for Quick Snacks.

What You'll Need for Easy Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole for Hearty Dinners

Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can (15 oz) corn, drained
• 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes with green chilies
• 1 packet (1.27 oz) taco seasoning
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp chili powder
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Optional: Shredded cheese
• Optional: Sour cream
• Optional: Green onions
• Optional: Fresh cilantro

How to Make Easy Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole for Hearty Dinners

1. Step 1: In a large skillet, cook ground beef, onion, and bell pepper over medium heat until the beef is browned and the vegetables are softened. Drain excess fat.
2. Step 2: Stir in kidney beans, corn, diced tomatoes, taco seasoning, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Transfer the mixture to your slow cooker.
3. Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until the flavors have melded together.
4. Step 4: Serve hot, topped with your choice of toppings.

Storing & Reheating Easy Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole for Hearty Dinners

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Make-ahead tip: This casserole can be made ahead and frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Freezing Easy Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole for Hearty Dinners

Freeze individual portions in airtight containers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, or until heated through.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: To make this casserole even heartier, add a layer of cooked pasta or rice before serving.
• Best substitution: You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for the ground beef if you prefer.
• Make-ahead: This casserole can be made ahead and frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to suit your needs.
• Troubleshooting: If your casserole is too watery, you can drain some of the liquid before serving. If it's too dry, add a little more broth or water to the slow cooker.

Easy Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole for Hearty Dinners

⏱

Prep

15 min

🍳

Cook

6-8 hours (low) or 3-4 hours (high)

⏳

Total

6-8 hours (low) or 3-4 hours (high)

🍽

Serves

6 servings

🥗

Diet

Gluten-free

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can (15 oz) corn, drained
• 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes with green chilies

Seasonings

• 1 packet (1.27 oz) taco seasoning
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp chili powder
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Optional Toppings

• Shredded cheese
• Sour cream
• Green onions
• Fresh cilantro

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large skillet, cook ground beef, onion, and bell pepper over medium heat until the beef is browned and the vegetables are softened. Drain excess fat.
2. Step 2: Stir in kidney beans, corn, diced tomatoes, taco seasoning, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Transfer the mixture to your slow cooker.
3. Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until the flavors have melded together.
4. Step 4: Serve hot, topped with your choice of toppings.

Notes

• Chef tip: To make this casserole even heartier, add a layer of cooked pasta or rice before serving.
• Best substitution: You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for the ground beef if you prefer.
• Make-ahead: This casserole can be made ahead and frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to suit your needs.
• Troubleshooting: If your casserole is too watery, you can drain some of the liquid before serving. If it's too dry, add a little more broth or water to the slow cooker.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• Freezer: Freeze individual portions in airtight containers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, or until heated through.
• Make ahead: This casserole can be made ahead and frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 420
• Protein: 28g
• Fat: 16g
• Carbs: 40g
• Fiber: 8g
• Sugar: 6g
• Sodium: 980mg
• Cholesterol: 75mg
• Sat. Fat: 7g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Easy Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole for Hearty Dinners FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Easy Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole for Hearty Dinners and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!