# Crockpot Cowboy Casserole

Thin potatoes on the bottom, seasoned ground beef, corn, and a creamy sauce, with cheddar melted on at the end.

 

 

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## Crockpot Cowboy Casserole

Recipe by Iren Pavlenko

 

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0.0 from 0 votes ** 

Course: Main CourseDifficulty: Easy

Servings

6

servings

Prep time

20

minutes

Cooking time

6

hours 

Thin potatoes on the bottom, seasoned ground beef, corn, and a creamy sauce, with cheddar melted on at the end.

### Ingredients

- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1½ lb russet or baby red potatoes, sliced ⅛ inch thin
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- salt and pepper
- 1½ cups shredded cheddar
- Cooking spray for the insert
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Chopped fresh parsley to finish
- Pickled red onions to serve

### Directions

- Gather and measure everything before you start, so nothing waits on the counter.
- Spray the crock pot insert.
- Brown the beef with the onion in a skillet and drain the fat.
- Lay the potato slices over the bottom in overlapping layers and season them.
- Spread the beef and corn over the potatoes.
- Stir the soup, sour cream, and spices together and spread over the top. Do not stir.
- Cook 6–7 hours on LOW or 3–4 hours on HIGH, until a knife slides through the potatoes.
- Scatter the cheddar on top, cover, and let it melt 5–10 minutes.
- Test a potato slice with a knife; if it resists, give it another 30 minutes on HIGH with the lid closed.
- Let the casserole rest 10 minutes with the lid off so the layers set.
- Scoop with a wide spoon straight down to the bottom, so each serving has every layer.
- Cool leftovers within 2 hours and refrigerate in shallow containers for up to 4 days.

 

### Notes

 

Thick potato slices stay hard. Use a mandoline or a sharp knife and keep them at ⅛ inch.

 

  

## Why slice the potatoes thin

 

Thick potato slices stay hard in the pot. At about 1/8 inch they soften under the creamy sauce and form a base.

 

A mandoline gives even slices fast, and even slices cook at the same rate.

 

## Cowboy Casserole: swaps and one no

 

Ground turkey or sausage can replace beef. Frozen hash browns are a shortcut, but the texture is different. Do not skip the spray, because starchy potatoes stick.

 

Use the knife test to check that the slices are tender.

 

## Serving and storing

 

Pickled red onions cut the richness. A green vegetable on the side rounds it out. Cool leftovers quickly, and reheat in the oven or microwave.

 

## A mistake to avoid

 

Using thick slices or rushing the test. A slice that resists the knife needs another 30 minutes on HIGH with the lid closed. Keep the lid shut while it cooks, and add the cheddar only at the end.

 

Use a wide spoon and scoop to the bottom so every plate gets potatoes, beef and cheese. The slices should hold together, not fall apart.