Easy Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole for Hearty Dinners

Easy Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole is the ultimate comfort food, ready in just 15 minutes prep. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the secret to keeping it from drying out. The crispy bacon and melty cheese make this casserole irresistible. Keep reading for my best tips or jump to the recipe card. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Rhubarb Crisp Recipe with Oat Topping and Herb Butter Sautéed Mushrooms Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides.

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
• 6 slices bacon
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can (15 oz) corn, drained and rinsed
• 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes with green chilies
• 1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• Optional: Fresh parsley, chopped
• Optional: Sour cream or Greek yogurt
• Optional: Diced avocado
• Optional: Sliced green onions

How to Make Easy Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole for Hearty Dinners

1. Step 1: In a large skillet, cook ground beef and bacon over medium heat until browned. Drain excess fat and set aside.
2. Step 2: In the slow cooker, combine cooked beef and bacon, diced onion, bell pepper, kidney beans, corn, diced tomatoes, and taco seasoning. Stir well to combine.
3. Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
4. Step 4: Stir in shredded cheese and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.
5. Step 5: Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley and your favorite 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 refrigerator for up to 4 days. Make-ahead tip: This recipe can be made ahead and reheated when ready to serve.

Freezing Easy Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole for Hearty Dinners

Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or until heated through.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: For a faster cooking time, brown the ground beef and bacon in the slow cooker insert on the stovetop before adding other ingredients.
• Best substitution: Substitute ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option.
• Make-ahead: Prepare the casserole through step 2, then refrigerate overnight. The next day, proceed with step 3.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled to serve a larger crowd.
• Troubleshooting: If the casserole is too thick, add a little chicken broth to thin it out.

Easy Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole for Hearty Dinners

⏱

Prep

15 min

🍳

Cook

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

⏳

Total

6 hr 15 min (low) or 3 hr 15 min (high)

🍽

Serves

6 servings

🥗

Diet

Gluten-free

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 6 slices bacon
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can (15 oz) corn, drained and rinsed
• 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes with green chilies
• 1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Seasonings

• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin

Optional Toppings

• Fresh parsley, chopped
• Sour cream or Greek yogurt
• Diced avocado
• Sliced green onions

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large skillet, cook ground beef and bacon over medium heat until browned. Drain excess fat and set aside.
2. Step 2: In the slow cooker, combine cooked beef and bacon, diced onion, bell pepper, kidney beans, corn, diced tomatoes, and taco seasoning. Stir well to combine.
3. Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
4. Step 4: Stir in shredded cheese and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.
5. Step 5: Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley and your favorite toppings.

Notes

• Chef tip: For a faster cooking time, brown the ground beef and bacon in the slow cooker insert on the stovetop before adding other ingredients.
• Best substitution: Substitute ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option.
• Make-ahead: Prepare the casserole through step 2, then refrigerate overnight. The next day, proceed with step 3.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled to serve a larger crowd.
• Troubleshooting: If the casserole is too thick, add a little chicken broth to thin it out.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Freezer: Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or until heated through.
• Make ahead: This recipe can be made ahead and reheated when ready to serve.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 480
• Protein: 32g
• Fat: 24g
• Carbs: 32g
• Fiber: 5g
• Sugar: 4g
• Sodium: 1200mg
• Cholesterol: 90mg
• Sat. Fat: 12g

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!