Tater Tot Cowboy Bake (Printable Version)

Ground beef mixed with lots of cheese and tater tots makes this a go-to meal everyone will love.

# What You'll Need:

→ Main ingredients

01 - 32 ounces frozen tater tots
02 - 1/2 cup cooked bacon, crumbled
03 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
04 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
05 - 1/4 cup sour cream
06 - 1/3 cup whole milk
07 - 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded, divided
08 - 2/3 cup condensed cream of mushroom soup
09 - 1 cup corn kernels
10 - 1/2 pound ground beef (85/15 lean)

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - Let your casserole hang out for five to ten minutes once it’s out of the oven. That helps it firm up so you can scoop it more easily.
02 - Once baked, grab the dish and toss the leftover cheese over those golden tots. Pop it back in for about five minutes to get super melty.
03 - Slide it in the center rack, uncovered, and bake for forty to forty-five minutes. Your tots should be golden and crunchy on top.
04 - Pour the beef and veggie mix into your greased dish. Scatter in half the cheese, then set your tater tots right on top in a nice single layer.
05 - Toss the cooked beef together with corn, half the cheddar, soup, sour cream, milk, onion powder, black pepper, and bacon crumbles right in the pan. Mix until everything’s mixed up and creamy.
06 - In your big skillet, cook and crumble up the ground beef over medium heat. Keep going until absolutely no pink is left.
07 - Switch your oven to 375°F. Give the 9x13 baking pan a quick grease so nothing sticks.

# Additional Notes:

01 - Save time—grab ready-made bacon pieces or cook bacon earlier in the day.
02 - Either fresh or canned corn works. Just drain canned corn well so things aren’t watery.
03 - A quick rest after baking helps the casserole cut into neat, solid pieces.