Cowboy Casserole

When you need dinner to stick to your ribs without emptying your wallet, Cowboy Casserole gets the job done. It’s a no-fuss meat, potatoes, beans, and tomato supper that works in either the crockpot for an easy hands-off meal or the pressure cooker when you need dinner on the table fast.

Place the onions on the bottom, layer the ground meat and sliced potatoes. You can use whatever kind of tomatoes you like, we used Italian seasoned diced tomatoes, because that's what we had on hand! Mix in 2 tablespoons of flour into the tomatoes, then pour it over the top. Set the pressure cooker for 12- 15 minutes. Seal and cook. Let it release naturally for about 5 minutes before manually releasing the pressure.

The combination is simple, filling, and practical. Serve it as-is for a hearty one-dish dinner, or reheat leftovers the next morning with a fried egg on top if you want breakfast to pull its weight too.

Ingredients for Cowboy Casserole

You only need a handful of basic ingredients to make this filling casserole:

• 1 onion, diced
• 1 1/2 pounds ground chuck or turkey, browned, seasoned with 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and 1 teaspoon garlic powder, then drained
• 6 medium potatoes, washed and sliced
• 1 can red beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 large can diced tomatoes mixed with 2 tablespoons flour, or 1 can tomato soup
• Salt, pepper, and garlic to taste

If you like hearty casserole dinners, you might also want to try Mexican Tortilla Casserole or Chicken Fajita Casserole another night.

🔗 Back to Menu

How to Make Cowboy Casserole

You can make this two ways, depending on whether you want convenience or speed.

Crockpot Directions

1. Dice the onion, wash and slice the potatoes, and brown the ground chuck or turkey with 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and 1 teaspoon garlic powder. Drain well.
2. Layer the diced onion in the bottom of the crockpot.
3. Add the browned meat, then layer on the sliced potatoes and drained red beans.
4. Mix the diced tomatoes with 2 tablespoons flour, or use 1 can of tomato soup instead, then spread it over the top.
5. Season with additional salt, pepper, and garlic to taste.
6. Cover and cook on LOW for 7 to 9 hours, until the potatoes are tender.

Digital Pressure Cooker Directions

1. Place the diced onions in the bottom of the pressure cooker.
2. Layer the browned, seasoned meat over the onions, then add the sliced potatoes.
3. Stir 2 tablespoons flour into the diced tomatoes, then pour the mixture over the top.
4. Seal the cooker and set it for 12 to 15 minutes.
5. Let the pressure release naturally for about 5 minutes, then manually release the remaining pressure before serving.

🔗 Back to Menu

Tips for Best Results

Slice the potatoes evenly. That’s the difference between tender layers and random crunchy bits nobody asked for. Aim for thin, consistent slices so they cook at the same rate.

Drain the browned meat well. Too much grease can make the finished casserole heavy instead of hearty.

Don’t skip rinsing the beans. It improves the flavor and keeps the dish from tasting like canned bean liquid.

Use the tomato option that fits what’s in your pantry. Diced tomatoes with flour give you a chunkier finish, while tomato soup makes the sauce smoother and a little richer.

🔗 Back to Menu

Easy Variations

• Swap the meat: Ground turkey works in place of ground chuck if you want a leaner version.
• Change the beans: Pinto beans or kidney beans will fit the same cowboy-style flavor profile if that’s what you have.
• Use seasoned tomatoes: Italian-style diced tomatoes work well here and add flavor without extra fuss.
• Top it at the table: A spoonful of sour cream, shredded cheese, or chopped green onions can dress it up fast if you want more of a loaded-baked-potato feel.

🔗 Back to Menu

Storage and Reheating

Store leftovers in a shallow airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze portions for up to 3 months. Those time frames are based on general leftover safety guidance from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service.

Reheat individual portions in the microwave until hot throughout, or warm larger portions in a covered baking dish in the oven. If you cooked it in the slow cooker, move leftovers to the refrigerator promptly rather than letting the crock sit around on the counter pretending it’s helping.

🔗 Back to Menu

Serving Suggestions

This casserole is filling enough to stand on its own, but it also works well with a simple green salad, buttered bread, or cooked vegetables on the side.

Leftovers reheat well for lunch, and they’re especially good the next morning topped with a fried egg, just as suggested. If you like practical, savory meals that stretch well, take a look at Pork Chops with Creamy Scalloped Potatoes too.

🔗 Back to Menu

💸 Budget101® Price Breakdown: Cowboy Casserole

🛒 Walmart Grocery List

• Yellow Onions, 3 lb bag
• Ground Chuck, 1 lb tray
• Russet Potatoes, 5 lb bag
• Dark Red Kidney Beans, 15.5 oz can
• Diced Tomatoes, 28 oz can
• Iodized Salt, 26 oz

Not sure exactly what this batch costs you per serving? Here’s how to break down the real cost of any recipe so you know before you shop.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cowboy Casserole

📌 Love this Cowboy Casserole? Pin it!

🖨️ Print-Friendly Cowboy Casserole

Cowboy Casserole

Article or recipe authorAuthor: Melissa 'Liss' Burnell

(Click on the stars to vote!)

Pinterest Facebook Email

Share

Print SaveGo to Collections PDF

preparation timePrep 20 minutes mins

cook timeCook 15 minutes mins

total timeTotal 35 minutes mins

A hearty casserole-style dinner made with seasoned ground beef or turkey, potatoes, red beans, and tomatoes, cooked until tender in the crockpot or pressure cooker. Estimated total batch cost is $13.20, or about $2.20 per serving for 6 servings.

ServingsServings 6 servings

CourseCourse Dinner, lunch, Main Course, Soup

CuisineCuisine American

Budget101 Price BreakdownApprox Cost: $13.20

Ingredients

1/21x2x

• ▢ 1 onion diced
• ▢ 1 ½ pounds ground chuck or turkey
• ▢ 1 teaspoon salt
• ▢ ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ 6 medium potatoes washed and sliced
• ▢ 1 can red beans drained and rinsed
• ▢ 1 large can diced tomatoes
• ▢ 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• ▢ Salt pepper, and garlic to taste

Equipment

Large Skillet

Crockpot or digital pressure cooker

Cutting Board

Knife

Measuring Spoons

Can opener

Instructions

Prevent Sleep Mode Prevent Sleep Mode

1. Brown the ground chuck or turkey in a large skillet with 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and 1 teaspoon garlic powder. Drain well.
2. Dice the onion and wash and slice the potatoes.
3. For the crockpot, layer the onion in the bottom, then add the browned meat, potatoes, and drained beans.
4. Stir the flour into the diced tomatoes and spread the mixture over the top. Season to taste, cover, and cook on LOW for 7 to 9 hours.
5. For the pressure cooker, place the onions on the bottom, then layer the browned meat and sliced potatoes.
6. Stir the flour into the diced tomatoes and pour over the top.
7. Seal and cook on high pressure for 12 to 15 minutes.
8. Let pressure release naturally for 5 minutes, then manually release the remaining pressure.

Recipe Size Alteration

💡 If you altered the ingredients above by doubling or tripling the recipe, you may also need to change the pan/dish size and adjust the cook time.

Notes

Estimated cost uses current online ingredient pricing and reflects the diced tomatoes plus flour version, not the tomato soup variation.
Prep time is an estimate based on dicing the onion, slicing potatoes, browning the meat, and assembling the casserole.
Cook time reflects the pressure cooker method for the fastest option. Slow cooker time is 7 to 9 hours on LOW.
Store leftovers refrigerated up to 4 days or freeze up to 3 months.

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!