Cowboy Beef Potato Casserole–this cowboy casserole is made with seasoned ground beef, tender potatoes, ranch style beans and melty cheese for an easy one-pot meal that works in both the Instant Pot and slow cooker.
Cowboy Beef Potato Casserole
This hearty cowboy type of dinner hit the spot…especially with the sour cream on top. It has just enough spice to make it interesting but not too much for me to handle. You can always pump up the recipe with more spice, if you’re into that. It uses mostly pantry ingredients that you’re likely to have on hand too. And you can choose to make it quickly in the Instant Pot or low and slow in the Crockpot. Enjoy!
Ingredients/Substitution Ideas
- Lean ground beef–or ground turkey
- Onion–or shallot
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder–or 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- Chili powder
- Smoked paprika–or regular paprika
- Beef broth–or water and Better than Bouillon beef base
- Frozen sweet corn–or canned corn, drained
- Rotel–I used mild
- Ranch style beans–or chili style beans, do not drain
- Russet potatoes–or Yukon gold potatoes
- Cornstarch
- Shredded cheddar cheese–or Monterey Jack
- Bacon crumbles–or cooked chopped bacon
- Sour cream–optional
Steps
Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the beef and break it up. Add in the onion. Brown for 5 minutes. Drain off excess grease. Stir in the salt, pepper, garlic powder, chili powder and smoked paprika.
Pour in the broth and scrape bottom of pot so that nothing is sticking. Turn off Instant Pot.
Dump in the corn, Rotel, beans and potatoes. Lightly salt the potatoes.
Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set manual/pressure cook button to 3 minutes. When time is up let pot sit for 5-10 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
In a small bowl stir together cornstarch with 2 Tbsp cold water until smooth. Turn Instant Pot to saute setting and stir the slurry into the pot until sauce thickens. Turn off Instant Pot.
Stir in the cheddar and bacon.
Serve topped with a dollop of sour cream.
Notes/Tips
- Serve with a hunk of cornbread and some honey butter. Round out the meal with a green salad.
- You can also spoon this over rice if you want to stretch it further
- Use freshly shredded cheese instead of pre-shredded if possible. It melts smoother and, in my opinion, tastes better too.
- I like mild Rotel but if you like heat use spicy Rotel.
- This recipe can be gluten free if your beans are gluten free.
- I used my 6 quart Instant Pot*. You can also make this in a 4 or 8 quart pot.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container* in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Freezing this is fine. The potatoes will be softer upon thawing and reheating.
- Other recipes you can make with Rotel are Viva La Chicken and Auburn Casserole.
Did you know you can filter the recipes on my website to search by meat type, IP or Crockpot, low carb, gluten free, etc.? Use the filter to find exactly what you are looking for.
Cowboy Beef Potato Casserole
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes (plus 5-10 minute NPR)
- Total Time: 23 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
This cowboy casserole is made with seasoned ground beef, tender potatoes, ranch style beans and melty cheese for an easy one-pot meal that works in both the Instant Pot and slow cooker.
Ingredients
- 16 oz lean ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/8 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 cup frozen sweet corn
- 1 (10 oz) can Rotel
- 1 (15 oz) can ranch style beans
- 24 oz Russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes
- 2 Tbsp cornstarch
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar
- 1/2 cup bacon crumbles
- Sour cream, for serving
Instructions
Instant Pot Instructions:
- Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the beef and break it up. Add in the onion. Brown for 5 minutes. Drain off excess grease. Stir in the salt, pepper, garlic powder, chili powder and smoked paprika.
- Pour in the broth and scrape bottom of pot so that nothing is sticking. Turn off Instant Pot.
- Dump in the corn, Rotel, beans and potatoes. Lightly salt the potatoes.
- Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set manual/pressure cook button to 3 minutes. When time is up let pot sit for 5-10 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
- In a small bowl stir together cornstarch with 2 Tbsp cold water until smooth. Turn Instant Pot to saute setting and stir the slurry into the pot until sauce thickens. Turn off Instant Pot.
- Stir in the cheddar and bacon.
- Serve topped with a dollop of sour cream.
Slow Cooker Instructions:
- Heat a pan over medium high heat. Add in the beef and break it up. Add in the onion. Brown for 5 minutes. Drain off excess grease. Stir in the salt, pepper, garlic powder, chili powder and smoked paprika. Transfer to the slow cooker.
- Stir in the broth, corn, Rotel, beans and potatoes. Lightly salt the potatoes.
- Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours.
- In a small bowl stir together cornstarch with 2 Tbsp cold water until smooth. Stir the slurry into the slow cooker and let cook on high without lid until sauce thickens.
- Stir in the cheddar and bacon.
- Serve topped with a dollop of sour cream.
- Category: Beef, Potatoes
- Method: Instant Pot or Slow Cooker
More beef potato recipes…
The Best Bacon Cheeseburger Soup
An easy recipe for creamy, cheesy soup with seasoned ground beef, yukon gold potatoes, bacon and cheddar. Make it in the Instant Pot or slow cooker.
Cheesy Ranch Beef Potato Bake
An Instant Pot dinner with seasoned ground beef, tender potatoes, smoky bacon, ranch mix and melty cheddar for an easy one-pot meal.
Salisbury Steak Casserole
A slow cooker ground beef and potato dish that is made with yukon gold potatoes, fresh green beans, sliced mushrooms and a savory tomato-based broth.
Wolfe Creek Beef Casserole
Tender chunks of beef, Yukon gold potatoes, white beans and vegetables in a tomato broth, all made easily in the Instant Pot or slow cooker.
*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
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