Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole

The last few weeks here is Wisconsin have been brutal. Temperatures have been below zero for more than a week, and when you factor in the wind chill the temperature actually feels like -35 degrees. Needless to say I just couldn't cook anything outside right now, so instead I found a very easy recipe to cook inside with your Slow Cooker. Cowboy Casserole.

What is a Cowboy Casserole? It is chili seasoned beef and beans, mixed with potatoes and plenty of cheese. A great dish to serve on these cold winter nights. Best part is your Slow Cooker does all the work. Just throw the ingredients in your slow cooker and in a few hours a delicious meal is ready to enjoy.

Ingredients:

1 pound lean ground beef, such as ground sirloin

1 small onion, finely chopped

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder

1 (14.5 ounce) can fire-roasted tomatoes

1/4 cup water

1 (15 ounce) can baked beans, slightly drained

1 (15 ounce can) kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 large russet potato, thinly sliced

1 jalapeno, thinly sliced (optional)

1 (10.5 ounce) can cream of onion soup

2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

chopped cilantro, sliced green onion, or sour cream for topping (optional)

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef and onion and cook, crumbling with a spoon, until beef is browned and onion has softened, about 5 minutes.

Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, cumin, and chili powder and stir to combine. Add tomatoes and water and cook, stirring constantly and scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan, about 3 minutes. Stir in beans and remove from heat.

Pour half of beef mixture into the slow cooker. Top with potatoes and jalapenos. Spread cream of onion soup over potatoes and peppers, and top with remaining beef mixture. Cover and cook on High for 3 hours, or on Low for 5 hours.

Uncover, top with cheese, and cook on High for 15 minutes. Serve with desired toppings.

To watch me prepare this recipe step by step, simply watch my video below.