Air Fryer Cowboy Casserole
Description
This Air Fryer Cowboy Casserole layers seasoned ground beef, sweet corn, and melty cheddar under a crown of crispy tater tots. It's a hearty, one-dish weeknight dinner that comes together in about 40 minutes — comfort food the whole family will love.
Ingredients
- ½ pound ground beef, lean
- 3 tablespoons onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 2 tablespoons tomato sauce
- ½ cup cheddar cheese, shredded (or Mexican blend)
- 8 ounces corn, canned, drained
- 1 cup frozen tater tots
- Optional: 1, 15 oz can pinto, ranch-style, or black beans, drained
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef with the diced onion, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper until the meat is fully cooked and no pink remains. Drain off any excess fat.
- Stir the sour cream and tomato sauce into the beef until evenly combined. (Stir in beans now, if using.)
- Spread the beef mixture in an even layer in an air-fryer-safe baking dish. Top with the shredded cheese, followed by the drained corn.
- Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single, even layer over the top.
- Place the baking dish into the air fryer basket and cook at 350°F (175°C) for 18–22 minutes, until the tater tots are golden and crispy and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving so the layers set.
Equipment
- Baking Pan
- Cooking Spray
Notes
- Standardized cook setting: 350°F for 18–22 minutes. (The original post had two conflicting values — 310°F/15–20 min in the body and 350°F/20–25 min in the FAQ. Use whichever you actually tested, but keep it consistent everywhere.)
- Crispier tots: Keep them in a single layer and lightly spray with cooking oil. See Air Fryer Tater Tots for more crisping tips.
- Lighten it up: Substitute ground turkey or chicken.
- Make it Tex-Mex: Season the beef like Air Fryer Taco Meat.
- More like this: Try Air Fryer Tater Tot Casserole or Air Fryer Beef Totchos.
- Storage: Refrigerate up to 3 days; reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 5–7 minutes. Freeze up to 2 months.
- Make ahead: Assemble, refrigerate, and let sit at room temperature 15 minutes before air frying.
- Air fryers vary — start checking around the 18-minute mark.
Nutrition
Serving: 1ServingCalories: 179kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 12gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 596mgPotassium: 307mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 242IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 82mgIron: 1mg