Cowboy Casserole ~
Kids and adults alike love this hearty and satisfying “meat and potatoes” dinner!
It’s quick and easy to make with no fussy ingredients required.
This classic tater tot casserole is made with plant-based ground beef simmered in a quick and rich homemade gravy, then baked with vegan cheese and a whole bag of tater tots.
I thought my husband was going to lick the casserole dish, he loved it so much.
Ingredients for Cowboy Casserole
- Non-stick cooking spray
- 28 ounces vegan ground beef
- 1/2 cup yellow onion, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup vegan beef-style broth
- 1/4 cup mild-flavored plant milk, such as oat or unsweetened almond
- 1 tablespoon vegan Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups vegan Cheddar cheese, shredded
- 32 ounces frozen tater tots
How to Make Cowboy Casserole
STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 400°F.
STEP TWO: Into a large skillet over medium-high heat, crumble the ground beef. Use a spatula to break up the meat then add the onion. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently until browned.
STEP THREE: Sprinkle the meat with flour and stir to evenly distribute. Stir in the beef-style broth, milk, and Worcestershire sauce. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened.
STEP FOUR: Into a prepared 9×13-inch baking pan, spread the beef mixture in an even layer. Sprinkle with cheese then arrange the tater tots to cover completely.
STEP FIVE: Bake for 30 minutes then serve hot.
Storage
Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days. To freeze, let the casserole cool completely then transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months.
More Meaty Plant-Based Recipes You’ll Love!
- Vegan Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy
- Vegan Sloppy Joes
- Vegan Chili Mac Casserole
- Beefy Bean and Cheese Vegan Enchiladas
- Vegan Beef Tips and Gravy
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Cowboy Casserole
Ingredients
- Non-stick cooking spray
- 28 ounces vegan ground beef
- 1/2 cup yellow onion chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup vegan beef-style broth
- 1/4 cup mild-flavored plant milk such as oat or unsweetened almond
- 1 tablespoon vegan Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups vegan Cheddar cheese shredded
- 32 ounces frozen tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Into a large skillet over medium-high heat, crumble the ground beef. Use a spatula to break up the meat then add the onion. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently until browned.
- Sprinkle the meat with flour and stir to evenly distribute. Stir in the beef-style broth, milk, and Worcestershire sauce. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened.
- Into a prepared 9×13-inch baking pan, spread the beef mixture in an even layer. Sprinkle with cheese then arrange the tater tots to cover completely.
- Bake for 30 minutes then serve hot.
Julia
Yay! What a lovely meal that’s so easy to put together. I’ve just discovered a new vegan ground beef here which I’m really impressed by so this is a perfect recipe to use with it. Love the topping idea – simple but gorgeous
thiswifecooks
Thanks, Julia!
Shannon
Do you bake this for forty minutes then? Just clarifying, thanks!
thiswifecooks
Hi Shannon ~ The casserole should be baked for 30 minutes, as noted in Step 5.
Shannon
You’re so right. It’s clearly step five. I don’t know what I was looking at! Thank you for being so fast to my dumb question :). Also, it’s delicious!
thiswifecooks
Lol, thanks for the update. I’m glad you enjoyed the casserole! 🙂
Allyson
I know it’s annoying when people say they love a recipe they made changes to but because I was making another meal for the week with vegan ground beef, I decided to use a can each of pinto beans and tri-color beans, and it was fantastic! I’ve made it three weeks in a row, so easy, tasty, and filling! Thank you!
thiswifecooks
Hi Allyson ~ I think your bean substitution sounds delicious! I’ll have to try that, too. Thanks for the suggestion!😊