Slow Cooker John Wayne Casserole with Tater Tots
There is an easy way to upgrade tater tots from a simple side to the main course. We don’t even need to turn on the oven. Instead, we can use a slow cooker to make this delicious slow cooker John Wayne casserole.
This slow cooker John Wayne casserole takes the original recipe and simplifies it for busy weeknight meals. The original John Wayne casserole recipe starts with a preheated oven.
Once the oven is on, we all know that we will spend at least 45 minutes in the kitchen. We will need to brown the ground beef, but the recipe uses simple ingredients, and the slow cooker will do most of the work.
The beauty of an easy recipe like this one is that we are given the time to think about the stuff we usually wouldn’t. For example, we can think about ways to customize the recipe to make it our own or increase our use of fresh ingredients.
We use a can of diced tomatoes in this recipe. However, since everything is so easy, maybe you will have the time to use fresh tomatoes. The oven version of John Wayne casserole takes a bit more effort, which is why using a slow cooker makes things so much easier.
Sure, the cooking time is longer in a crockpot. But a crockpot dinner recipe comes with a lot less prep time. That is where we will find the extra time to customize or swap out ingredients for fresher options.
Ultimately, this is a fun recipe the whole family will enjoy. You can call it a crockpot John Wayne casserole or a cowboy casserole, but remember, this is not a hamburger casserole; it’s a tater tot casserole.
Slow Cooker John Wayne Casserole Ingredients
- Tater Tots: Not many people make their own tater tots. Is it possible? Sure, but let’s concede this one to the frozen aisle at the grocery store. Grab your favorite or most affordable brand, and call it a day.
- Ground Beef: Some people are very particular about their ground meat. Lean ground beef is always healthier, but we can go with any ground beef. That’s part of what makes this an easy slow cooker ground beef recipe.
- Yellow Onion: We will need more ingredients if we want this easy recipe to be a whole casserole. The onion mixture is going to be easy to add, though we will need to do some dicing.
- Diced Tomatoes: Tomatoes will add a lot of flavor. However, you can go with either a can of diced tomatoes or a fresh tomato, whichever you prefer.
- Green Bell Pepper: It’s a good idea to add some color to this easy slow cooker John Wayne casserole recipe. The green bell peppers won’t add heat, mostly just color and some sweetness.
- Shishito Peppers: This is where the heat comes in. If this is your first time using them, you may want to taste-test them. They will add heat, so adjust the amount to your preference.
- Trader Joe’s Taco Seasoning: This seasoning is for the top of the ground beef. The flavor is perfect and combines well with the dish’s cheesy aspect.
- Onion Powder, Salt, and Pepper: We can’t skip seasoning our food. These seasonings will add even more flavor to the taco seasoning packet, amplifying everything and tying it together.
- Sour Cream: This cowboy casserole recipe is great on its own. However, we can add sour cream to give the casserole a creamier texture. The sour cream mixture is going to be easy to make but should be divided so there is some left for topping.
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese: This is one of the toppings you will not want to skip. The cheese will be added to the mixture in the crockpot. However, save some cheese to top the dish off when it is served.
John Wayne Casserole Recipe Substitutions
The beauty of a casserole recipe is that the substitutions list is long. We don’t have to be sure we have everything on the recipe card to make this dish. Instead, we can make substitutions that allow us to make it even without the right ingredients.
For example, we can use ground turkey instead of ground beef for a slightly healthier option. We can also use any cheese mixture we like. Sharp cheddar is recommended because we want to maintain the cheesy flavor of the casserole.
However, any cheese will work. The last substitution is red or yellow bell peppers. Green bell peppers are not mandatory; any color will do. Black beans, jalapeno peppers, green chilies, and bacon are great options to add to the casserole.
Many people even make some Pillsbury Grands Biscuits or crescent rolls to serve with the casserole. We can even customize the seasonings we use. The taco seasoning is non-negotiable.
Of course, you can use homemade taco seasoning if you’d like. We can also add chili powder for more spice and garlic powder for a more meaty flavor. This recipe will surely be a huge hit around the dinner table, no matter what substitutions or additions you choose to work with.
How to Make a John Wayne Casserole
- Spray your crockpot with non- stick spray. Add tater tots to the bottom of the crockpot and evenly spread out.
- Brown the hamburger, onion, bell pepper & shishito peppers in a cast iron skillet or pan. When the meat is brown drain the fat.
- Add diced tomatoes to the meat mixture and combine.
- Pour the meat mixture over the tater tots, creating a layer.
- In a small bowl mix sour cream, salt, pepper & onion. Add approximately 4 oz of cheese (save the remainder of the cheese for the top layer at the end).
- Spread the sour cream layer over the meat mixture.
- Cover and cook on low for approximately 4 to 4 1/2 hours. (Keep lid closed during the cooking time)
- After cooking is done, add the remaining cheese over the top for a final layer.
- Cover for another 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
- When ready to serve, you can top it with salsa, green onions, or any topping.
John Wayne Casserole with Tater Tots
Ingredients
- 32 oz Bag of Tater Tots Frozen, not thawed
- 1 Lb Ground Beef
- 1 Small Yellow Onion Diced
- 1 16 oz Can Diced Tomatoes
- 1 Green Bell Pepper Diced
- Shishito Peppers The version in the pics used 3 but you can adjust for heat preference
- 1 1.3 oz Trader Joe's Taco Seasoning Mix
- 16 oz Sour Cream
- 8 oz Sharp Cheddar Cheese Shredded
- 1/8 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Pepper
- 1/2 tsp Onion Powder
Instructions
- Spray your crockpot with non- stick spray. Add tater tots to the bottom of the crockpot and evenly spread out.
- Brown the hamburger, onion, bell pepper & shishito peppers in a cast iron skillet or pan. When the meat is brown drain the fat.
- Add diced tomatoes to meat mixture and combine.
- Pour the meat mixture over the tater tots creating a layer.
- In a small bowl mix sour cream, salt, pepper & onion. Add approximately 4 oz of cheese (save the remainder of the cheese for the top layer at the end).
- Spread the sour cream layer over the meat mixture.
- Cover and cook on low for approximately 4 to 4 1/2 hours. (Keep lid closed during the cooking time)
- After cooking is done add the remaining cheese over the top for a final layer.
- Cover for another 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
- When ready to serve you can top with salsa, green onions or a topping of your choice.
More Slow Cooker Recipes
Ketogenic Crockpot Bacon and Chicken Recipe | Low Carb Chicken and Bacon | Chicken is best served with bacon. To be fair, everything is better with bacon.
Low Carb Crockpot Chicken and Veggies Soup | You get to decide how chunky, creamy, and delicious your soup is when you ditch the idea of a can and make it from scratch.
Crockpot Black Bean Dip Recipe | Slow Cooker Cheesy Bean Dip | Black bean dip is the evolved version of the classic bean dip we all know and love.
Beef Stroganoff Crockpot Recipe with Golden Mushroom Soup | Beef stroganoff is a dish that tastes better than it sounds and is easy to make.
Easy Crockpot Italian Meatballs Recipe | Everyone needs at least one meatball recipe in their back pockets.
