Main

Cowboy Mashed Potato Casserole

This Cowboy Mashed Potato Casserole recipe is a comforting, layered dish reminiscent of shepherd's pie but with a distinct, smoky barbecue flavor. It features a savory ground beef and vegetable base, topped with creamy mashed potatoes, melted cheese, crispy bacon, and fried onions.

🍳
25m
Cook

Ingredients

  • baking potatoes
  • butter
  • evaporated milk
  • salt
  • black pepper
  • bacon
  • ground beef
  • onion
  • green bell pepper
  • frozen whole kernel corn
  • garlic
  • smoked paprika
  • barbecue sauce
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Dijon mustard
  • salt
  • black pepper
  • cheddar cheese
  • pepper jack cheese
  • French fried onions
  • fresh parsley
  • cooking spray

Method

  1. 1

    Place peeled and chopped potatoes in a pot of boiling water and cook until fork-tender. Drain the potatoes.

  2. 2

    Return the drained potatoes to the hot pot. Add butter, salt, and pepper.

  3. 3

    Mash the potatoes with a potato masher until they start to break down.

  4. 4

    Pour in evaporated milk and continue mashing until smooth and creamy.

  5. 5

    Stir in half of the cooked, chopped bacon. Set the mashed potatoes aside.

  6. 6

    In a large skillet, cook the bacon until crisp. Remove the bacon, leaving about 1 tablespoon of grease in the pan. Chop the cooked bacon.

  7. 7

    Add the chopped onion and green bell pepper to the skillet with the bacon grease. Sauté for a few minutes.

  8. 8

    Add the ground beef to the skillet. Cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned.

  9. 9

    Stir in the corn, minced garlic, and smoked paprika. Cook for about one minute until fragrant.

  10. 10

    Add the Dijon mustard, barbecue sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir everything together until well combined.

  11. 11

    Grease a 2-quart baking dish. Spread the ground beef mixture evenly across the bottom.

  12. 12

    Spoon the mashed potatoes over the beef layer and spread them out to cover it completely.

  13. 13

    Sprinkle the shredded cheddar and pepper jack cheese over the mashed potatoes.

  14. 14

    Top with the remaining chopped bacon.

  15. 15

    Finish by sprinkling the French fried onions over the cheese and bacon.

  16. 16

    Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

  17. 17

    Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the casserole is hot, bubbly, and the cheese is melted.

  18. 18

    Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.

Never lose a recipe again

Save recipes from anywhere, get organized cookbooks, and cook hands-free — all in BeChef.

More recipes to try