Simple Cowboy Casserole Air Fryer Dinner

Hearty and Healthy Cowboy Casserole Recipe

Need a quick, simple, inexpensive, and delicious dinner on the table fast? Sounds almost too good to be true, right? Well, I am happy to share that it isn’t too good to be true especially when you use an air fryer!

I have a incredibly tasty air fryer recipe for you today that costs less than $2 per serving and takes 30 minutes to make.

This cowboy casserole with beans, salsa, corn, and cheese is a simple and easy dinner that everyone will love! It takes like a simple cornbread chili, but in casserole form!

Learn how to make this amazingly simple air fryer dinner!

What is a cowboy dinner?

A cowboy dinner is a quick, inexpensive modge podge of meat, beans, vegetables, and a bread that you can whip up in a single dish. You will find that this cowboy dinner is so simple to make and perfect if you are looking to save a couple of dollars on your grocery budget.

Ingredients You Need to make cowboy casserole:

• Lean ground beef or lean ground turkey
• Diced yellow onion
• Salt — kosher salt or sea salt
• Black pepper
• Frozen corn kernels
• Salsa, jarred or homemade will work!
• Black beans, pinto beans or white beans, rinsed and drained
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Jiffy Cornbread mix

Cowboy Dinner in the Air Fryer

I love this recipe because it is so simple to make and you can make it in your air fryer! This cowboy casserole serves 2-4 individuals, depending on how hungry everyone is!

You will love how quick and easy this cowboy casserole recipe comes together!

How to store the cowboy dinner recipe:

Place a lid on the baking dish or transfer the casserole to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Make it your own casserole:

If you want to add even more flavor to this cheesy cornbread chili casserole, here are a few sugggestions!

Seasonings — add either cumin, chili powder, or onion powder to bump up the flavor.

Veggies — hide some extra veggies like peas, chopped carrots, or bell pepers to the large skillet.

Can you air fry a casserole?

I love the air fryer because I can make so much more than frozen French fries. Did you know you can make a casserole in the air fryer? Casseroles are a great dish to make in the air fryer, especially if you want to only serve 2-4 people, and if you don’t want to heat up the house by turning the oven on!

How to Make Simple Cowboy Casseroler Dinner in the Air Fryer

This cornbread cowboy casserole is simple and easy. Here are a few quick tips for you when you want to make this recipe!

Step 1: Brown the ground beef.

First, you need to brown the ground beef. There are two different ways you can do this.

Option 1. Cook the ground beef of the stovetop. 

If you don’t want to get your air fryer dirty before cooking your casserole, I recommend using the stovetop method for cooking your ground beef over medium heat.

Option 2. Cook the ground beef in the air fryer. 

If you like quick and easy cooking, then cook your ground beef in the air fryer. Check out these tips for cooking ground beef in the air fryer.

Step 2: Add the ingredients

After your beef is done cooking, stir in the corn, salsa, and beans.

Tip 3. Make the cornbread mixture.

Make the cornbread mixture according to the package directions. If you want to make homemade cornbread, try this amazing recipe from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe.

Step 4: Assemble.

Now that all your ingredients are ready, assemble the casserole in a 9×7 air fryer safe dish. Layer, the ground beef mixture, then add cheese, then add the cornbread batter on the top layer.

Notes- 

• Any dish that is oven safe is air fryer safe.
• I used a 5.8 Cosori air fryer to make this recipe. If you have a different air fryer, you will need to find a dish that fits your air fryer basket.
• If you have a smaller air fryer, you can cook the casserole in batches, and save the rest for later.

Step 5: Air fry

Air fry the casserole at 330 degrees F or 165 degrees C for 15-17 min.

Cover the casserole dish with foil if it is starting to burn and the corn bread isn’t cooked all the way.

What to serve with this cowboy skillet recipe:

Here are some delicious sides that go great with easy casserole recipes:

• Air fryer roasted garlic broccoli
• Air fryer broccoli from frozen
• Air fryer cornbread muffins
• Breaded garlic and cheese cauliflower

Final Thoughts

Cornbread cowboy casserole is a quick and easy meal that you can enjoy in 30 minutes. The casserole cooks perfectly and quickly in the air fryer. And, it serves the perfect amount without needing to heat up your house.

You will love this recipe for the ease of making it and its great taste! Share with us in the comment section what you love about this air fryer recipe or what you did to make it your own.

More easy one pot air fryer dinner recipes

• Easy Asian Beef and Veggies in the Air Fryer
• Quick and Easy Stuffed Peppers in the Air Fryer
• Hibachi Style Chicken with Yum Yum Sauce in the Air Fryer
• One Pan Honey Garlic Chicken and Veggies for the Air Fryer or Oven
• The Best Hawaiian Chicken and Coconut Rice in the Air Fryer

Easy air fryer tips and tricks

• Air Fryer 101
• Learn these common Air Fryer Mistakes!
• All about the Best and Worst Air Fryer Accessories
• How to Clean Your Air Fryer
• How to Cook Any Recipe in the Air Fryer
• FREE Download → Air Fryer Tips & Temps
• Air Fryer Buying Guide
• Watch Fabulessly Frugal YouTube Channel for Air Fryer Recipes

Get the Yummy Air Fryer Recipes Cookbook for more delicious and simple air fryer recipes!

Simple Cowboy Casserole Dinner in the Air Fryer

This cowboy casserole recipe is the perfect meal if you need a quick, easy, inexpensive, and incredibly delicious dinner recipe!

4.34 / 5 ( 6 Reviews )

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Serves: 4

Adjust Servings: 4

US CustomaryMetric

Equipment

• Air Fryer

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey
• ¼ cup yellow onion diced
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ cup frozen corn kernels
• ¾ cup salsa
• ½ 15 ounce can black beans pinto or white beans, drained and rinsed
• ½ cup cheddar cheese shredded
• 1 box Jiffy Cornbread or 1/2 of this homemade cornbread recipe.

Instructions

• On the stovetop, brown the ground beef with the onion, salt and pepper, until fully cooked. Remove the grease from the ground beef. (Or, see air fryer instructions for cooking ground beef).
• Combine the corn, salsa, and beans with the fully cooked ground beef.
• Make the cornbread mixture according to its package directions.
• Using an oven safe dish that will fit in your air fryer basket, (I used a 9x7 dish in my 5.8 Cosori air fryer), layer the ground beef mixture, then the cheese, then the cornbread batter. Be sure to evenly spread the the cornbread to the sides of the pan.
• Place the pan in the air fryer. Cook for 15-17 minutes at 330 °F. If the cornbread starts to burn, cover it with foil so that it can finish cooking.

Recipe Notes

Can I freeze cowboy casserole?

Double the recipe and freeze half of the meat mixture in a freezer safe bag to enjoy later. 

When ready to use from the freezer, let the mixture thaw. Add it to the casserole dish, add the cheese, then cornbread mixture. Cook at the recommend temperature and time. You may need to add a couple of extra minutes if your meat mixture is still cold. 

Nutrition

Calories: 630kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 35g | Sodium: 1314mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 15g

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