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 make air fryer cowboy casserole!

I have an incredibly tasty air fryer recipe for you today that is inexpensive per serving and takes only 30 minutes to make. This cowboy casserole with beans, salsa, corn, and cheese is a simple and easy dinner that everyone will love! It tastes like a cornbread chili, but in casserole form.

Table of Contents

• What is a Cowboy Dinner?
• Ingredients You Need
• Cowboy Dinner in the Air Fryer
• How to Store
• Make It Your Own
• Can You Air Fry a Casserole?
• How to Make It
• What to Serve With It
• FAQ
• More Easy Recipes
• Air Fryer Tips & Tricks You’ll Love
• Final Thoughts

What is a Cowboy Dinner?

A cowboy dinner is a budget-friendly one-dish meal made with meat, beans, vegetables, and bread—usually baked together into a hearty casserole. This version is made entirely in the air fryer!

Ingredients You Need to Make Cowboy Casserole

• Lean ground beef or turkey
• Diced yellow onion
• Kosher or sea salt
• Black pepper
• Frozen corn
• Salsa (jarred or homemade)
• Black, pinto, or white beans (rinsed & drained)
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Jiffy Cornbread mix

Cowboy Dinner in the Air Fryer

This dish serves 2–4 people, depending on how hungry everyone is. It’s fast, simple, and doesn’t heat up your kitchen like the oven does.

How to Store the Cowboy Dinner Recipe

Let cool, then store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Make It Your Own Casserole

• Seasonings: Try cumin, chili powder, or smoked paprika.
• Veggies: Add diced carrots, peas, or bell peppers.

Can You Air Fry a Casserole?

Absolutely! Just make sure to use an oven-safe dish that fits inside your air fryer basket.

How to Make Simple Cowboy Casserole Dinner in the Air Fryer

Step 1: Brown the Ground Beef

Use a skillet or follow our air fryer ground beef tutorial.

Step 2: Add the Ingredients

Mix in the corn, salsa, and beans. Stir to combine.

Step 3: Prepare Cornbread Batter

Follow the package instructions or make your own homemade cornbread.

Step 4: Assemble the Casserole

Layer the beef mixture into a 9×7 oven-safe dish, top with cheese, then pour cornbread batter on top.

Step 5: Air Fry

Cook at 330°F for 15–17 minutes. Cover with foil if browning too quickly.

What to Serve with This Cowboy Skillet Recipe

• Air Fryer Roasted Garlic Broccoli
• Cornbread Muffins
• Cheesy Garlic Cauliflower

FAQ

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
• Honey Garlic Chicken and Veggies
• Hawaiian Chicken and Coconut Rice

Air Fryer Tips & Tricks You’ll Love

• 📘Air Fryer 101: Learn the Basics
• ⚠️ Top Air Fryer Mistakes to Avoid
• 🧰 Best & Worst Air Fryer Accessories
• 🧼 How to Clean Your Air Fryer (Properly!)
• 🧑‍🍳 How to Adapt Any Recipe for the Air Fryer
• 🖨️ FREE Printable: Air Fryer Tips & Internal Temps
• 🛒 Air Fryer Reviews & Buying Guide

Final Thoughts

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.

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

Recipe Adapted From: Mel's Kitchen Cafe