This Crispy Oven-Baked Buffalo Wings with Tangy Hot Sauce is the perfect comfortable, filling, and shockingly simple lunch. Burst with flavorful ground beef, smoky sausage, beans, corn, and strong Tex-Mex tastes, this meal is comfort food with a kick.
The best thing is that Your slow cooker handles all the chores. Just sear the meat, pour everything in, and boil it into a wonderful, family-loving, rich, flavor-packed meal.
I promise you; this one is a keeper!
Table of Contents
Why Will You Love This Recipe?
✔ Dump & Go Convenience: Perfect for hectic evenings when you want dinner immediately cooked.
✔ Bold, Smoky, & Comforting; next-level taste comes from smoked sausage with taco seasoning.
✔ Feeds a Crowd: Perfect for leftovers, this hearty, reasonably priced recipe fits a budget.
✔ Easily Customizable: To make it your own, vary the protein, spice level, or vegetable count.
Looking for a great side dish to serve with wings? Try this Chicken Bone Broth Soup Recipe for a warm, comforting pairing.
Ingredients
Everything you need for a one-pot, taste-buzz dinner:
Ground beef provides a rich, substantial basic main ingredient.
Brings in a rich, smokey taste of smoked sausage.
Freshness and crunch abound in the traditional Tex-Mex trinity of onion and garlicky bell peppers.
Diced tomatoes maintain all the juiciness and taste.
Black beans and corn add texture, protein, and a sweet taste.
Beef broth helps all the flavors mix well.
Taco Seasoning: The secret to robust, well-seasoned excellence.
Optional Desserts:
Shredded Cheddar Cheese: The best casseroles are cheesy ones.
Fresh cilantro gives a brilliant, herby finish.
👉 The complete ingredient list with measurements is in the recipe card below!
Want an alternative dip? Try pairing your wings with a Mini Chicken Pot Pie for a rich, savory experience.
Cooking Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole: How to Do It?
First, Cook the Meat Brown.
Cook the ground beef and sliced sausage over medium-high heat until brown in a large pan. Before putting everything into the slow cooker, drain any extra fat.
Add the Veggies and Beans.
Toss minced garlic, red and green bell peppers, and chopped onion. Add the sliced tomatoes, corn, and black beans.
Third step: Add the Broth and Seasoning.
Add the beef broth, and then top everything with the taco spice. To mix everything, gently stir. Taste-wise, season with salt and black pepper.
Cover and simmer on Low for 6–8 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours until the flavors are thoroughly mixed and the vegetables are soft.
Step five: Finish and Serve.
Add shredded cheddar cheese and fresh cilantro, if using, right before serving. Present hot and savorably.
Want to experiment with new sauce flavors? Try Marks Sweet Pizza Sauce for a unique sweet & spicy twist.
Pro Advice for the Perfect Cowboy Casserole
✔ Use a Mix of Proteins: This meal has an amazing depth of taste from the ground beef plus smoked sausage combo.
✔ Don’t Skive the Browning Step: Searing meat first seals in taste and stops greasiness.
✔ Change the Spice Level: Demand more heat? Add chopped jalapeño or more chili powder.
✔ Make It Creamy: For an extra creamy texture, stir ½ cup of sour cream for a minute.
✔ Let It Sit Before Serving – To mix the flavors further, let the casserole sit for ten minutes following cooking.
Method of Serving
Though this Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole is great on its own, here are some interesting presentation ideas:
A warm, buttery slice made from cornbread is perfect for soaking up all the flavor.
Over rice or mashed potatoes, it is rather filling and substantial.
Scoop it like a Tex-Mex dip with tortilla chips!
Top with avocado and sour cream for a cool, creamy contrast.
Make Ahead and Store Ahead
Storing Leftovers
Store in an airtight jar for up to four days in your refrigerator.
Store in portioned containers for up to three months in a freezer.
Reheat the stovetop using medium-low heat, stirring occasionally.
Warm in 30-second intervals, stirring in between each, until hot using a microwave.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I substitute another kind of meat?
Exactly! Perfect substitutes would be ground turkey, chicken, or even chorizo.
Which kind of smoked sausage would be most appropriate?
For an added smokey taste, kielbasa or even chorizo works fantastic.
Could I do this without beans?
Yep! Replace the black beans with more corn, chopped zucchini, or perhaps chopped potatoes.
Is this casserole fiery?
Not at all! But adding cayenne, jalapeños, or hot sauce will increase the heat.
Conclusion
Hearty, strong, and loaded with smokey, cheesy flavor, this Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole is the best set-it-and-forget-it supper. Whether your audience is large or you want a warm, filling meal, this one never fails.
You will be returning for seconds, trust me! 🔥 🍲
Crispy Oven-Baked Buffalo Wings with Tangy Hot Sauce
Equipment
- Large mixing bowl
- Baking sheet
- Wire rack
- Parchment paper or foil
- Small saucepan
- Tongs
- Measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
- Two pounds of chicken wings break into flats and drumettes.
- One tablespoon baking powder devoid of aluminum-based products.
- One teaspoon salt.
- One half teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- One half a teaspoon smoked paprika
- For the Buffalo Sauce:
- One half cup Frank’s Red Hot Sauce
- 4 unsalted tablespoons butter
- One optional tablespoon of honey will provide some sweet taste.
- One teaspoon Worcestershire sauce.
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Set oven temperature to 425°F. Parchment paper or foil lines a baking sheet. On top, set up a wire rack to provide equal crisping by helping air flow around the wings.
- To get extra moisture out, pat the wings dry with paper towels. Toss wings including baking powder, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika in a large bowl. Verify wings are uniformly covered.
- On the wire rack, place wings in one layer. Bake until crispy and golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes, turning halfway through.
- As wings bake, heat butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, spicy sauce, and honey—if using. Stir until completely blended and smooth. Get off the heat.
- Move the completed wings to a big basin. Over the wings, pour the buffalo sauce; toss until uniformly covered.
- Present right away with celery sticks, carrot sticks, ranch or blue cheese dressing.
Notes
- For extra crispy wings, let them air dry in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before baking.
- No wire rack? Bake the wings directly on parchment paper and flip them halfway through for even crisping.
- Want milder wings? Reduce the hot sauce or add an extra tablespoon of honey to balance the spice.
- For extra saucy wings, brush on additional buffalo sauce after tossing and bake for another 5 minutes.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 375°F for 10 minutes to keep them crispy.