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Tater Tot Casserole is an easy weeknight meal that is super hearty. Tater tots top a casserole full of ground beef, onion, and mixed vegetables with a creamy filling for a tasty 13×9 dish.
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If you’re looking for a quick, cozy, and family-friendly meal, this Tater Tot Casserole is a must-try! It’s packed with savory ground beef, a creamy, flavorful sauce, melty cheese, and crispy golden tater tots—all baked to perfection. This classic comfort dinner dish is not only delicious but also incredibly easy to make with just a few simple ingredients. Whether you’re feeding a hungry family or looking for a crowd-pleasing potluck dish, this casserole is guaranteed to be a hit. Let’s get cooking!
Try our reader favorite Loaded Tater Tots Recipe!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Pantry-Friendly: Forget going to the store to pick up random ingredients you only need for one meal. This tater tot casserole sticks to pantry basics that you probably already have in the house.
- Freezer Staple: This casserole stays really well in the freezer. I like to keep a casserole frozen for when I need a last-minute meal.
- Hearty: This casserole is filling and super hearty. The ground beef in the creamy sauce topped with the tater tots will keep you very full.
Recipe Ingredients:
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Ground beef
- Onion – Use a small yellow onion.
- Frozen mixed vegetables – This is optional but smart way to sneak vegetables into a dish.
- Cream of mushroom soup – Any brand of soup will work in this recipe.
- Sour cream – I recommend using full-fat sour cream for a more creamy flavor. Reduced fat will also work.
- Garlic Powder
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Cheddar cheese – I like to use a block of cheddar and shred it myself. It has better consistency when it melts.
- Frozen tater tots – Keep them frozen to create a crisp layer on top.
Directions For Making Tater Tot Casserole
Step 1. Gather the ingredients for the casserole, preheat the oven to 375, and prepare a 13×9-inch pan with grease. Set to the side.
Step 2. Cook the ground beef and onions in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the ground beef and onion until soft, and drain any excess grease.
Step 3. Stir in the cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and mixed vegetables if using.
Step 4. Transfer the mixture from the skillet to the prepared baking dish and spread it out into an even layer in the dish.
Step 5. Sprinkle 1 cup of the cheddar cheese over the casserole mixture.
Step 6. Layer the frozen tater tots on top of the cheese.
Step 7. Bake the casserole in the oven for 35-40 minutes until the tater tots are golden brown. Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top of the tater tots. Return the dish to the oven for 5 minutes or until the cheese has melted on top.
Variations
- Change the flavor of the creamy soup. If you prefer cream of chicken or cream of celery, swap the soup out for a new flavor.
- Make the casserole vegetarian. Use plant-based meat or tofu instead of ground beef.
- Give the casserole a slight spice. Add a dash of hot sauce or red pepper flakes into the casserole mixture to make it a little spicy.
Tips for Success
- Generously grease the casserole dish so the filling does not stick to the bottom. You can always line the bottom of the dish with parchment paper and grease for double duty.
- If the tater tots start to brown and the casserole is not fully cooked, place foil over the top of the tots. This will allow the casserole to cook without burning the top.
- Shread your own cheese for the best texture in the casserole. Pre-shredded cheese does not always melt evenly. Shred your own cheese for the best outcome.
Serving Suggestions
The tater tot casserole is a heavy and hearty dish. Because of that, I like to pair it with light and refreshing vegetables. Dinner rolls also help sop up all the extra creamy sauce on the plate. Here are some of my favorite side dishes to pair with the tater tot casserole.
- Roasted Broccoli
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
- Slow Cooker Green Beans
- Roasted Asparagus
- Soft Dinner Rolls
- Parker House Rolls
Storage + Reheating
- To Store: Store any leftover tater tot casserole in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- To Reheat: Reheat the leftover casserole in the oven or the microwave.
- To Freeze: Extra casserole can be frozen and kept in the freezer for 2-3 months. The casserole can also be baked, cooled, and frozen whole for a great freezer meal. When ready to eat, thaw the casserole overnight.
The Easiest Tater Tot Casserole Recipe (Classic Comfort Food!)
Equipment
- 13×9 Baking Dish
- Skillet
- Mixing bowls
- measuring spoons
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables (optional)
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- In a large skillet, cook the ground beef and onion over medium heat until the beef is browned and the onion is softened. Drain any excess grease.
- Stir in the cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. If using frozen mixed vegetables, stir them in now.
- Transfer the beef mixture to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish and spread it into an even layer.
- Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the beef mixture.
- Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer on top of the cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy.
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese over the tater tots. Return to the oven for 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Share With Us!
I hope you enjoy this delicious Tater Tot Casserole! If you give it a try, please share your experience in the comments below. Don’t forget to tag me on social media @allthingsmamma and use the hashtag #allthingsmamma.
