Description
This Easy Tater Tot Casserole is the ultimate family-friendly comfort food, layering seasoned ground beef, creamy mushroom soup, melty cheddar cheese, and crispy golden tater tots. Ready in about an hour, it’s simple, hearty, and guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser on any busy night.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Meat Mixture
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, chopped
For the Sauce
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
For Assembling
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to keep the casserole from sticking.
- Cook Beef and Onion: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and chopped onion until the beef is browned and the onions are soft, about 5–7 minutes. Drain any excess grease for a less oily casserole.
- Make the Creamy Base: Stir in the cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, garlic powder, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly until everything is evenly combined and creamy. Remove from heat.
- Layer the Casserole: Spread the beef mixture evenly in the bottom of your prepared baking dish. Then, sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese on top for a melty layer.
- Add Tater Tots: Arrange frozen tater tots in a single, even layer over the cheese. This will ensure they get perfectly crispy as they bake.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the oven and bake for 35–40 minutes until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy on top.
- Add Final Cheese Layer: Take the casserole out of the oven and sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the hot tater tots.
- Melt Cheese: Return the dish to the oven and bake for another 5–10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Rest and Serve: Let the casserole sit for about 5 minutes before serving. This allows the layers to set and makes it easier to cut portions. Enjoy!
Notes
- Swap the ground beef for ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
- Add a layer of frozen mixed vegetables for extra nutrition and color.
- You can use other types of cheese such as pepper jack or mozzarella for a different flavor.
- This dish reheats well and makes great leftovers for lunch the next day.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main-course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of casserole
- Calories: 460 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 980 mg
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 21 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg