Tater Tot Casserole is a popular dish in the Midwest. Made with tender ground beef, cream of mushroom soup, and crispy tater tots, it's cozy, comforting, and easy!
Looking for more easy dinner recipes? Try my Crab Mac and Cheese or Chicken Parmesan next!
About This Recipe
Tater tot casserole (or tater tot hot dish, as the Minnesotans call it) is a super easy weeknight dinner made with ground beef, canned soup, sharp cheddar cheese, and frozen tater tots. It's probably the most classic casserole recipe out there.
I make this at least a few times a year just because of how easy it is. All you do is saute the ground beef with onions and garlic, stir in the rest of the filling ingredients, spread it into a casserole dish, then top it with tater tots and bake.
Key Ingredients
Ground beef: I recommend using lean ground beef. If you use regular ground beef, make sure to drain some of the fat, as I've found that if your filling is too fatty, the fat will pool to the top of the casserole.
Onions and garlic: These provide savory flavor.
Olive oil: For sauteeing the beef, onions, and garlic.
Cream of mushroom soup: This is the shortcut method for making the filling.
Sour cream: Gives the filling a lighter texture and sour flavor.
Worcestershire sauce: For savory, tangy depth.
Salt and pepper: Add this to your own taste. I find the amount fo salt really depends on the saltiness of your canned soup. if you have the low sodium one, you will need an additional ¼-1/2 teaspoon of salt.
Cheddar cheese: For a bit of sharpness and extra richness.
Tater tots: You can add these directly from frozen to the top of the casserole. Or, for extra-crispy tater tots, you can pre-bake them seperately for 20 minutes, or air-fry them for 8 minutes or so.
Instructions
STEP 1: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and crumble the ground beef, onions, and garlic for 6-7 minutes until no longer pink. If desired, you can also add some frozen mixed vegetables and cook just until they're warm.
STEP 2: Remove from the heat and stir in the cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, and 1 cup of cheddar cheese.
STEP 3: Transfer to a 9x13 casserole dish.
STEP 4: Top with the remaining cheddar cheese, followed by an even layer of Tater tots.
STEP 5: Bake uncovered for 40-45 minutes until the tots are brown and the filling is bubbly.
Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion (chopped)
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 (10.5-ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
- ⅓ cup sour cream (or milk)
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- salt and pepper (to taste)
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 24-32 ounces frozen Tater Tots (enough to fill the casserole dish)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and crumble the ground beef, onions, and garlic for 6-7 minutes until no longer pink.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, and 1 cup of cheddar cheese.
- Transfer to a 9x13 casserole dish. Top with the remaining cheddar cheese, followed by an even layer of Tater tots.
- Bake uncovered for 40-45 minutes until the tots are brown and the filling is bubbly.
Leave a Reply