This tater tot casserole is easy comfort food that makes for a dinner win the whole family will love. This cheesy casserole truly is so simple to make.
Sometimes what you need is delicious comfort food. But usually, the time you need it is when you are fully spent and need life to be just a little easier, just a little more simple.
This casserole is perfect for just such a time. Though you could make this casserole almost entirely from scratch, we take a few shortcuts to make this comfort food easy for the times you need it most.
How to Make Tater Tot Casserole
Here is a brief overview of how this recipe for tater tot casserole comes together. For the full recipe including all ingredients and measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Make the Ground Beef Layer
Cook the ground beef. Break it up as it cooks and season with salt and pepper. Add in the onion and garlic and cook until the meat is fully browned and the onion is translucent. Add the cream soup. Stir it into the ground beef along with the Worcestershire sauce and paprika. Then spread over the bottom of a greased casserole dish.
Put it All Together and Bake
Top the beef layer with the frozen vegetables. Add 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese. Then, finally, add the tater tots in a single even layer on top. Bake in your preheated oven for 35 minutes or until the tater tots are golden brown. Top with the remaining cheese and then return to the oven to bake for five more minutes.
Variations
- Change out the meat. Instead of ground beef, use ground turkey. You can cook it in a non-stick pan, or add one tablespoon of olive oil to a hot skillet before adding the meat.
- Switch out the cheese. If cheddar isn’t your thing, pepper jack is delicious in this recipe. You could also use a combination of the two.
- Use different vegetables. This tater tot hotdish recipe calls for a frozen vegetable medley but you could also use canned corn or canned green beans that are well-drained.
- Change the type of soup. In addition to a homemade cream of mushroom soup, I have a homemade cream of chicken soup.
Make Ahead and Freeze
If you want to make this recipe ahead of time, prepare it as written, leaving off the tater tots. Rather than baking it in the oven, cover it tightly with foil and plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours, or in the freezer for up to three months. When ready to bake, allow to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Then, top with the tater tots and follow the final step in the recipe card below, baking it for 35 minutes then topping it with more cheese and baking for 5 more minutes.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Store any leftovers of this original tater tot casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat only the portion you plan to eat in the microwave or oven until heated through.
If you make this easy tater tot casserole recipe or any of my other recipes, I’d love to hear what you think!
Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef (453.6 grams)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (or 1/2 teaspoon table salt)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 small yellow onion diced
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 10.5 ounces condensed cream of mushroom soup or homemade (298 grams)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 2 cups frozen vegetable medley (273 grams)
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (226 grams)
- 32 ounces frozen tater tots you may not use them all
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 9 by 13 inch casserole dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, add the ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks. Season the meat with salt and pepper. Add in the onion and garlic. Cook until the meat is fully browned, and the onion is translucent, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain off any excess grease.1 pound ground beef, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, 1 small yellow onion, 3 garlic cloves
- Stir the condensed soup, Worcestershire sauce, and paprika into the beef.10.5 ounces condensed cream of mushroom soup, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon paprika
- Spread the beef mixture in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top with the frozen vegetables. Add 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese. Then, finally, add the tater tots in a single layer on top.2 cups frozen vegetable medley, 32 ounces frozen tater tots, 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- Bake for 35 minutes or until the tater tots are golden brown. Top with the remaining 1/2 cup cheese and then return to the oven for an additional 5 minutes.
Recipe Video
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