Tater Tot Casserole with Ground Beef Recipe
Cozy, Hearty, and Satisfying Tater Tot Casserole with Ground Beef Recipe – This Tater Tot Casserole is Perfect for Family Dinners, Holiday Meals, or Large Gatherings!
This Tater tot casserole with Ground Beef is a beloved and comforting American dish. It’s rich, hearty and irresistibly gooey, which makes it the ideal dish for all types of family gatherings. This recipe is made with common, affordable and easy to find ingredients. The combination of seasoned ground beef, creamy mushroom sauce, cheddar cheese and crispy tater tops results in an incredibly flavorful, savory and rich casserole.
This Tater Tot Casserole with Ground Beef evokes feelings of warmth and comfort which brings back memories of cozy childhood dinners, holiday dinner gatherings and casual meals at home.
What ingredients do I need for this recipe?
1 pound ground beef
1 can cream of mushroom
½ cup sour cream
1 small onion (diced)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (divided)
1 bag frozen tater tots
Salt and pepper
Garlic powder, paprika (optional seasoning)
How to make this Tater Tot Casserole with Ground Beef?
Turn on your oven and set at 375 degrees Fahrenheit to preheat.
Add the ground beef to a medium skillet set over medium heat and stir until browned. Add in the diced onions and cook to soften. Sprinkle some salt, pepper and any additional spices you prefer like paprika, garlic powder or chili powder. Remove any excess fat if desired.
Mix in the cream of mushroom soup and the sour cream until well combined with the ground beef. Let everything cook for another 2 to 3 minutes until heated through.
Lightly grease a casserole dish with oil or butter then spread the cooked beef mixture to form an even bottom layer. Top the beef layer with 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese well spread to cover the bottom layer. Arrange the frozen tater tots forming an even top layer.
Place the casserole dish in the oven and cook for about 25 to 30 minutes; until the tater tots become golden and crispy.
Get the casserole dish out of the oven and top with the remaining shredded cheddar cheese to form a final layer. Place the dish back in the oven to cook for another 5 minutes, until the cheese is gooey and bubbly.
Allow the casserole to cool for couple minutes then serve it family style or divide portions on individual plates. Garnish with bacon bits, chopped green onion or chopped parsley. Enjoy!
Helpful Tips:
The star ingredient is the tater tot, they should turn out crispy and perfectly browned so to get the expected crunchy bite, use frozen tater tots instead of homemade ones, use them straight from the freezer and make sure you distribute them evenly without overlapping.
To prevent your Tater Tot Casserole from turning greasy, make sure to get rid of any excess fat after cooking the ground beef.
To get a smooth and gooey cheese topping, it’s best to use freshly shredded cheese and distribute it evenly.
If you’re looking for a warm, filling and irresistibly delicious casserole, this recipe is the one to try. It’s savory, crispy, and incredibly comforting!
Helpful Variations:
How can I replace tater tots? You can use mashed potatoes, frozen hash browns, or frozen French fries. You can also use cauliflower tots for a lower calorie version of this recipe. I’ve already tried the same recipe with air fried potato cubes.
How can I replace the ground beef? You can use ground chicken, pork or ground turkey. Use your favorite seasoning to boost the meat flavor.
What can I add for more flavor? You can a bit of Worcestershire sauce or hot sauce while cooking the beef. You can also add dried thyme, oregano, parsley, smoked paprika, or Italian seasoning; modify the spices to suit your taste.
How can I store any leftovers? I use a casserole dish with a lid to easily store it, but you can simply wrap it with plastic wrap and put it in the fridge for up to 4 days.
How can I serve this Tater Tot Casserole with Ground Beef?
Pair your rich and filling Tater Tot Casserole with light sides like a green salad a simple dressing, steamed veggies, raw veggie sticks, or coleslaw. When it comes to beverages, this dish pairs well with red wine or iced tea for a non-alcoholic option.
Tater Tot Casserole with Ground Beef Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 can cream of mushroom
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 small onion diced
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
- 1 bag frozen tater tots
- Salt and pepper
- Garlic powder paprika (optional seasoning)
Instructions
- Turn on your oven and set at 375 degrees Fahrenheit to preheat.
- Add the ground beef to a medium skillet set over medium heat and stir until browned. Add in the diced onions and cook to soften. Sprinkle some salt, pepper and any additional spices you prefer like paprika, garlic powder or chili powder. Remove any excess fat if desired.
- Mix in the cream of mushroom soup and the sour cream until well combined with the ground beef. Let everything cook for another 2 to 3 minutes until heated through.
- Lightly grease a casserole dish with oil or butter then spread the cooked beef mixture to form an even bottom layer. Top the beef layer with 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese well spread to cover the bottom layer. Arrange the frozen tater tots forming an even top layer.
- Place the casserole dish in the oven and cook for about 25 to 30 minutes; until the tater tots become golden and crispy.
- Get the casserole dish out of the oven and top with the remaining shredded cheddar cheese to form a final layer. Place the dish back in the oven to cook for another 5 minutes, until the cheese is gooey and bubbly.
- Allow the casserole to cool for couple minutes then serve it family style or divide portions on individual plates. Garnish with bacon bits, chopped green onion or chopped parsley. Enjoy!
