Ultimate Tater Tot Casserole
This Tater Tot Casserole is a comforting and easy-to-make dish that's perfect for a family meal. Featuring a savory ground beef filling topped with crispy golden tater tots and melted cheese, it's a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that's customizable to your taste.
Equipment
- Large skillet
- 9x13 inch baking dish
- Mixing bowl
- Wooden spoon or spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Can opener
- Oven
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- ½ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup sour cream optional
- ¼ cup chopped bacon optional
- Diced jalapenos optional
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef. Drain off any excess grease.
- Add the chopped onion and green bell pepper to the skillet with the cooked ground beef. Cook until the vegetables are softened, about 5-7 minutes.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked ground beef and vegetables, cream of mushroom soup, cream of cheddar cheese soup, 1/2 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese, milk, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir everything together until well combined. Add sour cream, bacon, or jalapenos if desired.
- Pour the ground beef mixture into the prepared 9x13 inch baking dish. Spread it out evenly.
- Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer over the top of the beef mixture.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy and the filling is bubbly.
- Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the top.
- Let the casserole sit for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
For extra crispy tater tots, you can broil the top for the last few minutes of cooking, but watch them closely so they don't burn. Make sure to use frozen tater tots straight from the freezer. You can assemble the casserole ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before baking. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave. Consider adding a tablespoon or two of cornstarch to the filling to help thicken it up if needed. For a Mexican Fiesta variation, use taco-seasoned ground beef, add a can of diced tomatoes and green chilies, and top with Monterey Jack cheese and sour cream. For a Pizza Tot Casserole, use Italian sausage instead of ground beef, add pepperoni slices to the filling, and top with mozzarella cheese and Italian seasoning.