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ater Tot Casserole with Ground Beef

Tater Tot Casserole with Ground Beef 7 Secrets to Ultimate Comfort


  • Author: Simon
  • Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Yield: 6-8 servings 1x

Description

This classic Tater Tot Casserole with Ground Beef layers savory seasoned beef, creamy soup mixture, melted cheddar cheese, and crispy golden tater tots in one easy dish. Perfect for busy weeknights and feeds 6-8 people at just $10 total!


Ingredients

Scale

2 pounds ground beef (80/20 or 85/15)

1 medium yellow onion, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup

1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup

1 cup sour cream

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided

1 cup frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn)

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots

Cooking spray

Optional: 1/2 cup crispy fried onions, fresh parsley, extra sour cream for serving


Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

2. Heat large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and break into small crumbles. Cook 7-9 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned with no pink remaining. Season with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper while cooking.

3. Push beef to sides of pan. Add diced onion to center and cook 3-4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant.

4. Drain excess fat from beef, leaving about 1 tablespoon for flavor.

5. In large bowl, combine cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, 1 cup shredded cheddar, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix until smooth.

6. Add browned beef mixture and frozen vegetables to soup mixture. Stir until evenly coated.

7. Spread beef mixture evenly in prepared 9×13 baking dish.

8. Arrange frozen tater tots in single layer over beef mixture, covering completely. Tots should touch but not overlap.

9. Cover with aluminum foil and bake 30 minutes.

10. Remove foil, sprinkle remaining 1 cup cheese over tater tots. Bake uncovered 20-25 minutes until cheese is melted, tots are golden brown and crispy, and casserole is bubbling around edges.

11. Let rest 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley if desired. Serve with sour cream and hot sauce.

Notes

Use frozen tater tots straight from freezer—don’t thaw or they’ll be soggy.

Drain ground beef well but leave about 1 tablespoon fat for flavor.

Single layer of tots is crucial for crispy tops. Don’t overlap or double-layer.

Make ahead: Assemble completely, cover, refrigerate up to 24 hours. Add 5-10 minutes to baking time.

Freeze assembled but unbaked up to 3 months. Thaw overnight before baking.

For homemade cream soup: melt 3 tbsp butter, whisk in 3 tbsp flour, slowly add 1 1/2 cups milk, simmer until thick.

Ground turkey can replace beef—add extra seasonings as turkey is milder.

Casserole should reach 165°F internal temperature for food safety.

  • Prep Time: 15
  • Cook Time: 55
  • Category: Main Course, Casserole, Family Dinner
  • Method: Baking, One-Dish
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 generous portion (approximately 1.5 cups)
  • Calories: 485
  • Sugar: 4g
  • Sodium: 920mg
  • Fat: 28g
  • Saturated Fat: 12g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 14g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 38g
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Protein: 24g
  • Cholesterol: 85mg

Keywords: tater tot casserole, ground beef casserole, easy dinner, family dinner, one dish meal, comfort food