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Tater Tot Casserole

Enjoy a helping of Tater Tot Casserole- a hearty and filling ground beef and veggie dinner topped with everyone’s favorite, tater tots!

A TASTY CASSEROLE READY IN ABOUT AN HOUR

Ready in just over an hour, this tasty casserole is the epitome of comfort food and will have the whole family ranting and raving with full bellies. No need to make side dishes or a separate main dish, this casserole is a whole meal served all in one serving dish. We love when there are less dishes to do at the end of the night after a delicious dinner!

Looking down on a casserole dish with a scoop of the Tater Tot Casserole missing.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

What goes good with Tater Tot Casserole?

I don’t feel like you really need a side to round out this dish, but if you’re in the mood, try:
Potato Green Bean Casserole
Slow Cooker Macaroni and Cheese
Broccoli Salad
– any of your favorite roasted vegetables or salad

What is another name for Tater Tot Casserole?

You may see Midwesterners call this a Tater Tot Hotdish.

What if I can’t find cream of cheddar soup?

If you can’t find it, or don’t like it, simply swap it out for a different cream of anything soup. I like that it pairs perfectly with the shredded cheddar cheese so it makes the casserole extra cheesy.

Do I have to use frozen vegetables?

If you don’t like the frozen mixed veggies, you can recipe them with whatever frozen veggies you like. I suggest peas, peas and carrot, green beans, or corn.

You can also use canned vegetables in place of frozen, just make sure to drain them first and use the same amount as listed in the recipe.

Can I use a different cheese?

Certainly, if you’re out of shredded cheddar or want to try other topiongs, there are some other ideas to try. Other cheese that would be good, Mozzarella, Colby Jack, Monterey Jack, or Pepper Jack.

How do I store leftovers?

Keep leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days, and freeze them for up to 3 months. Always use freezer safe containers when needed.

Reheat leftovers in the oven or microwave until warmed through. Warming it again may cause the tater tots to become soggy. If heating in the oven, cover with foil so it doesn’t dry out.

Do I have to use ground beef?

Nope! That’s another wonderful thing about casseroles, they’re forgiving and very customizable. You can use ground chicken, ground turkey, or ground pork in place of the beef if desired. 

A baking dish with Tater Tot Casserole in it with

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)

  • lean ground beef
  • small onion
  • kosher salt
  • black pepper
  • cloves garlic
  • frozen mixed vegetables
  • condensed cheddar soup
  • sour cream
  • shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • frozen tater tots
Lean ground beef, onion, kosher salt, black pepper, garlic, frozen mixed vegetables, condensed cheddar soup, sour cream, shredded sharp cheddar cheese and
a bag frozen tater tots.

HOW TO MAKE TATER TOT CASSEROLE

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside. In a large skillet with deep sides or a dutch oven, over medium heat, add the ground beef, break it up into crumbles and cook until there is no pink left, about 10 minutes. Stir occasionally. Drain any excess grease.

A dutch oven with browned ground beef.

Add the onions, salt, and pepper, to the pot and occasionally stir until they are softened, 8-10 minutes.

A dutch oven with ground beef and raw onion on top with salt and pepper.

Add the garlic and stir it in, cook until fragrant, 30 seconds.

A dutch oven with cooked ground beef, onion, spices, and garlic.

Stir to combine.

A dutch oven with casserole mixture of cooked ground beef, onion, and herbs and spices all stirred together.

Take off the heat. Stir in the frozen vegetables, cheddar soup, sour cream, and half of the cheddar.

Looking down on a dutch oven with ground beef, onion, herbs spices and cheddar, mixed veggies, and cream of cheddar soup on top.

Stir until combined.

A dutch oven with a casserole mixture inside.

Place the filling into the prepared baking dish. Top with the remaining cheese.

A baking dish with a casserole mixture inside and topped with shredded cheese.

Add an even layer of the tater tots on top, you may have a few leftover.

A baking dish with a casserole under a layer of tater tots.

Bake for 35-45 minutes until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy.

A baking dish full of Tater Tot Casserole with a scoop taken out.

Serve immediately.

A plate of Tater Tot Casserole with a glass of tea.

CRAVING MORE RECIPES?

A utensil holding a serving of Tater Tot Casserole.

Tater Tot Casserole

This Tater Tot Casserole is a filling, comforting, creamy dish that warms your soul!
5 from 14 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
  • In a large skillet with deep sides or a dutch oven, over medium heat, add the ground beef, break it up into crumbles and cook until there is no pink left, about 10 minutes. Stir occasionally. Drain any excess grease.
  • Add the onions, salt, and pepper, to the pot and occasionally stir until they are softened, 8-10 minutes. Add the garlic and stir it in, cook until fragrant, 30 seconds.
  • Take off the heat. Stir in the frozen vegetables, cheddar soup, sour cream, and half of the cheddar. Stir until combined.
  • Place the filling into the prepared baking dish. Top with the remaining cheese.
  • Add an even layer of the tater tots on top, you may have a few leftover.
  • Bake for 35-45 minutes until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • You can use any cream of something soup you prefer, I used cheddar to make this dish extra cheesy, yum!
  • Don’t have frozen mixed veggies? You can swap them with whatever frozen veggies you like prefer. I suggest trying peas, peas and carrot, green beans, or corn. Or a combo of any of them. You can also use canned vegetables instead.
  • Want to try different cheese options, see some more ideas above in the FAQ section. 
  • Feel free to use ground chicken, ground turkey, or ground pork in place of the ground beef.
  • If you want this more on the creamy side, add two cans of condensed soup.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 528kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 29g | Sodium: 1332mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 2g

Nutritional Disclaimer

“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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4 Comments

  1. I do add a can of drained Ro-tel after my meat is browned & drained and then adding in the remaining ingredients and putting crispy crowns on top.