The Ultimate Tater Tot Casserole

Tater Tot Casserole is a classic dish made with the favorite potato bites and ground beef and loaded with lots of cheese. It has layers of unique flavors stacked together in every single bite. An easy meal that is also perfect for potlucks, game days, or parties!

Any kind of casserole is delicious, but this tater tot casserole is one of my favorites. It has all the best ingredients, including ground beef, tater tots, melted cheese, and creamy sauce with some green beans and mushrooms, too. This is comfort food at its finest, whether it’s for a church potluck dinner, family gathering, or summer barbecue in the park. It goes a long way to feed a group, especially if you make a double batch. It only takes 30 minutes and a handful of ingredients to make it!

If you are looking for a classic comfort food recipe that everyone loves, this Tater Tot Casserole should definitely be on your list. Every bite is simply delicious, creamy, loaded with cheese and ground beef. Even picky eaters will love it! As the name suggests, it has a crispy tater tots as the main ingredient which have been popular since the 1950s. This recipe has been in the family’s menu rotation throughout the years, and this time, I am sharing it with you!

What makes this specific dish even better is that it consists of affordable, basic ingredients, and is ready in no time. Also, it is packed with protein, carbs, and fiber. You can even make this as a freezer meal, and reheat it when needed, which makes it a good option for a quick dinner. Give it a try, and see why this dish is our family favorite recipe! 

This is an easy way to feed a big family or a bunch of friends, even if they show up at the last minute. Almost everyone can find ground beef, cheese, tater tots, vegetables, and cream in their kitchen to make this easy casserole. It is no hassle to toss it all in a pan and bake it for 35 minutes while everyone hangs out. It’s easy peasy, and everyone gets a scrumptious hot meal made from scratch.

Easy dinners are my favorite, and I am a big fan of homemade casseroles. They are hearty, delicious, and ideal to feed a crowd. For more fast and easy dinner ideas, try my Mashed Potato Casserole, Cheesy Chicken Casserole, and Mac and Cheese Casserole. 

Why you will love this recipe

• It is affordable: This is a whole meal that can serve eight and costs just a few dollars to make.
• The kids love it: Hamburger, tater tots, creamy sauce, and lots of cheese make this a kid’s favorite meal.
• It can be a one-pan meal: It is also a parents’ favorite meal because can be made in one pan so there is not a big mess to clean up.
• Common ingredients: Most of these ingredients are probably already in your kitchen.

What you’ll need to make tater tot casserole

Special items:

• Casserole dish – A 9×13 dish for the casserole.
• Skillet – For browning the beef.
• Bowls
• Cooking utensils

Ingredients:

• Ground beef – I use lean ground beef (80/20), so I do not have to worry about draining as much grease, but I still get plenty of flavor.
• Frozen tater tots – Get the best quality tater tots. They are the star of this recipe. Find them at your local grocery store in the frozen section or learn how to make the best homemade tater tots from scratch. 
• Green beans – Any kind of green beans will do. I just use green beans in a can.
• Shredded cheddar cheese – Shred your own cheese just before using it. The pre-shredded cheese is coated to keep it from clumping, and it does not melt well or taste very fresh.
• Heavy cream – Instead of using cream of mushroom soup, I use heavy cream along with other ingredients. The heavy cream adds thick richness and flavor.
• Sour cream – Adds more moisture and tanginess to go with the heavy cream and mushrooms to replace the cream of mushroom soup.
• Mushrooms – I like to use cremini mushrooms for this recipe because of their meaty texture and flavor.
• Worcestershire sauce – Gives this dish an umami taste of vinegar, onion, garlic, and molasses.
• Onion – Freshly diced onion provides a bite while also giving it a little sweetness.
• Garlic – Mince the garlic yourself to get the bold fresh flavor without any of the bitterness.
• All–purpose flour – Adds a smooth thickness to the sauce without any extra flavor and provides structure as well.
• Salt and Pepper

How to make a tater tot casserole?

A lot of other recipes out there instruct you to use the commercially available condensed soup. However, most of them have high sodium content. So, it is either you buy the low-sodium ones, or simply follow my homemade recipe as a healthier option.

Also, please watch the recipe video attached. The general steps are as follows:

1. Prep the oven: Preheat it to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a casserole dish with cooking spray or olive oil.
2. Cook the ground beef mixture: Place the ground beef in a large skillet and cook it over medium-high heat. Once it is no longer pink, remove it from the pan and set it aside. Drain any excess fat. 
3. Cook the mushrooms mixture: Then, sauté the diced onions, mushrooms, and garlic together. Season with salt, pepper, and add the Worcestershire sauce. Mix in the flour. Using a wooden spoon, stir in the heavy cream slowly. Add more salt or pepper to taste and stir in the sour cream.
4. Assemble: Next, in the baking dish, spread out the beef mixture, followed by the mushrooms mixture. On top of this layer, distribute the green beans and cheddar cheese. Add more salt or pepper to taste. Add another layer, this time, with the tater tots. Top with another layer of shredded cheese.
5. Bake: Pop it in the oven, and bake uncovered for about 35 to 40 minutes until the tots crisp up and the cheese melt.

Slow cooker version:

Making it in the slow cooker is equally easy and delicious! Follow these steps:

1. First, brown the beef in a large skillet over medium heat. 
2. Next, add the veggies to the meat mixture. 
3. Lightly grease the slow cooker pot with nonstick spray. 
4. Then, spread in a single layer the tater tots onto the bottom of the pot. After, add the ground beef mixture, and then top it with the remaining tots. 
5. Close the lid and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours. 
6. Garnish with shredded cheese during the last 30 minutes of the cook. 

Expert tip

Customizing a casserole

Some have debated that tater tot casserole should not have cheese. It also has been said that it should have more vegetables. I say it should have what you want it to have. A casserole of any kind is like a free-for-all that people typically add what they have left over from other dishes. There are written recipes, but they are adjustable and can be made to everyone’s liking. I chose what I liked for this recipe, but most other tater-tot casserole recipes use different ingredients.

For example, I do not use cream of mushroom soup like 90% of the other recipes do. Instead, I like to make my own mushroom soup with heavy cream, sour cream, and mushrooms. I prefer to use fresh ingredients whenever possible, especially mushrooms, because I love them. And when it is such an easy thing to make like this soup, I would rather just make my own.

As far as cheese goes, why not? If someone is lactose intolerant or does not like cheese, I can see why not, but otherwise, cheese is just perfect for this dish. It blends with the ground beef and tater tots to bring them together and hold them together. It would be like lasagna without the cheese. Also, add all the vegetables you want. No problem.

Recipe variations and add-ins:

• Breakfast casserole: Use pork sausage instead of ground beef, add some scrambled eggs, and chop up some bacon for a breakfast casserole.
• Bacon: Add crispy bacon bits as they go so well with cheese!
• Cheesier casserole: Add more cheese. Pepper jack, mozzarella, swiss, and Colby jack are some of my favorites.
• More veggies: In my recipe, I only use green beans and mushrooms. Add other veggies like corn, peas, bell peppers, broccoli, and asparagus.
• Southwestern style: For a southwestern-style casserole, use chorizo instead of ground beef, Mexican-style cheese blend, black olives, sundried tomatoes, green chiles, and cilantro.
• Ranch tater tot casserole: Add a tablespoon of my ranch seasoning to the mix to make this a ranch-style tater tot casserole.

Serving suggestions:

• Serve with a side of cheesy garlic bread, perfect for soaking up the delicious sauce.
• This casserole would also be yummy with a bowl of Panera Bread creamy tomato soup copycat.
• Just about any wine will go with this casserole, including merlot, zinfandel, and pinot noir.
• After dinner, surprise everyone with these homemade chocolate chip cookies.
• Pack up this delicious dish and take it to the park for a picnic with the family. Remember to bring plenty of paper plates and plastic ware as well as drinks for everyone.
• This is a great potluck meal, take it to Sunday church service, everyone will be impressed.

Frequently asked questions

What are tater tots?

They are made of mashed potatoes that are formed into small logs. You can find frozen ones in grocery stores and deep-fry or bake for optimum crispness.It is an all-time favorite American snack, breakfast dish, and side dish. This time, I will turn it into a hearty meal.

Why is my casserole watery?

This usually happens if it is not baked long enough. Make sure the middle of the casserole is bubbling, and the top is browned before taking it out of the oven. If it is browning too fast, cover it loosely with foil and let it continue to cook. Another issue could be if frozen vegetables were used. They should be completely thawed and patted dry. Extra moisture should be squeezed out of watery veggies like chard, spinach, and kale. Other veggies can be precooked to get them to release their moisture.

Can I make tater tot casserole in advance?

This is one of the easiest casseroles to make in advance because it can be completely assembled (except for the tots) and then covered and frozen for up to 48 hours. Then, just put it in the refrigerator overnight to thaw, place it on the counter for a couple of hours to come to room temperature, and then cook as directed (with the tots) Although, if you are planning to keep it just overnight, keep it in the fridge but leave the tots in the freezer until ready to cook. Tots should always be frozen until they are baked.

Should I thaw tater tots before baking?

No, as I mentioned above, it is best to bake the tater tots frozen, so they do not get soggy. Also, this helps them cook evenly and get crispy on the outside. Keeping them frozen also keeps them from overbaking. Lay them right next to each other but in a single layer. Do not just toss them in there so they are lying in a pile on top of one another. They will steam instead of baking if they are too close or on top of each other.

How to store:

• Refrigerate: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for up to three days in the fridge.
• Freezing: Leftovers can be placed in a freezer-safe container to keep them longer. They will stay fresh for up to three months in the freezer.   
• Defrost: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator for the best flavor.
• Reheating: You can reheat them in the oven for 10 minutes or in the microwave for one or two minutes. 

More casseroles to try:

Recipe tips:

• Use a deep oven-safe skillet to make this a one-pan meal.
• During the last five minutes of baking, set the oven to broil to make the tater tots extra crispy.
• If using frozen veggies, make sure they are completely thawed and patted dry first.
• Also, get all the moisture out of other vegetables like kale, spinach, and chard by squeezing them.
• Other vegetables can be precooked to make them release the extra moisture first.
• Make sure tater tots are spread out in a single layer and not on top of each other.
• If the casserole is runny, add a tablespoon of flour and stir it in over the stove until it thickens.