If you're craving a comforting, easy meal that tastes amazing, this easy tater tot casserole fits the bill. It takes just minutes to throw together and everyone loves it!
We love this easy tater tot casserole around here for so many reasons. It's not always easy to make something that everyone loves that's also so simple to make. It's nostalgic for me, having grown up on it, and it's so satisfying that it still hits after all these years!
It's also nice to make a dish that really doesn't need any sides, since tater tot casserole has it all: meat, potatoes, and a veggie. When I do serve something with it, it's usually an easy appetizer like bacon-wrapped pickles or a no-bake dessert.
Ingredients
- Ground beef: I use lean ground beef, but really any will work.
- Onion: We're serious onion lovers, so I usually double this! Try making it as written first, then increase it if you're an onion lover, too (it already calls for one whole onion).
- Garlic cloves: I have a friend who always doubles the amount of garlic a recipe calls for, no matter what. For this one, I recommend sticking with the actual amount called for, since more garlic could easily overpower the other flavors.
- Worcestershire sauce: Don't skip this - it adds a wonderful umami flavor and the dish just won't be the same without it.
- Cream of mushroom soup: Longtime followers of this website know that I very rarely use canned soups in my recipes (I'm not sure there are any!). But it absolutely works in tater tot casserole, plus it drastically cuts down on the prep time.
- Canned green beans: You could use frozen beans, too, although canned is definitely preferred. Frozen will release more water and can make the overall casserole a bit watery. You also want to be sure to drain the canned beans really well!
- Salt & pepper: This does need some seasoning, although the soup is somewhat salty on its own, so we add just enough.
- Shredded cheddar cheese: As always, shredding your own cheese will melt much better, but bagged cheese will also do the trick just fine.
- Tater tots: I often opt to use the "crowns" instead (as in the images), so just use what you prefer.
Instructions
Making this easy tater tot casserole is truly very simple. It's mostly about layering ingredients then just giving it time to get hot and bubbly in the oven.
- First you'll cook the ground beef, onions, and garlic in a large skillet, season it with salt and pepper, and stir in the Worcestershire sauce.
- Next is just layering everything! You'll put the ground beef mixture into the bottom of a greased casserole dish, then add the creamed soup, then the green beans, and top it with the cheese. The tater tots go on the top so they can get nice and crispy!
- Next you'll bake it for about 40 minutes or so, until it's bubbling hot and the tater tots are golden brown.
- And finally, tater tot casserole really benefits from a short rest out of the oven (about 5-10 minutes) so it can cool slightly and firm up a bit.
- And then it's just time to serve it!
Variations
This recipe is really versatile, so it's easy to make it your own. I usually just make it as written, but I do enjoy switching it up now and then. Here are some ideas for you:
- Use ground turkey, chicken, or pork in place of the ground beef. Or swap out some of the beef and add Italian sausage. You could also mix some crumbled bacon into the ground beef layer.
- If you're not a fan of green beans, try different vegetables like corn, peas, sautéed mushrooms, diced bell pepper, broccoli, or zucchini. You could even add some spinach (go with frozen that's been thawed and squeezed VERY dry).
- Another flavor of creamed soup would also work. Try cream of chicken, celery, or onion, or swap one of the cans for cheddar cheese soup. If you're really averse to using canned soups, just make a homemade white sauce instead.
- Instead of the shredded cheddar cheese, try Monterey Jack, pepper jack, colby, mozzarella, or even a smoked cheddar. A blend of several cheese would also be delicious.
- If you want to add even more flavor, try adding a little smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, or dry ranch seasoning. If you'd like a little spice, you can add some Cajun seasoning, red pepper flakes, or a few dashes of hot sauce (or mix in some green chiles with the ground beef)!
- I like to use "crowns" instead of tater tots, mostly because that's what I buy for our breakfast so that's what I've got on hand. You could also use shredded hash browns or sweet potato tots. Use your favorite brand or choose from this list.
- Sometimes I'll add a spoonful of Dijon to the beef layer, especially if I replace the sautéed onions with caramelized onions (the flavors just go so well together)!
Storage & Make-Ahead
This easy tater tot casserole is one of those dishes that reheats really well, so it's an easy one to prep ahead for busy nights.
- Make-Ahead
- You can assemble the casserole up to a day in advance. Follow the recipe just until topping it with the tater tots, then cover it tightly and refrigerate. When you're ready to bake it, just add the tots and pop it into the preheated oven.
- You can also make just the ground beef mixture and refrigerate it for up to two days, then proceed with layering and baking from there.
- Storing in the refrigerator
- Once it's fully baked, leftovers will keep well for 3 or 4 days. Let the casserole cool completely, then cover it tightly and refrigerate. Reheat individual servings in the microwave or put it back in the oven at 350°F until it's heated through.
- Freezing the Whole Casserole
- To freeze unbaked: Assemble the casserole in a disposable aluminum pan or a freezer-safe baking dish. Wrap it in plastic wrap, then foil, and freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and bake it as directed, or bake it directly from frozen and add about 30 minutes to the baking time.
- To freeze after baking: Let it cool completely. Wrap it tightly or transfer it to a freezer-safe container, then freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight before baking, or bake straight from frozen but add about 30 minutes to the baking time.
- Freezing in Souper Cubes
- Cool the casserole completely, then spoon portions into the Souper Cubes. Add the lid and freeze until solid.
- Pop out the frozen blocks and store them in a labeled freezer bag.
- Frozen portions reheat straight from the freezer! You can microwave them for a quick meal or bake at 375°F until it's hot and bubbling (1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes for 2-cup cubes, or 45 minutes for 1-cup cubes). The images below show the steps to assembling this easy tater tot casserole in a 1-cup Souper Cubes tray:
Related Recipes
Looking for more easy weeknight meals like this easy tater tot casserole? Try these:
Tater Tot Casserole
Yield:
12 servings
Prep Time:
10 minutes
Cook Time:
40 minutes
Additional Time:
10 minutes
Total Time:
1 hour
Tater tot casserole is a hearty, comforting, and easy-to-make meal that everyone loves!
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 4-5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1-2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 10.5-ounce cans cream of mushroom soup
- 2 15-ounce cans green beans, drained well
- ½ teaspoon salt, divided
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 16 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
- 32-ounce bag tater tots or crowns
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, stirring often, until the beef is almost cooked through (drain off excess grease now). Add the onions and garlic, and cook a few more minutes until the beef is cooked through and the onions have softened. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, ¼ teaspoon salt, and the black pepper.
- Grease a 13x9 baking dish. Add the beef mixture to the pan, spreading it out to cover the bottom.
- Spread the cream of mushroom soup evenly over the ground beef. Spread the green beans evenly on top of the soup layer, then season with the remaining ¼ teaspoon salt. Add the shredded cheese evenly on top of the green bean layer. Add the tater tots on top, as evenly as possible.
- Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 40 minutes, or until the casserole is hot and bubbly and the tater tots are golden brown and crispy.
- Remove from the oven and let the casserole sit for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
You can cut the ingredients in half and bake in an 8x8 casserole if you prefer. This casserole also freezes really well, so you can also split the full amounts between two 8x8 pans and freeze one (or divide it into Souper Cubes).
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 395Total Fat: 27gSaturated Fat: 12gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 106mgSodium: 557mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 30g
This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix.
Kristy Bernardo is a chef, recipe developer, and five-time cookbook author. A former personal chef and cooking instructor, she loves creating easy, delicious recipes to share!
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