Tater Tot Casserole

This tater tot casserole is a family favorite that comes together quickly. It’s made with seasoned beef, veggies, a creamy sauce, and lots of cheese under a crispy tater tot topping.

Classic Tater Tot Casserole in the casserole dish with a portion missing

Flavor: Creamy, cheesy, and comforting with crispy golden tots on top.
Skill Level: It’s a family favorite that uses easy ingredients in one cozy casserole.
Prep Note: Assemble a day ahead and keep it covered in the fridge until ready to bake.
Swaps: Use ground chicken or turkey instead of beef, and replace the cream of mushroom soup for any ‘cream of’ soup in the pantry!

tater tots , vegetables , milk , cream of mushroom soup , ground beef , cheese , onion , oregano, parsley , salt and pepper with labels to make Classic Tater Tot Casserole

Ingredient Tips

Tater Tots: Use any brand of frozen tater tots or frozen potato puffs; any shape will work.
Beef: I prefer to use lean ground beef but you can replace it with ground chicken or ground turkey.
Soup: Condensed cream of mushroom soup is the base of the sauce for this recipe and makes prep super fast. Replace it with any condensed cream soup, like cream of celery or chicken. You can also replace it with homemade condensed cream of mushroom soup.
Vegetables: Use a frozen vegetable medley or replace it with cooked leftover veggies.
Cheese: Sharp cheddar delivers the best flavor, but shredded mozzarella, Monterey Jack, or a Mexican blend work, too.

cooking ground beef with onions to make Classic Tater Tot Casserole

adding ingredients to dish to make Classic Tater Tot Casserole

How to Make Tater Tot Casserole

Cook ground beef and onion, drain any fat.
Mix the vegetables, soup, milk, seasonings, beef, and some cheese (full recipe below).
Spread the mixture in a casserole dish and top with the remaining cheese.
Arrange tater tots on top and bake.

Freeze this casserole, before or after baking. To freeze let it cool compeltely, then wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and freeze for up to 2 months.
If baking from frozen, add 20-30 minutes to the baking time and cover with foil for the first hald to prevent over-browning.
Freeze individuals portions in zippered bags for up to 4 months and thaw overnight before reheating.

bowl of hearty Classic Tater Tot Casserole with a fork

Storing and Reheating

Leftover tater tot casserole tastes even better the next day. Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and reheat portions in the microwave. Wrap up leftovers in a tortilla for a hearty (and portable!) school or workday lunch.

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Tater tot casserole is a cozy dish made with seasoned beef, veggies, creamy sauce, melty cheese, and a golden tater tot topping.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Preheat the oven to 375°F.
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef and onion until no pink remains. Drain any fat.
In a medium bowl, mix the thawed vegetables, soup, milk, seasonings, beef mixture, and ½ cup shredded cheese.
Spread the beef mixture into a 3qt or 9×13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top.
Top with tater tots and bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until the sauce is bubbly and the tots are golden brown.

*If using fresh vegetables such as carrots and celery, they should be steamed or can be cooked in the frying pan along with the browned beef until tender.

Frozen vegetables should be thawed first. Any variation or mixture of vegetables can be added.
Canned mushroom soup can be substituted with other “cream of” soups, gravy, or even a can of gravy or tomato soup.
Any size casserole dish can be used for this recipe. A deeper dish may need a little bit of extra cooking time.
This casserole can be assembled ahead of time and refrigerated. If chilled from the fridge, it will require extra baking time.
Leftovers will keep for 4 days in the refrigerator and 4 months in the freezer.

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Beef, Casserole, Dinner, Entree

Cuisine American

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