Best Tater Tot Casserole Recipe (Easy & Cheesy!)
Crispy tater tots crown a creamy, cheesy ground beef filling with corn and optional green beans for ultimate comfort food. Ready in 10 minutes prep, this kid-friendly Midwest hotdish serves 6-8 perfectly.
- Prep Time: PT10M
- Cook Time: PT45M
- Total Time: PT55M
- Yield: 6-8 1x
- Category: Casserole, Dinner, Comfort Food
- Method: Baked, Skillet
- Cuisine: American, Midwest
Ingredients
1 pound lean ground beef
1/2 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 cup sour cream
10.5 oz can condensed cream of mushroom soup
10 oz can condensed cheddar cheese soup
15 oz can corn, drained
14.5 oz can green beans, drained (optional)
2.5 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
32 oz bag frozen tater tots
Salt and pepper to taste
Chopped scallions for garnish (optional)
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease 9×13 baking dish.
2. Brown beef and onion in large skillet over medium-high heat 7-8 minutes; drain excess fat.
3. Add garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and Italian seasoning; cook 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Stir in sour cream, both soups, drained corn and green beans (if using), and 1 cup cheddar cheese. Heat through 1-2 minutes.
5. Spread mixture evenly in prepared dish. Sprinkle with remaining 1.5 cups cheddar.
6. Arrange tater tots in single layer on top, spacing slightly for crispiness.
7. Bake uncovered 45 minutes until tots are golden and filling bubbles.
8. Let rest 5 minutes. Garnish with scallions and serve hot.
Notes
For extra crispy tots, broil 1-2 minutes at end (watch closely).
Pro tip: Space tater tots slightly apart and use 90% lean beef to avoid sogginess.
Make-ahead: Assemble filling sans tots, refrigerate overnight, add tots before baking.
Freezer: Freeze filling up to 3 months; thaw, add tots, bake with extra 10 minutes.
Use low-sodium cans if watching salt.
Serves 6-8 generously.
Nutrition approximate; varies by brands and substitutions.
Perfect for potlucks, weeknights, or family dinners.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8th casserole
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 85mg