Tater Tot Casserole with Ground Beef
This Easy Tater Tot Casserole with ground beef layers a creamy, savory filling under a golden, crispy tater tot topping with melty cheddar—perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep. Try variations like Best Tater Tot Casserole, Homemade Tater Tot Casserole, or a Small Tater Tot Casserole to fit your crowd.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 35 mins
- Total Time: 50 mins
- Yield: 8
Ingredients
– 1 lb ground beef (85–90% lean)
– 1 small onion, diced
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 1/2 tsp kosher salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper
– 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup (or homemade cream sauce)
– 1/3–1/2 cup beef broth
– 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
– 1 1/2 cups frozen mixed vegetables (or corn/peas)
– 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar, divided
– 1 bag (28–32 oz) frozen tater tots
– Optional: 1/3 cup sour cream, 1/2 tsp paprika, chopped parsley
Instructions
1. Heat oven to 400°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Brown ground beef with onion and garlic over medium heat; season with salt and pepper, then drain excess fat.
3. Stir in soup, beef broth, and Worcestershire; fold in mixed vegetables and optional sour cream/paprika.
4. Spread filling in the baking dish and sprinkle half the cheddar on top.
5. Arrange tater tots in a tight, even single layer.
6. Bake 28–35 minutes until the tots are deeply golden and crisp.
7. Top with remaining cheddar and bake 3–5 minutes until melted. Rest 5 minutes; garnish with parsley.
Notes
Small-batch: Use an 8×8 pan and reduce bake time slightly. From-scratch: make a quick stovetop cream sauce. Variations: Tator Tot Hotdish Recipe, Tator Tot Sloppy Joe Casserole. Make-ahead: assemble up to 24 hours ahead; add 5–10 minutes to bake time.