Ultimate Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

Honestly, some nights I look at the clock, it’s 6 PM, and I have zero energy to cook. Zero. This tater tot casserole recipe is what I make on those nights. It has saved me so many times. My kids actually eat it without a single complaint, which, if you have kids, you know is basically a miracle. My one big tip, and it makes a huge difference: hold back half the cheese and don’t add it until the very end. It keeps the tots from getting soggy underneath.

What You’ll Need (I promise it’s easy)

Don’t get scared by the list. It’s mostly just dumping stuff together. You probably have most of it.

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced (or just garlic powder if you’re like me and can’t be bothered to chop garlic some nights)
• Salt and pepper
• 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup
• A big spoonful of sour cream (about 1/2 cup)
• A little splash of Worcestershire sauce
• A cup of frozen green beans or corn
• 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese (seriously, shred your own cheese, the bagged stuff has a weird powder on it that stops it from melting right)
• 1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots
• Chopped parsley for the top if you want to pretend you’re fancy

Okay, Here’s What You Do

This is how we make it. Super simple.

Step 1: Get the oven on

Get your oven going at 400∘F (200∘C). Spray a 9×13 pan so you don’t have to scrub it for hours later.

Step 2: Brown the meat

In a skillet, cook the ground beef with the onion and garlic until the meat isn’t pink anymore. Then drain the grease. Please, please drain the grease. It’s so gross otherwise.

Step 3: Mix the guts of it

Take the pan off the heat. Dump in the soup, sour cream, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir it all up with the meat. Then gently mix in the veggies and ONLY about half of your cheese. Remember the tip!

Step 4: Assemble the thing

Plop the whole mixture into the pan you sprayed and just spread it out. Then, start putting the frozen tater tots on top. Don’t stress about making it look perfect. Just cover the top so every bite gets a tot.

Step 5: Bake it

Bake it for about a half hour. You just want the tots to look golden brown and you should be able to see the sauce bubbling around the edges.

Step 6: The cheese blanket

Pull the pan out of the oven. Now sprinkle the rest of the cheese all over the hot tots. Stick it back in for maybe 5 more minutes, just long enough for the cheese to get all melty and amazing. NOW. THE HARD PART. You have to let it sit for a few minutes. I know, everyone is starving, but if you cut it right away it’ll be a runny mess. Go set the table or something to distract yourself.

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It’s Not Fancy, But It’s Our Favorite

Look, this isn’t winning any health food awards. But when everyone’s tired and hungry, this tater tot casserole recipe makes our whole house happy. It’s warm, it’s cheesy, it fills everyone up, and I didn’t have to destroy my kitchen to make it. That’s a win in my book.

Hope your family likes it as much as mine does. Let me know if you try it!

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Yield: 8 yield

tater tot casserole recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

The easiest cheesiest tater tot casserole. A perfect hearty dinner with ground beef and crispy tots that your whole family will actually love.

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Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 onion chopped
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• Salt and pepper
• 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup frozen green beans
• 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded
• 1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots
• Chopped parsley (optional)

Instructions

Step 1

Get the oven going to 400F. Spray a 9x13 pan so nothing sticks.

Step 2

Toss the beef onion and garlic in a big skillet. Cook it till the beef isnt pink. Then drain all the grease you have to do this.

Step 3

Take the pan off the heat. Dump in the soup sour cream and Worcestershire. Stir it all up then mix in the veggies and about half the cheese.

Step 4

Plop the beef mix into your pan and spread it out. Then put the frozen tots on top just a single layer is good.

Step 5

Bake it for a half hour or so. You want the tots to look nice and brown.

Step 6

Pull it out and put the rest of the cheese on top. Stick it back in for like 5 more minutes til the cheese is all melty.

Step 7

Let it sit on the counter for a few minutes. If you cut it right away it will be a soupy mess so just wait.

Notes

shred your own cheese it melts way better than the bagged stuff

dont skip draining the grease it makes a huge difference

letting it rest is super important i promise

feel free to swap green beans for corn or mixed veggies

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 364Total Fat: 25gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 90mgSodium: 585mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 1gSugar: 4gProtein: 25g

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