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This easy tater tot casserole is everything you want in a comfort food classic — cheesy, hearty thanks to a creamy ground beef filling, and topped with crispy golden tater tots. Whether you’re making it for a busy weeknight dinner or turning it into a tater tot breakfast casserole, this is one of those reliable, everyone-at-the-table-is-happy recipes.
Can’t get enough tater tots? I know the feeling! Try my Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole and Chicken Tater Tot Casserole too.
Why you’ll love this cheesy casserole with tater tots!
If you’re looking for a quick, cozy, and family-friendly meal, this easy tater tot casserole is a must-try!
It’s packed with savory ground beef, a creamy sauce, melty cheese, and crispy golden tater tots, all baked to perfection. This classic comfort food dinner is not only delicious but also incredibly easy to make with just a few simple ingredients.
Whether you’re feeding a hungry family or looking for a crowd-pleasing potluck dish, this casserole is guaranteed to be a hit. Let’s get cooking!
- Family-approved comfort food. Even picky eaters will love it.
- Easy to customize. Make it for breakfast or dinner with simple swaps.
- Great for make-ahead meals. Perfect for busy weeks and freezer cooking.
- Feeds a crowd. Ideal for potlucks, brunch, or game day.
Table of Contents
Ingredients for Easy Tater Tot Casserole
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Ground beef – I like to use beef with a lower fat percentage so I don’t have to drain off a lot of grease.
- Onion – This adds flavor to the beef. Be sure to dice it into even pieces!
- Frozen mixed vegetables – This is optional but smart way to sneak vegetables into a dish.
- Cream of mushroom soup – Any brand of soup will work in this recipe. If you prefer cream of chicken or cream of celery, go ahead and swap that in!
- Sour cream – I recommend using full-fat sour cream for a more creamy sauce. Reduced fat will also work.
- Cheddar cheese – I like to use a block of cheddar and shred it myself. It has better consistency when it melts.
- Frozen tater tots – Keep them frozen before assembling or they’ll get soggy!
Variations
- Tater tot breakfast casserole – Use bulk pork sausage instead of ground beef. (Or just serve as-is for a breakfast casserole with tater tots and ground beef!)
- Turkey version – Swap the beef for ground turkey.
- Southwest style – Add taco seasoning to the beef and use pepper jack cheese.
How to Make Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole
- Make the filling: Cook the ground beef and onions in a large skillet over medium heat. Drain any excess grease. Stir in the cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and mixed vegetables. Transfer the mixture from the skillet to the prepared baking dish and spread it out into an even layer.
- Add cheese: Sprinkle 1 cup of the cheddar cheese over the casserole mixture.
- Add the tots: Layer the frozen tater tots on top of the cheese.
- Bake: Bake the casserole at 375ºF for 35-40 minutes until the tater tots are golden brown. Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Return the dish to the oven for 5 minutes or until the cheese melts.
Serving Suggestions
The tater tot casserole is a heavy and hearty dish. Because of that, I like to pair it with light and refreshing vegetables. Dinner rolls also help sop up all the extra creamy sauce on the plate. Here are some of my favorite side dishes to pair with the tater tot casserole.
Storage + Reheating
- To Store: Store any leftover tater tot casserole in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- To Reheat: Reheat the leftover casserole in the oven or the microwave.
- To Freeze: Extra casserole can be frozen and kept in the freezer for 3 months. The casserole can also be baked, cooled, and frozen whole for a freezer meal. Thaw the casserole overnight before heating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Assemble it, cover, and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking.
Both! You can really enjoy it any time of day, but to make it more breakfast-y, you can use sausage instead of ground beef.
Absolutely. Freeze it unbaked or baked, tightly wrapped, for up to 3 months.
Reheat this casserole in the oven for the best texture and if you’re warming up large portions, or microwave if you want it faster or you’re heating an individual portion.
More Tater Tot Recipes
Breakfast Casseroles
Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
Casseroles
Easiest Cowboy Casserole Recipe
Appetizers & Snacks
Loaded Tater Tots
Best Chicken Recipes
Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
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Need help with this recipe?
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Easy Tater Tot Casserole
Equipment
- 13×9 Baking Dish
- Skillet
- Mixing bowls
- measuring spoons
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables (optional)
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- In a large skillet, cook the ground beef and onion over medium heat until the beef is browned and the onion is softened. Drain any excess grease.
- Stir in the cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. If using frozen mixed vegetables, stir them in now.
- Transfer the beef mixture to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish and spread it into an even layer.
- Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the beef mixture.
- Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer on top of the cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy.
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese over the tater tots. Return to the oven for 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Don’t overcrowd the tots: Space helps them crisp instead of steam.
- Let it rest: A 5–10 minute rest helps it slice cleanly.
- Drain off the excess grease: You don’t want a soggy, greasy casserole!
Such a comforting classic 🥔🧀 Crispy tater tots and melty cheese always hit the spot!
This looks like such an easy, cosy dinner the whole family would love.
Yum, Looks so creamy and delicious!
Simple, quick, and always a favourite! I make it all the time.
I made this last night and it disappeared in minutes.