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This Tater Tot Casserole is classic comfort food at its best—creamy beef filling, tender vegetables, golden crispy tots, and plenty of gooey melted cheese. It’s an easy family dinner that always gets rave reviews and disappears fast from the table.
5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“This is such a childhood favorite. I love your version. It was delicious.” – Laura
“Such a family favorite! So easy to put together and so tasty too!” – Suzy
“We love this tater tot casserole! We eat it for breakfast or dinner! We like adding a little chopped bacon on top.” – Natalie
Why I Love This Casserole
Anytime Tater Tot Casserole comes up in conversation (and believe me, it actually comes up more than you’d think) it sparks childhood memories. My friend told me every time her mom was out of town, her dad would make a big batch and they’d eat on it all week. Another friend remembers forgoing any sort of vegetables in their recipe and piling her plate high with cheese, beef and that kid-friendly favorite: tater tots! But if this one-dish wonder never graced your childhood dinner table, it’s time to introduce your family to the best easy tater tot casserole recipe.
I like to serve it with a green salad, fresh fruit, or even a side of coleslaw. Warm biscuits or homemade dinner rolls on the side make it extra comforting.
🩷 Erica
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Ground Beef – the hearty base of the casserole; can also use ground turkey or pork.
- Condensed Cream Soup – cream of mushroom is traditional, but chicken or celery works too. Or make your own condensed cream of mushroom soup.
- Vegetables – green beans, corn, peas, or mixed frozen veggies add flavor and balance.
- Tater Tots – the star of the show, crispy golden potato bites.
- Cheddar Cheese – melty, gooey topping; sharp cheddar or a Mexican blend are great options.
- Spices – salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, or ranch mix for extra flavor.
- Sour Cream – optional for serving, adds a cool and creamy finish.
Ingredient Additions and Substitutions
- Swap beef for spicy ground sausage for extra flavor.
- Stir in Worcestershire sauce to deepen the sauce.
- Add chopped bacon for a smoky crunch.
- Mix in green chiles, black beans, or diced tomatoes for a Tex-Mex twist.
- Skip the meat and load up on mushrooms, beans, or lentils for a vegetarian version.
How to Make Tater Tot Casserole
- Cook the Beef Mixture – Brown ground beef with onion in a skillet. Add mushrooms if using. Drain grease.
- Make the Sauce – Stir in condensed soup, milk, bouillon, and seasonings. Mix until thick and creamy. Add vegetables.
- Layer the Dish – Spread beef mixture in a greased 9×13 baking dish. Arrange tater tots evenly on top.
- Bake and Finish – Bake at 375°F for 35–40 minutes until tots are golden and crispy. Sprinkle cheese on top, bake 5 more minutes, then serve.
Recipe Tips
- Broil for 2–3 minutes at the end if you want extra crispy tots.
- Use freshly shredded cheese—it melts smoother than pre-shredded.
- Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving so the sauce thickens.
- Drain frozen veggies before adding to avoid a runny casserole.
Frequently Asked Questions
I like to serve it with a simple green salad, fresh fruit, coleslaw, macaroni salad or some simple biscuits.
If you want extra crispy tots on top, turn the broiler to your oven on for the last few minutes of baking. That should help get those tots golden and crispy.
If your tater tot casserole is runny it could be because it still needs to cool a little bit. It will thicken as it cools. It could also be runny if you use frozen vegetables.
Yes—use cornstarch instead of flour and check labels on soup and bouillon.
Make Ahead and Storage
- Make Ahead: Assemble, cover, and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking.
- Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container up to 5 days.
- Reheat: Microwave for quick servings or bake at 350°F until warmed through.
- Freeze: Assemble (without cheese), don’t bake. wrap well, and freeze up to 2 months. Or bake ahead, then freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw before baking or reheating. Add cheese near the end of baking.
More Easy Casseroles
You can never have too many casserole recipes on hand for those busy weeknights. Here are some delicious comfort classics:
- Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole
- California Breakfast Casserole
- Easy Chicken Casserole
- Cheesy Enchilada Casserole
- Chicken Broccoli and Quinoa Casserole
- Spaghetti Casserole
- Easy Lasagna Casserole
- Big Mac Casserole
This Tater Tot Casserole is a timeless, cozy family dinner that’s as easy as it is delicious. Crispy tots, creamy filling, and melty cheese make it irresistible every time. Try it your way—add bacon, make it spicy, or keep it classic. I’d love to hear how your family enjoys it! Be sure to leave a rating and comment with your favorite variations. 💛
Easy Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 onion diced
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef
- 1 cup mushrooms coarsely chopped
- 1/3 cup flour (or 3 tablespoons cornstarch)
- 2 cups milk
- 2 tablespoons beef bouillon
- kosher salt to taste
- ground black pepper to taste
- 1 (12-14 ounce) can cut green beans drained, optional
- 1 (12-16 ounce) package frozen tater tots
- 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375-degrees. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook onion and ground beef until beef JUST browned. Add mushrooms and cook until beef is cooked through and onion is translucent. Drain excess grease.
- Sprinkle flour over beef/mushroom mixture and stir until flour coats the beef.
- Slowly stir in the milk, stirring constantly until you reach your desired thickness (you want the sauce to have the consistency of a thick gravy). You may or may not need all the milk.
- Season with beef bouillon and salt and pepper to taste. Stir in green beans (optional).
- Spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray and pour beef mixture into the bottom of the dish, spreading evenly.
- Evenly layer tater tots over the beef mixture.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes or until tater tots become golden brown and crispy.
- Remove from oven, top with cheese, and bake an additional 5 minutes.
- Serve immediately while hot.
Video
Notes
- Extra Flavor: Stir in Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, or even a little ranch seasoning to the beef mixture for more depth.
- Make Ahead: Assemble (without baking), cover tightly, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours or freeze for up to 2 months. Add cheese just before finishing in the oven.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave or oven.
Love it and my grandkids love it too
One of them doesn’t like mushrooms or cheese but likes this – go figure ? I follow recipe exact. – where does the soup come into the recipe – I used real mushrooms and Fluor and milk like recipe lists – why isn’t soup listed except in notes ?
This is such a childhood favorite. I love your version. It was delicious.
Such a family favorite! So easy to put together and so tasty too!
We love this tater tot casserole! We eat it for breakfast or dinner! We like adding a little chopped bacon on top.