Tater Tot Casserole with Ground Beef and Cheddar Cheese Recipe
This comforting Tater Tot Casserole with Ground Beef is a hearty, crowd-pleasing dish combining savory browned beef, creamy mushroom sauce, melted cheddar cheese, and crispy tater tots. Perfect for a family dinner, it’s easy to prepare and bakes to golden perfection for a satisfying one-dish meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Mixture
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional seasonings: garlic powder, paprika, or any favorite spices
Sauce
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup
- ½ cup sour cream
Cheese and Topping
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it’s ready for baking the casserole.
- Cook the Ground Beef: In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until fully cooked. Add the diced onion and cook until softened. Season with salt, pepper, and optional spices like garlic powder or paprika. Drain any excess fat to keep the mixture from getting greasy.
- Make the Cream Sauce: Stir in the cream of mushroom soup and sour cream into the beef mixture, blending well. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, allowing the flavors to combine and the mixture to heat through.
- Assemble the Casserole: Grease a casserole dish to prevent sticking. Spread the beef and sauce mixture evenly across the bottom of the dish.
- Add Cheese Layer: Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the beef mixture, adding a creamy, savory layer.
- Arrange Tater Tots: Place the frozen tater tots in a single, even layer on top of the cheese layer, which will crisp up nicely during baking.
- Bake the Casserole: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy.
- Add Final Cheese Layer: Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese over the crispy tater tots. Return the casserole to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes, until the cheese melts and becomes bubbly.
- Serve: Let the casserole cool for about 5 minutes before serving to allow it to set and make serving easier.
Notes
- For extra flavor, consider adding diced bell peppers or mushrooms to the beef mixture.
- Substitute cream of mushroom soup with cream of chicken or celery soup for a different twist.
- Use reduced-fat sour cream and cheese to decrease fat content if desired.
- The casserole can be assembled in advance and baked when ready to serve.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven to maintain crispiness.
Keywords: Tater Tot Casserole, Ground Beef Casserole, Comfort Food, Easy Dinner, Cheesy Casserole, Family Meal
