Description
Comfort classics reach new heights with this ultimate tater tot casserole, blending hearty ground beef, crispy potato tots, and melted cheese into one irresistible dish. Midwestern home cooking shines through, inviting you to savor each comforting, cheesy bite of pure culinary nostalgia.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (1 lb) ground beef (or turkey)
- 1 bag (32 ounces) frozen tater tots
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables (optional)
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 1 can (10.5 ounces) cream of mushroom soup
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350°F (175°C), creating an ideal cooking environment for the hearty casserole.
- Brown ground meat in a skillet over medium heat, ensuring a rich caramelized texture. Incorporate diced onions and sauté until translucent and softened.
- Fold cream of mushroom soup into the meat mixture, blending thoroughly. Stir in half the cheddar cheese, creating a creamy and flavorful base.
- Transfer the meat mixture to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, spreading evenly to create a uniform foundation for the casserole.
- Artfully arrange tater tots across the surface in a precise, overlapping pattern to maximize crispy coverage.
- Sprinkle remaining cheese over the tater tots, ensuring a melty, golden topping that will develop during baking.
- Place in preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes until tater tots turn golden brown and crisp, and the cheese melts into a bubbling, appetizing layer.
- Remove from oven and allow the casserole to rest for 5-7 minutes, helping the ingredients set and making serving easier.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a lighter, leaner protein option that still delivers hearty flavor.
- Boost veggie content by adding diced bell peppers, spinach, or mushrooms to increase nutritional value and create more complex textures.
- Create a gluten-free version by using cornstarch instead of flour in the soup and ensuring all ingredients are certified gluten-free.
- Make this casserole ahead of time by assembling everything except the tater tots, then add them just before baking to maintain maximum crispiness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg