Cheesy Ground Beef Tater Tot Casserole (Printable)
Comforting beef and cheese casserole topped with crispy golden tater tots, ready in one hour.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 pound ground beef, 80/20 or lean
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn, green beans)
→ Dairy & Cheese
04 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
05 - 1 cup whole milk
→ Pantry
06 - 1 can (10.5 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup
07 - 2 tablespoons ketchup
08 - 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
09 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
10 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
11 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
12 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
→ Topping
13 - 1 bag (32 ounces) frozen tater tots
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and chopped onion. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, breaking up the beef with a spoon, until beef is browned and onion is softened. Drain excess fat from the skillet.
03 - Stir in mixed vegetables, cream of mushroom soup, milk, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until everything is well combined and heated through.
04 - Spread the beef mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the top of the mixture.
05 - Arrange frozen tater tots in a single, even layer over the cheese-topped beef mixture.
06 - Bake uncovered for 35 to 40 minutes, until tater tots are golden brown and crispy.
07 - Remove the casserole from the oven. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Return to the oven for 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
08 - Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the filling to set.
# Cooking Tips:
01 -
- The crispy tater tots on top stay perfectly crunchy even underneath all that melted cheese
- Everything cooks in one pan first, then bakes in one dish, meaning almost zero cleanup afterward
02 -
- I learned the hard way that adding the second cheese too early makes it burn before the tater tots finish crisping
- The five minute rest time actually matters, otherwise everything slides apart when you scoop it
03 -
- Spraying the tater tots lightly with cooking spray before baking gives them that restaurant quality crunch
- Line your baking sheet with foil underneath to catch any cheese overflow and save yourself scrubbing time