The Best Tater Tot Casserole

Tater Tot Casserole is an easy, budget friendly meal that is beloved by people of all ages. I take classic ingredients like ground beef, onions, cream of mushroom soup and cheese, and marry them with flavor boosters like Worcestershire sauce and French onion dip. This truly might be The Best Tater Tot Casserole you’ll ever eat!

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One of my fondest memories I had growing up was my mom letting us pick out our favorite birthday dinner. We didn’t have a lot of money, and having 3 older brothers with appetites as big as earth, eating out was never really an option. All I knew was it was super special to get to be the one to choose our family meal, especially being the youngest, this was a rare treat. 😉

I’m sure you can guess by now what my birthday dinner request was? That’s right, Tater Tot Casserole. And not just once, but every year I had a birthday. My mom was probably relieved that I chose such an easy dinner she knew the whole family would love and enjoy.

Why is Tater Tot Casserole So Darn Good?!

I’ll tell you why. The crispy tater tots atop a creamy and cheesy beef base filling is irresistibly good and so comforting. I mean, tater tots alone are delicious but all scooped up with that meaty combo is heavenly.

Why I call this The Best Tater Tot Casserole? I use two simple ingredients to add even more savory goodness. A touch of Worcestershire for deep umami flavor, and French onion dip for richness and creaminess. Every time I make this recipe my family Mmmm’s and Awww’s, we love it so much!

What You’ll love about Tater Tot Casserole:

🖤 It is a quick and easy meal to make on busy nights.

🖤 It has simple ingredients and very little prep work.

🖤A meal that can be made ahead of time, frozen, and enjoyed at a later date.

🖤 This is a crowd pleasing meal everyone always enjoys.

Simple Ingredients For The Best Tater Tot Casserole:

• Lean ground beef
• Yellow onion
• Worcestershire Sauce
• Condensed Cream of mushroom soup (cream of chicken or a combo of both work great)
• Prepared French onion dip (my homemade version is easy)
• Canned French style green beans
• Frozen tater tots
• Sharp cheddar cheese
• Salt and pepper
• Green onions

Try using other veggies you love Or Sneak In extra for a boost of nutrition:

• Corn
• Zucchini
• Mushrooms
• Broccoli
• Peas

These all work great in tater tot casserole. It’s fun to try different variations or depending on what you have on hand. If using frozen veggies make sure to thaw first. If using fresh mushrooms or zucchini, cook with the ground beef to cook out some of the liquid.

Step by Step Making The Best Tater Tot Casserole:

Step 1. Preheat oven to 375℉ and spray a 2 quart baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

Step 2. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and cook beef and onions. Drain any excess grease. Stir in Worcestershire, cream of mushroom, onion dip, green beans, and part of the cheese.

Step 3. Transfer beef mixture to prepared baking dish and smooth out in an even layer. Sprinkle the top with more cheese then cover with tater tots. Bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes until hot and bubbly and tots are crisp and golden.

Make Ahead And Freezing Options:

Make ahead two days in advance. Follow the recipe instructions up until adding the frozen tater tots. Cover tightly with foil and place in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to bake, remove the cover and top with tots. Bake for 45-minutes to 1-hour at 375℉.

If freezing for another date, follow the recipe instructions up until baking. Place two layers of foil tightly over the casserole dish and freeze up to 4-months. When ready to serve, place tater tot casserole in the refrigerator the day before, then bake with foil off for 45- minutes to 1-hour at 375℉. This may take longer depending on if it is still frozen in spots. 

You might also enjoy this recipe:

• Skillet Tater Tot Casserole

Let’s eat!

The Best Tater Tot Casserole

The Menu Maid

Tater Tot Casserole is an easy, budget friendly meal that is beloved by people of all ages. I take classic ingredients like ground beef, onions and cheese, and marry them with flavor boosters like Worcestershire sauce and French onion dip. This truly might be The Best Tater Tot Casserole you'll ever eat!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 55 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Servings 5 people

Calories 642 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup chopped yellow onion
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 (10) ounce can cream of mushroom or chicken soup
• 1/2 cup prepared onion dip store bought or homemade
• 1 (15) ounce can French style green beans
• 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
• 32 ounces frozen tater tots You'll have a few tots that won't fit in the pan
• salt and pepper to taste
• chopped green onion for garnish

Instructions

 

Preheat oven to 375℉ and prepare a 2 quart baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

• Heat a large skillet to medium heat and add beef and onions. Cook beef breaking into crumbles until no longer pink. Discard the excess grease.
• Stir in Worcestershire sauce, cream of mushroom soup, onion dip, green beans, and 1 cup of cheese. Transfer to prepared baking dish and smooth out. Sprinkle with additional cheese then top with tater tots in a single layer.
• Bake in the oven for 45-minutes until hot and bubbly and tater tots are crisp and golden. Garnish with green onion if desired and serve!

Notes

Tips:

Other veggies that work well in this recipe-

• Corn
• Zucchini
• Mushrooms
• Broccoli
• Peas

These all work great in tater tot casserole. It’s fun to try different variations or depending on what you have on hand. If using frozen veggies make sure to thaw first.

Make ahead and freezing-

Make ahead two days in advance. Follow the recipe instructions up until adding the frozen tater tots. Cover tightly with foil and place in the refrigerator. When your ready to bake, remove the cover and top with tots. Bake for 45-minutes to 1-hour at 375℉.

If freezing for another date, follow the recipe instructions up until baking. Place two layers of foil tightly over the casserole dish and freeze up to 4-months. When ready to serve, put tater tot casserole in the refrigerator the day before, then bake with foil off for 45- minutes to 1-hour at 375℉. This may take longer depending on if it is still frozen in spots. 

Serving size is based on 6 adults. Depending on the appetizes of adults and kids this casserole could serve up to 8 people. 

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be understood as an estimate rather than a guarantee. The Menu Maid makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories	642
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 36.9g	47%
Saturated Fat 16.1g	80%
Cholesterol 116mg	39%
Sodium 1153mg	50%
Total Carbohydrate 39.3g	14%
Dietary Fiber 4.3g	15%
Total Sugars 2.7g
Protein 37.5g
Vitamin D 5mcg	23%
Calcium 313mg	24%
Iron 16mg	92%
Potassium 1118mg	24%

Keyword Casseroles, Cheddar cheese, Cream of mushroom soup, French onion dip, Ground beef, Onions, Tater tots, Worcestershire sauce

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