Ingredient Notes:
Ground Beef – I’m using lean ground beef in this recipe. You could also use other types of ground meat if you want to switch it up. Turkey, chicken, or even pork would work here.
Tater Tots – We buy these frozen from the grocery store. You could also try a bag of frozen cauliflower tots if you wanted to up the veggies even more!
Veggies – The ground beef will get cooked up with some minced garlic and diced sweet onion, and you’ll also add in a drained can of mixed vegetables.
Cream of Chicken Soup – You can use the canned kind or follow the link to see my homemade substitute recipe! It’s easy to make and goes perfectly with this casserole.
Sauce – A dash of hot sauce and a little Worcestershire sauce will add some flavor to that cream of chicken and make for a savory sauce that coats the meat and veggies.
Cheese – We’re using shredded cheddar here. You could swap it for colby jack, mozzarella, or monterey jack depending on what you have on hand.
What Readers are Saying!
“This was a hit with the whole family! The way its layered keeps the tots crispy, and not mushy. We all loved it!” – Beks
How To Make Tater Tot Casserole:
Beef: Add the ground beef, onion, and garlic to a large skillet and cook, breaking the meat up as it cooks, until the beef is cooked through.
Drain: Drain the fat and dump the mixture into a large mixing bowl.
Mix: Add the vegetables, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce and cream of chicken soup to the bowl and stir.
Helpful Tip!
The hot sauce will not make this recipe spicy at all. It just adds some depth to the flavor. Your kids will still love it!
Prepare: Add this mixture to your oiled 9×13 pan and spread it all out evenly.
Cheese: Sprinkle the top of that with shredded cheese then add a layer of frozen tots on top of the cheese.
Bake: Now you can start baking for 45 minutes and it is ready to serve!
Crispy tots, seasoned beef, plenty of veggies, and melty cheese. What more could you want in a dinner?
How To Make Ahead:
If you’re trying to save time you can prepare this casserole ahead and then refrigerate it until it is ready to bake.
We recommend adding the tater tots just before baking for maximum crispy goodness.
If you’re storing this in the fridge, you can make this up to 24 hours in advance. If freezing, this will last for up to 3 months.
What We Love About This Recipe:
Family Friendly: While there are veggies lurking about, they’re mixed in with cheesy beef under a layer of crispy tots. Kids don’t seem to mind them, but if your family is picky, use whatever canned vegetables you like.
Affordability: Casseroles are great for a budget! You can make canned veggies and a pound of ground meat go a long way with this recipe.
Ease: I love how simple a good casserole recipe is. Just toss everything in a dish and bake. So simple!
Tater Tots Casserole Substitutions:
There are lots of great ways you can modify this tater tot casserole! Different veggies, cheese, soup, etc. I’ve got a few good options below:
Soup: This recipe uses cream of chicken but I also love tater tot casserole with cream of mushroom soup! It also just so happens I have a cream of mushroom substitute recipe you can use instead of the canned stuff!
Protein: Swap the ground beef for lean ground turkey or chicken. You could even chop up a rotisserie chicken and use that!
Cheese: Shredded cheddar is my go to for this casserole. Even better if it’s freshly grated! But you can use any variety of cheese. Swiss, Colby Jack, mozzarella, or just about any blend of cheese should turn out well.
Veggies: We a can of mixed veggies including green beans, peas, carrots, and corn. You could use more or less of each of these, or just substitute or swap them entirely with something else like bell pepper, mushroom, or onions! If you’re using fresh vegetables, it helps to saute them for a few minutes to soften them up first.
