Description
Midwestern comfort shines in this hearty tater tot casserole with ground beef, blending classic American ingredients. Crispy potato tots crown a savory beef mixture, delivering nostalgic flavors you’ll crave on chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 1 lb ground beef
Dairy and Cheese:
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup milk
Vegetables and Pantry Ingredients:
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 can (10.5 ounces / 298 grams) cream of mushroom soup
- 1 bag (32 ounces / 907 grams) frozen tater tots
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for cooking)
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350F (175C) to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Sauté ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until thoroughly browned, breaking into small crumbles.
- Add diced onions to the beef and cook until they become translucent and soft, then carefully drain any accumulated fat.
- Whisk cream of mushroom soup with milk in a separate mixing bowl, seasoning with salt and pepper to enhance the flavor profile.
- Transfer the cooked beef and onion mixture into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, spreading it evenly across the bottom.
- Pour the creamy soup mixture over the beef layer, ensuring complete and uniform coverage.
- Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese generously across the surface of the soup layer.
- Arrange frozen tater tots in a neat, overlapping pattern to completely cover the cheese and beef layers.
- Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, watching for golden-brown tater tots and bubbling cheese edges.
- Remove from oven and allow the casserole to rest for 5-7 minutes before serving to help it set and cool slightly.
Notes
- Customize the protein by swapping ground beef with ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based crumbles for a lighter or vegetarian version.
- Enhance flavor complexity by adding minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, or dried herbs like thyme or oregano to the meat mixture.
- Create a gluten-free option by using gluten-free cream of mushroom soup and checking that all other ingredients are certified gluten-free.
- Prep ahead by assembling the casserole earlier in the day and refrigerating until ready to bake, which can actually intensify the dish’s flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 487 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 710 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg