Description
Midwest comfort shines in this hearty Tater Tot Casserole with ground beef, delivering classic home-style flavors that comfort and satisfy. Layers of seasoned meat, creamy sauce, and crispy potato tots create a crowd-pleasing dish you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb (450 grams) ground beef
- 1 package (32 ounces/907 grams) frozen tater tots
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) sour cream
- 1 cup (100 grams) shredded cheddar cheese
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 small onion (finely chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- Optional: 1 cup (150 grams) frozen peas or green beans
Seasonings and Additions:
- 1 can (10.5 ounces/298 grams) cream of mushroom soup
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating to 375°F and lightly coat a baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, sauté chopped onions and garlic until translucent. Add ground beef, breaking it apart and cooking until completely browned. If using green beans or peas, incorporate them during the final cooking minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
- Create a creamy base by whisking cream of mushroom soup and sour cream in a mixing bowl until thoroughly combined and smooth.
- Layer the cooked beef mixture evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Spread the soup and sour cream mixture over the beef, ensuring complete coverage. Sprinkle half the cheddar cheese across the surface.
- Uniformly distribute frozen tater tots in a single layer on top of the cheese, covering the entire casserole surface.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes until tater tots turn golden and crisp. Remove from oven, scatter remaining cheese on top, and return to oven for an additional 5-7 minutes until cheese melts completely.
- Allow casserole to rest for 5 minutes before serving, which helps stabilize the layers and makes portioning easier.
Notes
- Customize protein by swapping ground beef with ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based crumbles for a leaner or vegetarian alternative.
- Add extra vegetables like diced bell peppers, mushrooms, or spinach to boost nutritional value and create more depth of flavor.
- Prep ahead by assembling the casserole in advance and refrigerating until ready to bake, perfect for busy weeknight meals or meal prepping.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 21 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg