Tater Tot Casserole

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Nothing says comfort food like this cozy recipe for Tater Tot Casserole!

Course Main Course, Main Dishes

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 45

Total Time 1

Servings servings

Calories 333

Author Dorothy Bigelow

Equipment

9X13" baking dish 23 x 33 cm

Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter
1 small onion chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
1 pound ground beef
1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
½ teaspoon paprika (optional)
¼ ground black pepper
1 can (10oz) condensed cream of chicken soup (or cream of mushroom)
½ cup sour cream (good quality and thick, like Daisy brand)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 ½ cups frozen or canned vegetables I use corn or a frozen veggie blend
1 package frozen tater tots about 54-72 tots

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400ºF (204ºC) and lightly grease a deep medium baking dish (9 x 9” or 7.5 x 10").
Heat a large skillet over medium heat.
Add the butter to the skillet and swirl to melt. Then add in the onion and cook until softened, stirring often (about 3-4 minutes).
Add in the garlic and cook just until fragrant (30-60 seconds).
Immediately add in the ground beef and crumble it with the bottom of a wooden spoon or spatula.
Brown the ground beef, then drain off the excess grease.
Add in the worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, paprika, and black pepper. Stir well to coat the meat.
Remove the skillet from the heat and add in the condensed soup and sour cream. Stir everything together until smooth and uniform.
Sprinkle in the shredded cheese and stir until well distributed.
Finally, add the frozen (or canned) veggies of your choice and stir once again.
Spread the creamy ground beef mixture into the prepared baking dish.
Top the ground beef layer with the frozen tater tots.
Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until the tater tot tops are golden brown and the casserole mixture is bubbly and hot. For extra browning, set the oven to “broil” at the end of the cooking time and broil for 2-4 minutes*, watching it very carefully. Be ready to pull it out quickly.
Remove from the oven and cool for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped green onions or parsley (if desired).

Notes

*Only use your broiler if your baking dish is broiler-safe (safe up to 500ºF/260ºC).

Storage: Allow the leftovers to cool for about an hour, then wrap or cover the leftovers and keep them in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat portions in the microwave as needed.

Can I use ground chicken or turkey? Yes, you can swap the ground beef for ground chicken OR ground turkey. I would recommend adding 1 tablespoon of oil to the pan when browning to prevent sticking.

Freezer meal instructions: Assemble the meat filling and place it in the refrigerator to chill completely. Once chilled, spread it into a freezer-safe baking dish or foil pan, and top with frozen Tater Tots. Cover tightly, label, and place in the freezer. Freezes well for 2-3 months. Bake from frozen, adding 20+ minutes onto the baking time (cook until the filling is bubbly and hot).

Gluten free: Use a gluten-free Tater Tot (most are free from gluten containing ingredients), and swap the condensed soup for a gluten-free version.

Different flavor options

Taco: Season the ground beef with taco seasoning (add taco sauce for extra points)
Ranch: Add 1 package of ranch seasoning the to sour cream and soup mixture. Dust the top with additional seasoning for extra flavor.
Breakfast: Swap the ground beef for ground sausage.

Nutrition