Cheesy Ground Beef Tater Tot Casserole (Printer-friendly)
Hearty beef and vegetable bake topped with crispy tater tots and melted cheddar cheese
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 lb ground beef (80/20 or lean)
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn, green beans)
→ Dairy & Cheese
04 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
05 - 1 cup whole milk
→ Pantry
06 - 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup
07 - 2 tbsp ketchup
08 - 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
09 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
10 - 1/2 tsp onion powder
11 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
12 - 1/2 tsp salt
→ Topping
13 - 1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots
# How to Prepare:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and chopped onion. Cook, breaking up beef with a spoon, until beef is browned and onion is softened, approximately 6–8 minutes. Drain excess fat from the skillet.
03 - Stir in mixed vegetables, cream of mushroom soup, milk, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Simmer the mixture for 2–3 minutes, stirring constantly, until all ingredients are well combined and heated through.
04 - Transfer the beef mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly across the bottom. Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the meat mixture.
05 - Arrange frozen tater tots in a single, even layer over the cheese and beef mixture. Place them close together for maximum coverage.
06 - Bake uncovered for 35–40 minutes, or until tater tots are golden brown and crispy. The filling should be bubbly around the edges.
07 - Remove the casserole from the oven. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes, or until cheese is fully melted and slightly bubbly.
08 - Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the filling to set slightly. Serve warm.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- This is the kind of dinner that disappears before anyone remembers to take a photo, leaving only empty plates and happy sighs around the table
- Everything comes together in one pan with zero fancy techniques, but tastes like you spent all day caring about dinner
02 -
- I once skipped draining the beef and ended up with a grease pool on top, so please learn from my mistake and drain that fat
- The extra 5 minutes of resting time feels unnecessary when everyone's hungry, but it's the difference between messy servings and neat slices
03 -
- Line your baking dish with foil before assembling if you want to make cleanup absolutely painless
- Sprinkle a little smoked paprika over the tots before baking for color and extra depth