Cheesy Ground Beef Tater Tot Casserole (Printable)

Savory beef and vegetables in creamy sauce, topped with crispy tater tots and melted cheddar.

# 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 Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef and chopped onion until beef is browned and onion is soft, about 6–8 minutes. Drain excess fat thoroughly.
03 - Stir in mixed vegetables, cream of mushroom soup, milk, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 2–3 minutes until well combined and heated through.
04 - Spread the beef mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle 1 cup cheddar cheese over the mixture, ensuring even coverage.
05 - Arrange frozen tater tots in a single, even layer over the cheese and beef mixture. Place them closely together for maximum coverage.
06 - Bake uncovered for 35–40 minutes, until tater tots are golden brown and crispy, and the filling is bubbling around the edges.
07 - Remove from oven and sprinkle remaining 1 cup cheddar cheese evenly over the entire casserole. Return to oven for 5 minutes, until cheese is fully melted and slightly bubbling.
08 - Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving. This allows the filling to set slightly and makes serving easier.

# Tips from dashanddishes:

01 -
  • This is the kind of dinner that has everyone scrambling for seconds before the plates even hit the table
  • The crispy cheesy top layer transforms simple comfort food into something genuinely special
02 -
  • Skip draining the fat too thoroughly because that little bit of grease adds serious flavor to the final dish
  • Press the tater tots gently into the beef mixture so they stay put instead of rolling around
03 -
  • Sprinkle some extra cheese between the tater tots before baking for pockets of melty goodness throughout
  • Line your baking dish with foil for the easiest cleanup ever

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