Description
This Tater Tot Casserole with Ground Beef is the ultimate comfort food featuring seasoned ground beef, a creamy mushroom and sour cream sauce, melted cheddar cheese, and crispy golden tater tots on top. It’s an easy, hearty, and satisfying family-friendly dinner perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables
Sauce and Seasonings
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Cheese and Tater Tots
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 1 package (32 oz) frozen tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Cook Ground Beef and Onion: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and diced onion until the beef is browned and the onion is tender, breaking the meat apart as it cooks.
- Add Garlic: Add the minced garlic to the skillet and cook for an additional 1 minute, stirring frequently to release its aroma without burning.
- Make the Sauce Mixture: Stir in the cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, frozen mixed vegetables, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper. Mix well and remove from heat.
- Add Cheese to Beef Mixture: Stir in 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese into the beef and sauce mixture until evenly combined.
- Assemble the Casserole: Spread the beef mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Arrange frozen tater tots in a single layer over the top of the mixture.
- Bake the Casserole: Place the casserole in the oven and bake for 35–40 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy on top.
- Add Remaining Cheese: Remove the casserole from the oven, sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the tater tots.
- Finish Baking: Return the casserole to the oven and bake for an additional 5–10 minutes until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
- Rest and Serve: Allow the casserole to stand for 5 minutes after baking to set before serving warm.
Notes
- Substitute cream of chicken soup for cream of mushroom soup to change the flavor profile.
- Add cooked bacon pieces to the beef mixture for extra richness and flavor.
- For a spicier version, incorporate diced jalapeños or a pinch of cayenne pepper into the sauce.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days for easy reheating.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
