Description
This Tater Tot Casserole is a comforting and crowd-pleasing dish featuring a creamy and flavorful beef mixture topped with crispy golden tater tots. Perfect for a quick family dinner, it combines savory ground beef, creamy soup and sour cream, sharp cheddar cheese, and optional sweet corn for added texture, all baked to perfection in just 45 minutes.
Ingredients
Beef Mixture
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 (10.5 oz) can cream of mushroom soup (or cream of chicken)
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 (15 oz) can corn, drained (optional)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Topping
- 1 (32 oz) bag frozen tater tots
Garnish
- Fresh parsley or green onions, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Cook the beef: In a skillet over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the ground beef and chopped onion, cooking until the beef is browned and the onion is softened. Drain excess grease. Season the mixture with salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder, stirring well.
- Make the creamy filling: Stir in the cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and optional drained corn. Mix thoroughly until the filling is creamy and evenly combined.
- Assemble: Spread the beef mixture evenly across the prepared baking dish. Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer on top of the beef mixture.
- Bake: Place the casserole uncovered in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the tater tots are crispy and golden brown.
- Serve: Once baked, garnish with fresh parsley or sliced green onions and serve warm for a delicious, hearty meal.
Notes
- You can swap cream of mushroom soup with cream of chicken or celery soup for a different flavor.
- For a spicier kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or some chopped jalapeños to the beef mixture.
- The corn is optional but adds a nice touch of sweetness and texture.
- Make sure to drain the cooked beef to avoid a greasy casserole.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven to retain crispiness.
