Tater tot casserole is a classic American comfort food dish that combines two beloved ingredients: crispy tater tots and a creamy, flavorful casserole filling. This versatile dish can be customized with a variety of ingredients, making it a popular choice for potlucks, family gatherings, and weeknight dinners. From classic recipes featuring ground beef, vegetables, and a creamy sauce to unique variations like buffalo chicken tater tot casserole and vegetarian tater tot casserole, there's a recipe for every taste. Whether you prefer a simple and straightforward casserole or one loaded with your favorite ingredients, you're sure to find a recipe in this article that will satisfy your cravings.
Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!
TATER TOT CASSEROLE
Crispy, cheese-covered, tater tots combine with ground beef in a creamy sauce in this easy tater tot casserole recipe.
Provided by Jaclyn Shimmel
Categories Main Dishes
Time 55m
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350° F.
- Cook and stir ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat until cooked through and no longer pink. Season with salt and pepper to taste, if desired..
- Once the beef has browned, add cream of mushroom soup and stir well. Pour into a 9 x 13 baking dish and spread into an even layer.
- Sprinkle 1 ½ cups of cheese evenly over the beef
- Add an even layer of tater tots.
- Bake uncovered until tater tots are golden brown 35-45 minutes.
- Remove from oven and sprinkle with shredded cheese. Pop it back in the oven just until the cheese melts a bit (about 3 minutes).
- Serve immediatly and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 377 calories, ServingSize 1
QUICK TATER TOTS BAKE
I like to make this Tater Tot casserole when time before supper is short. If we have unexpected company, I just double the ingredients and use a 13x9-in. pan. I call it my Please Stay Casserole! -Jean Ferguson, Elverta, California
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 45m
Yield 4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350°. In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Season with salt and pepper. , Transfer to a greased 2-qt. baking dish. Top with Tater Tots. Combine soup and milk; pour over potatoes. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake, uncovered, 30-40 minutes or until heated through.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 570 calories, Fat 35g fat (12g saturated fat), Cholesterol 87mg cholesterol, Sodium 1357mg sodium, Carbohydrate 37g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 26g protein.
TATER TOT CASSEROLE
I first ate this hot dish, a Midwestern favorite, on a late fall evening in the humid kitchen of the cook and television star Molly Yeh, at her farmhouse in Minnesota. The casserole accompanied venison, lefse and talk of the sugar beet harvest outside. I thrilled to the cream-beefy, umami-strong flavors that sat beneath its golden, cobbled exterior, and I loved the way the potatoes soaked up the gravy that pooled below the venison. You could substitute other ground meats for the beef, and other frozen vegetables for the peas or corn, but the tots are mandatory, and I do love the addition of cheese at the end.
Provided by Sam Sifton
Categories dinner, casseroles, vegetables, main course
Time 2h
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Make the creamed soup: In a large pot, melt 6 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Add the carrots, celery, half the onion and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 12 to 15 minutes.
- Stir in the flour and cook for another minute. Add half the milk and cook, stirring, until thickened. Add the remaining milk and cook, stirring, until very thick. Stir in the broth base, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Pour into a heat-safe bowl and set aside.
- Wipe out the pot and set it back over medium-high heat. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, then add the remaining onion and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring, until soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon, until browned. Stir in the peas or corn and season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Using a slotted spoon, drain and discard any excess liquid from the beef mixture. Transfer half the mixture to a 4-quart casserole dish and spread it out evenly. Spread half the creamed soup mixture on top. (It can be tricky to spread the soup over the beef, but it's OK if it gets messy and mixes together a little bit.)
- Add the remaining beef mixture on top in an even layer, and spread the remaining creamed soup mixture on top. Cover with Tater Tots, sprinkle with another pinch of salt and pepper, then with cheese, if using.
- Bake until the tots are golden brown and crispy on top, about 45 minutes. Let cool slightly. Sprinkle with parsley and serve with ketchup, if using.
Tips:
- Use frozen tater tots: Frozen tater tots are the key to a successful tater tot casserole. Fresh potatoes will not work as well, as they will not cook evenly and will make the casserole mushy.
- Season the tater tots: Before adding the tater tots to the casserole, season them with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. This will help to add flavor to the casserole and prevent the tater tots from tasting bland.
- Use a variety of cheeses: A combination of cheeses will give the casserole a rich and flavorful sauce. Cheddar cheese is a classic choice, but you can also add mozzarella, Parmesan, or any other type of cheese that you like.
- Don't overcook the casserole: The casserole should be cooked until the tater tots are golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Overcooking the casserole will make the tater tots mushy and the cheese rubbery.
Conclusion:
Tater tot casserole is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. It is also a great way to use up leftover tater tots. With a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time, you can create a casserole that the whole family will love.
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love