Tater Tot Casserole (Printable)

Comforting ground beef and vegetable mixture topped with crispy tater tots and melted cheddar, baked until golden and bubbly.

# Ingredient List:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb ground beef

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn, green beans)

→ Dairy & Sauces

05 - 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup
06 - 1/2 cup whole milk
07 - 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided

→ Topping

08 - 1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots

→ Spices & Seasonings

09 - 1 tsp salt
10 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
11 - 1/2 tsp paprika
12 - 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley for garnish

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Drain excess fat if necessary.
03 - Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté for 3–4 minutes, until softened.
04 - Stir in the frozen mixed vegetables and cook for 2 minutes.
05 - Add the cream of mushroom soup and milk. Stir until well combined and heated through. Season with salt, pepper, and paprika.
06 - Remove from heat and mix in 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese.
07 - Spread the beef and vegetable mixture evenly into a 9x13-inch baking dish.
08 - Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer over the top.
09 - Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
10 - Remove from oven, sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup cheddar cheese over the tater tots, and bake for another 5–10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and tater tots are golden brown.
11 - Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired. Serve hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The crispy tot topping creates such satisfying texture contrast with the creamy beef filling underneath
  • Everything comes together in one pan and one dish, making weeknight cleanup almost too easy
  • This is the kind of meal that brings everyone to the table, even on the most chaotic nights
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully and somehow taste even better the next day
02 -
  • Draining the beef fat really does matter, otherwise you end up with an oily layer that nobody wants on their plate
  • The casserole needs those final minutes under the broiler to get the tots truly crispy and irresistible
  • Letting the dish rest for about 5 minutes before serving helps the filling set so each scoop holds together perfectly
03 -
  • Squeeze the tots in a single layer with slight overlap for maximum crispy surface area
  • Sprinkle extra paprika on the tots before baking for gorgeous golden color
  • Broil for the final 2 minutes if you want restaurant-style cheese bubbles and browning
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