Description
Nostalgic American diner flavors collide in this Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole, blending classic hamburger elements with crispy potato comfort. Hearty layers of ground beef, special sauce, and golden tots create a crowd-pleasing dish you cannot resist.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 pounds (907 grams) lean ground beef
Dairy and Cheese:
- 2 cups (473 milliliters) shredded triple cheddar cheese blend
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) mayonnaise
Potato and Vegetables:
- 24 ounces (680 grams) frozen tater tots
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) diced yellow onion
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) diced dill pickle
Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Sauces:
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) Thousand Island dressing
Topping:
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) shredded iceberg lettuce
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) Thousand Island dressing
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C) for optimal cooking temperature.
- Brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat, carefully draining excess fat to prevent sogginess.
- Incorporate diced onion, dill pickle, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper into the beef. Sauté the mixture for 5 minutes to develop robust flavors.
- Mix in Thousand Island dressing and mayonnaise, stirring thoroughly and cooking for an additional 2 minutes to meld ingredients.
- Transfer the seasoned beef mixture into a 9×13-inch baking dish, spreading evenly to create a uniform base layer.
- Generously sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese across the beef, ensuring complete coverage.
- Methodically arrange frozen tater tots in a single, precise layer over the cheese, maximizing crispy potential.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, watching for golden-brown tater tots and bubbling cheese edges.
- Remove casserole from oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes, enabling flavors to settle and casserole to firm up.
- Garnish with fresh, crisp shredded iceberg lettuce and finish with a delicate drizzle of Thousand Island dressing just before serving.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with plant-based crumbles for a vegetarian version that maintains the classic Big Mac flavor profile.
- Reduce mayo and Thousand Island dressing for a lighter, lower-calorie alternative without compromising taste.
- Boost nutrition by adding diced bell peppers or spinach into the beef mixture for extra vitamins and color.
- Create a gluten-free option by using certified gluten-free tater tots and checking dressing ingredients for potential gluten sources.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 573 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 890 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg