Description
Hearty tater tot casserole brings midwestern comfort straight to dinner tables with rich ground beef and crispy potato crowns. Home cooks discover a simple, satisfying meal that delivers classic flavors you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
Frozen Potato Topping:
- 32 ounces (907 grams) tater tots
Dairy and Flavor Enhancers:
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 can (10.5 ounces or 298 grams) cream of mushroom soup
- 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or butter
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F, preparing a greased baking dish for the casserole.
- Sauté chopped onions in a skillet over medium heat until translucent and soft.
- Add ground beef and minced garlic, cooking until meat is completely browned and no pink remains.
- Drain excess fat from the skillet, then season meat mixture with Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.
- Incorporate cream of mushroom soup into the beef, mixing thoroughly with optional sour cream and selected vegetables.
- Spread the beef and soup mixture evenly across the prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese in a uniform layer over the beef mixture.
- Carefully arrange frozen tater tots in a single, overlapping layer to cover the entire cheese surface.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes until tater tots transform into crispy, golden-brown peaks and the casserole edges bubble.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes to allow flavors to settle.
- Optional: Garnish with finely chopped green onions or chives before serving hot.
Notes
- Drain ground beef thoroughly to prevent a soggy casserole base, ensuring crispy tater tots on top.
- Consider using lean ground beef (90/10) to reduce excess fat and create a lighter dish.
- Swap cream of mushroom soup with Greek yogurt or homemade cream sauce for a healthier alternative.
- Customize vegetable mix by adding frozen mixed vegetables like peas, carrots, and corn for extra nutrition and color.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 438 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 710 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg