Description
Cheesy Tot Casserole delivers pure nostalgia straight from childhood memories, warming your heart with crispy potato tots and melted cheese. Hearty ground beef and creamy sauce create a satisfying meal that brings family together at the dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1 pound ground beef
Starches and Base:
- 1 bag frozen tater tots (32 oz)
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup (10.5 oz)
- ½ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat oven to 400F and grab a 9×13-inch baking dish. Lightly coat the surface with cooking spray.
- Drop ground beef into a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook for 7-8 minutes, crumbling the meat until no pink remains.
- Drain beef fat completely using a colander. Return meat to the skillet.
- Sprinkle 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, salt, and pepper over the beef. Stir thoroughly to distribute seasonings.
- Whisk 1 can cream of mushroom soup with ½ cup milk in a large mixing bowl until completely smooth.
- Fold the seasoned beef into the soup mixture, ensuring each beef piece gets coated.
- Arrange 16 oz of frozen tater tots across the bottom of the prepared baking dish in a single, even layer.
- Pour the entire beef and soup mixture directly over the first tot layer, spreading evenly.
- Top the casserole with the remaining 16 oz of tater tots, creating a complete coverage.
- Sprinkle 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese across the entire surface.
- Slide the dish into the preheated oven and bake for 35 minutes until tots turn golden and cheese melts completely.
- Remove from oven and let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to help it set.
Notes
- Swap ground beef for ground turkey or plant-based crumbles to make the casserole lighter and more diet-friendly.
- Drain your skillet thoroughly to prevent excess grease from making the dish soggy.
- For extra crispiness, broil the casserole for 2-3 minutes after baking to get golden brown tater tots.
- Customize the flavor by adding chopped green onions, jalapeños, or crispy bacon bits on top before the final bake.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 497 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 730 mg
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg