Description
Simple tater tot casserole brings together seasoned ground beef, cream of mushroom soup, melted cheese, and crispy golden tots in one satisfying dish. Your family will love this easy comfort food that goes from pantry to oven with almost no effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 bag tater tots
- 2 cups shredded cheese
Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 medium onion
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Fire up your oven to 375°F (190°C), ensuring the rack sits in the center position for even cooking.
- Pour 1 tablespoon olive oil into a large skillet, heating over medium flame until shimmering.
- Tumble 1 diced medium onion into the skillet, sautéing until translucent and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add 1 pound ground beef to the onions, sprinkling ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, and 1 teaspoon garlic powder across the meat.
- Break up the beef with a spatula, cooking until no pink remains and the meat develops a nice golden-brown exterior, approximately 7-8 minutes.
- Transfer the skillet contents to a mixing bowl, stirring in 1 can (10.5 oz) of cream of mushroom soup until thoroughly combined.
- Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray, then spread the beef and soup mixture evenly across the bottom.
- Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheese over the beef layer, creating a melty foundation.
- Arrange 1 bag (32 oz) of frozen tater tots in neat, overlapping rows across the entire surface.
- Slide the casserole into the preheated oven, baking for 30-35 minutes until the tater tots turn golden and crispy.
- Remove the dish, scatter the remaining 1 cup of cheese on top, and return to the oven for an additional 5-10 minutes until the cheese melts completely.
- Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before serving to allow the layers to set and cool slightly.
Notes
- Check the ground beef carefully to ensure it’s completely browned with no pink remaining for food safety.
- Drain excess fat after cooking beef to prevent a greasy casserole and keep the dish lighter.
- Experiment with different cheese varieties like sharp cheddar or pepper jack for more complex flavor profiles.
- Consider using lean ground turkey as a healthier protein alternative that works perfectly with the same seasoning blend.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5 to 6
- Calories: 495 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg