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    You are here: Crunchy Creamy Sweet / Dinner / Tater Tot Casserole

    Tater Tot Casserole

    Published: Feb 26, 2020 · Modified: Sep 10, 2022 by Anna 4 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    This is the best Tater Tot Casserole recipe you will make! Made with corn, cheese, ground beef, frozen tater tots and sauce from scratch and without canned soup. 

    Tater tot casserole in a baking dish on white board.
    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients:
    • How to make tater tot casserole?
    • What to serve with this casserole?
    • Recipe FAQs:
    • More casserole recipes:
    • Tater Tot Casserole

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    There is a pretty big chance that you had the Tater Tot Casserole at least once before. It's pure comfort food! There is just something cozy about a filling casserole that calls for cheese and potatoes.

    Since I don't use canned soups in my recipes, I knew that I had to make it without them, simply from scratch. It's so much better and still easy, just like opening a can.

    All layers that need to be cooked before baking are made in a skillet then layered in a baking dish. The last layer is the tater tots (frozen) and your casserole is ready for baking.

    Ingredients:

    • ground beef or turkey
    • frozen tater tots
    • beef broth
    • olive oil
    • garlic
    • onion
    • mushrooms
    • Italian seasoning
    • Worcestershire sauce
    • cornstarch
    • milk or half and half
    • corn: frozen, fresh or canned
    • cheddar cheese

    How to make tater tot casserole?

    • Cook beef in a skillet, until no longer pink. I actually let it brown quite nicely until there are crispy bits at the bottom of the pan. That's flavor!
    • Layer it on the bottom of a greased baking dish.
    Cooking ground beef.
    • Cook onion, garlic and then mushrooms until fragrant. Add seasoning and saute for 2 minutes. This activates dry herbs and makes the dish flavorful.
    Sauteing veggies in pan.
    • Add liquids to the pan and deglaze the bottom of the skillet, by scraping it with a wooden spoon.
    • Add cornstarch and half and half mixture.
    • Simmer until it thickens into a sauce.
    Veggie sauce in skillet.
    • Pour the sauce over meat layer and stir together.
    • Layer corn on top.
    Layered sauce and corn.
    • Top the meat sauce layer with cheese. Freshly shredded cheese is the best here.
    • Layer tater tots on top.
    Cheese and tater tot layers.

    What to serve with this casserole?

    All you need to turn this casserole into a whole meal is a salad and garlic bread or breadsticks. My skillet focaccia works well too! I like to serve it with my Easy Broccoli Salad, Perfect Caesar Salad, or Cucumber Tomato Salad.

    Tater tot casserole in baking dish.

    Recipe FAQs:

    Can I freeze this casserole?

    Yes! This casserole is perfect for freezing. Simply prepare the dish, and make sure to cool it completely. Cover with aluminum foil and place in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge, then bake.

    Can I add other veggies?

    Most recipes call for green beans but I like to use corn. We are not fans of canned green beans. If you want it taco-style, add green chiles and beans as well.

    Can I use cream of mushroom soup in this recipe?

    Yes, you can even make it from scratch and keep it on hand. Here is my recipe for homemade condensed cream of mushroom soup. It's simple and can be made ahead of time.

    Side shot of tater tot casserole.

    More casserole recipes:

    • Cheesy Beef Noodle Casserole
    • Leftover Ham Casserole
    • Homemade Hamburger Helper
    • Easy Hashbrown Casserole

    If you like this recipe and make it, let me know in the comments below! Don't forget to rate it if you enjoyed it!

    Tater Tot casserole in a baking dish on white board.

    Tater Tot Casserole

    Author: Anna
    This is the best Tater Tot Casserole recipe you will make! Made with corn, cheese, ground beef, frozen tater tots and sauce from scratch and without canned soup.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 35 mins
    Total Time 50 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 5 people
    Calories 900 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 lb ground beef
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 3 garlic cloves minced
    • 1 small yellow onion chopped
    • 4 oz. baby Bella mushrooms sliced
    • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
    • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
    • 1/2 cup beef broth
    • 1.5 tablespoons cornstarch
    • 3/4 cup half and half or whole milk
    • 15 oz can whole kernel corn drained and rinsed
    • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
    • 32 oz frozen tater tots

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 13"x9" baking dish. Set aside.
    • In a large skillet, cook beef until no longer pink. Layer in the prepared dish.
    • In the same skillet, heat up olive oil.
    • Add onion and saute for 3 minutes, or until it's almost translucent.
    • Add garlic and saute for 1 minute.
    • Add Italian seasoning and mushrooms. Cook until mushrooms are soft, 3 to 4 minutes.
    • Add Worcestershire sauce and beef broth. Scrape the bottom of the skillet with a wooden spoon. All those cooked on bits of meat and veggies have flavor. Simmer for 1 minute.
    • Mix cornstarch with half and half and simmer until thickened.
    • Pour the sauce over the meat layer and stir it all together.
    • Top with corn and cheese.
    • Layer tater tots on top.
    • Bake the casserole for 35 to 40 minutes or until bubbly and tater tots are golden.
    • Remove from oven and let it sit for 10 minutes.
    • Serve.

    Notes

    1. Please note, that the nutrition value can vary depending on what product you use. The information below is an estimate. Always use calorie counter you are familiar with.
    2. Most recipes call for green beans but I like to use corn. We are not fans of canned green beans. If you want it taco-style, add green chiles and beans as well.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 900kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 57g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Cholesterol: 125mg | Sodium: 1630mg | Potassium: 1097mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 581IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 426mg | Iron: 4mg
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment with rating below!

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Erin says

      February 27, 2020 at 1:16 pm

      5 stars
      Tater Tot Casserole is my love language 🙂 We left out the corn and lOVED this recipe!

      Reply
      • Anna says

        March 02, 2020 at 6:34 pm

        Perfect! Thank you, Erin!

        Reply
    2. Laura Reese says

      February 27, 2020 at 12:10 pm

      5 stars
      This is such a good dinner! My family loved it so much. The flavors come together beautifully.

      Reply
      • Anna says

        March 02, 2020 at 6:34 pm

        Thank you so much, Laura!

        Reply

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