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The Ultimate Cheesy Ground Beef Tater Tot Casserole

A freshly baked tater tot casserole in a white dish, showing a scoop removed to reveal the creamy interior and ground meat layer.
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This recipe delivers the classic comfort food experience: a hearty ground beef base in a creamy sauce, topped with crispy, golden tater tots and melted cheese. It is a simple, family-friendly dinner solution perfect for weeknights.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 can (10.5 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 can (10.5 ounces) condensed cream of chicken soup
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
  • 1 bag (about 32 ounces) frozen tater tots

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Brown the ground beef and chopped onion in a large skillet over medium heat. Drain off any excess grease.
  3. In a large bowl, combine the cooked beef and onion mixture with the cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, milk, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Stir until everything is mixed well.
  4. Stir in 1/2 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese into the beef mixture.
  5. Spread the beef mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
  6. Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single, even layer over the top of the beef mixture. Do not thaw the tots first.
  7. Bake for 30 minutes.
  8. Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese over the tater tots.
  9. Return the dish to the oven and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the tater tots are golden brown and crispy.
  10. Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before you serve it.

Notes

  • For a richer flavor, substitute one can of condensed soup with cream of celery soup.
  • You can add 1 cup of frozen mixed vegetables, like peas and carrots, to the beef mixture before baking.
  • To make this a make ahead casserole, assemble the entire dish, cover it, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Add about 10 to 15 minutes to the initial covered baking time if baking straight from the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookerycommand.com/ultimate-cheesy-tater-tot-casserole/