Simple And Delicious Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

I made an easy tater tot casserole that quickly became my dinner favorite. The savory ground beef, diced onion, and garlic mingle beautifully with cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, and cheddar cheese. Topped with crispy tater tots and a sprinkle of paprika, this hearty dish is pure comfort food.

I recently whipped up a simple and delicious tater tot casserole that totally blew me away. I’ve always been a fan of easy casserole recipes, and this ground beef casserole is one of the best tater tot casseroles I’ve ever had.

The recipe starts with cooking 1 lb of ground beef along with a small diced onion and two cloves of minced garlic. Once that’s all mixed in with some salt and pepper, you add a can of cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, and milk to create a rich, flavorful sauce.

Then, it’s all about layering in a bag of frozen tater tots topped with shredded cheddar cheese. I even threw in some frozen corn and a dash of paprika for extra kick.

This fast dinner recipe has quickly become one of my favorites, reminding me why I love experimenting with easy tater tots dishes. Enjoy this fun twist on a classic dinner!

Why I Like this Recipe

I really love this recipe for lots of reasons. First, I like how simple it is to make even when I’m super tired after school. The creamy sauce mixed with the savory beef and crispy tater tots on top just hits all the right spots in my mouth and makes the dish feel comforting and fun.

Second, I appreciate that the recipe leaves room for little twists. Sometimes I add extra corn or tweak the paprika a bit to change up the flavor which makes it exciting for me each time I make it.

And finally, the texture contrast is awesome. I mean, you get that bubbly, creamy base with a crunchy layer of tater tots and melty cheese. It makes every bite interesting and enjoyable.

Overall, this recipe is totally my go-to when I need a quick dinner that is both comforting and a little bit fancy with those extra little surprises.

Ingredients

• Ground beef offers protein and rich flavor to make the dish hearty and filling.
• Onion adds a bit of fiber and a natural sweet crunch in every bite.
• Garlic packs a punch in taste and helps boost our immune system a little.
• Cream of mushroom soup gives a smooth and creamy base with savory depths.
• Sour cream infuses a tangy kick that balances the flavors nicely overall.
• Cheddar cheese melts into gooey layers that make the casserole extra yummy.
• Tater tots crunch on top to deliver carbs and a satisfying texture every time.

Ingredient Quantities

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp salt (or to taste)
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots
• 1 cup frozen corn (optional)
• 1/2 tsp paprika (optional)

How to Make this

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F.

2. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat. Add the diced onion and minced garlic with the salt and black pepper and cook until the beef is browned and the onions are soft.

3. If there’s too much grease in the pan, drain some off so the dish won’t be too oily.

4. In a separate bowl, mix together the cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, milk, and the optional paprika if you want a little extra flavor.

5. Stir in the frozen corn (if using) to your beef mixture.

6. Pour the soup mixture over the beef mixture in the skillet and let it stir together for a minute.

7. Transfer everything into a 9×13 inch baking dish and arrange the frozen tater tots evenly on top.

8. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese all over the tater tots.

9. Bake in the preheated oven for about 40-45 minutes until the tater tots are crispy and the casserole is bubbly.

10. Let it cool for a few minutes before serving and enjoy your simple and delicious tater tot casserole!

Equipment Needed

1. Oven that reaches 375°F
2. Large skillet (stove safe)
3. Mixing bowl
4. 9×13 inch baking dish
5. Cutting board and chef’s knife (for dicing the onion and mincing the garlic)
6. Measuring spoons and cups (to measure salt, pepper, sour cream, milk, paprika)
7. Can opener (for the cream of mushroom soup)
8. Spatula (for stirring and transferring the mixture)
9. Slotted spoon (to drain extra grease)
10. Timer or clock (to keep track of the baking time)

FAQ

Simple And Delicious Tater Tot Casserole Recipe Substitutions and Variations

• Ground beef: you can use ground turkey or chicken if you want something leaner
• Cream of mushroom soup: try making a quick homemade version by combining sautéed mushrooms, a little flour, and chicken broth
• Sour cream: if you dont have any on hand, Greek yogurt makes a pretty good substitute
• Frozen tater tots: you could replace these with crumbled hash browns or even diced potatoes that you bake until crispy

Pro Tips

1. Try to drain some extra grease off the beef before mixing with the other ingredients, but don’t get rid of all of it cause a little fat really helps with the flavor.
2. When you add the soup mixture, let it stir a bit longer so all the flavors can really mesh together, otherwise it might taste a bit disjointed.
3. If you wanna take it up a notch, toss in a pinch of another herb or spice like dried thyme or rosemary; it makes the dish taste more complex without much extra effort.
4. Keep an eye on the tater tots in the oven as they cook—sometimes ovens are funky and you might want to pull it out a few minutes early to get that perfect extra crispy finish.