Julie Clark
Posted: Updated:
Tater Tot Casserole Recipe
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Use ground beef and golden mushroom soup in this tater tot casserole recipe. This classic recipe is a family favorite at potlucks and gatherings.
In need of new casseroles for busy nights? This classic Tater Tot Casserole recipe with ground beef is the ultimate in comfort food. I remember my mom making this casserole often when I was young. It had been years since I had it, but when searching my cookbooks for new dinner recipes, I knew I had to introduce my kids to the best tater tot casserole.
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- Bakes in a small 8×8 casserole dish.
- Uses just one pound of ground beef.
- Cheddar cheese bakes inside and on top.
- Instructions to make this as a freezer meal.
Ingredients
There are only 6 ingredients in this recipe.
- Ground beef. I like to use a lean ground beef. If you’d like, you can use ground chicken or ground turkey as well. Even pork sausage works!
- Onion.
- Garlic. I keep minced garlic in the fridge to quickly add to casseroles. If you don’t have minced garlic, add ½ teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Golden mushroom soup. You’ll find tater tot casserole recipes with all kinds of creamed soup. My mom used golden mushroom, so that’s what we use as well. It gives a unique flavor that is more beef-based rather than creamy.
- Sharp cheddar cheese. Buy a block of cheese and shred it with a cheese grater. This will help your casserole be less greasy.
- Frozen tater tots.
How to Make Tater Tot Casserole
- In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef, onion and garlic. Cook and stir until the beef is no longer pink. Drain off any grease.
- Add the undiluted golden mushroom soup and stir to coat.
- Spray an 8×8 or 9×9” baking pan with cooking spray.
- Pour the ground beef mixture into the baking dish and spread it out evenly.
- Layer one cup of shredded cheddar over the ground beef.
- Place tater tots over the top of the cheese, covering the entire top of the casserole.
- Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the tater tots.
- Bake in the oven set at 350º Fahrenheit for 40 minutes or until heated through.
Want to make tater tot casserole without cream of mushroom soup? Try a recipe with a homemade beef gravy.
Recipe Variations
- I accidentally picked up Golden Crispy Crown frozen potatoes rather than tater tots. Any frozen potato works…even french fries.
- Use cream of mushroom or even cream of chicken soup. Any different soup you use will change the flavor slightly.
- I often serve this casserole with green beans on the side, but you can add 1 small can of drained green beans to the filling if you’d like. Or serve your other favorite veggie.
- Add bacon, green peppers, broccoli florets, frozen peas and carrots or mixed frozen vegetables to the cooked ground beef.
- Want the filling creamier? Mix in ½ cup of sour cream to the ground beef mixture. You can also top the casserole with sour cream.
- Try our cheeseburger tater tot casserole.
What to Serve with Tater Tot Casserole
Here are our favorite ways to complete this meal:
- parmesan green beans
- buttery rolls
- applesauce
Freezing Instructions
You can freeze the leftovers of this casserole, but you can also freeze the entire casserole for a quick weeknight meal. To freeze the casserole to bake later:
- Make the casserole, but don’t bake it. Use an aluminum pan so it is easy to wrap.
- Wrap the casserole in plastic wrap, then again in foil.
- Freeze for up to 3 months.
- When you are ready to serve it, pull it out of the freezer the night before and let it defrost in the fridge overnight.
- Then bake as the recipe below states.
Tater Tot Casserole Recipe
Use ground beef and golden mushroom soup in this tater tot casserole recipe. This classic recipe is a family favorite at potlucks and gatherings.
Servings 6
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- ¼ cup diced onion
- ½ teaspoon minced garlic
- 10.5 ounces golden mushroom soup undiluted (1 can)
- 1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese divided
- 10-14 ounces frozen tater tots or golden crispy crowns
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350º Fahrenheit.
- In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef, onion and garlic. Cook and stir until the beef is no longer pink. Drain off any fat.
- Add the undiluted golden mushroom soup and stir to coat.
- Spray an 8×8 or 9×9” baking pan with cooking spray.
- Add the ground beef mixture to the pan and spread it out evenly.
- Sprinkle one cup of shredded cheddar over the ground beef.
- Place tater tots over the top of the cheese, covering the entire top of the casserole.
- Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the tater tots.
- Bake for 40 minutes or until heated through.
- Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
The calories shown are based on the recipe serving 6, with 1 serving being ⅙ of the casserole. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box are calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.**
Nutrition
Calories: 364kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 780mg | Potassium: 469mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 285IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 223mg | Iron: 3mg
My boys hate mushrooms. I make this with golden mushroom soup… they love it! Mom secrets are the best. 💕
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