Taco Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

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This scrumptious taco tater tot casserole recipe includes a layer of tater tots loaded with your favorite taco flavors, like taco seasoning, melted cheese, beef, and the toppings of your choice.

Taco Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

I love tacos in any form but have always had a fondness for taco casserole ever since I first remember Mama making it as a child (see her taco casserole recipe here). This taco tater tot casserole recipe is a more convenient (and a little simpler) spin on Mama’s, involving tater tots as the foundation layer. My husband, Ricky, who used to swear he didn’t like casseroles, can’t get enough of this one. I bet you’ll have plenty of takers in your house, too!

The recipe is below, but let me tell you, it’s quick and easy. You just add a layer of tater tots to the bottom of your casserole and cook your flavored ground beef before adding it on top. Then add a layer of cheese, bake it in the oven, and serve it alongside your favorite taco toppings. It’s filled with the taco flavors we know and love, but with the addition of tater tots (and who doesn’t love them?). It’s hearty, filling, and delicious.

If you want to streamline it even more, make double the taco meat (through step 2) and freeze half of it for a quick to throw together casserole next time.

Recipe Ingredients

  • Frozen tater tots
  • Ground beef
  • Taco seasoning
  • Barbecue sauce
  • Shredded cheddar cheese
  • Taco toppings of your choice

How to Make Taco Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

Place a layer of frozen tater tots in the bottom of an 8×8 casserole dish. Set aside.

In a large skillet, brown the ground beef until it’s no longer pink. Then add the water, taco seasoning mix, and barbecue sauce. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until thickened. It will be very saucy and that is fine.

Spoon the taco beef mixture over the tater tots. Sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese. Cover with foil and bake at 400 for about 30 minutes. Top with your favorite taco toppings and enjoy!

Storage

  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
  • You can freeze the casserole for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight before reheating briefly in the oven.

Recipe Notes

  • Here are some taco toppings you might want to add on top of your taco tater tot casserole: green onions, shredded lettuce, Pico de Gallo, salsa, hot sauce, crushed tortilla chips or tortilla chips, sour cream, olives, cilantro, and guacamole.
  • You can use whatever shredded cheese you prefer or have on hand. Mexican blend, Monterey Jack, and Pepper Jack cheese would all work well.
  • Think it can’t be tacos without corn and beans? Feel free to add a can of black beans or pinto beans, and either a can of corn or a cup of frozen corn kernels to your meat mixture.
  • Add some spice with a can of diced green chiles.
  • Want to add more flavor? Feel free to add 2 cloves of minced garlic, 1 chopped onion, and some bell pepper.
  • Substitute the ground beef for ground pork or ground turkey.

Here are more terrific taco-flavored recipes:

Taco Soup (The World’s Easiest Supper)

Taco Pizza – Fast, Fresh, Delicious!

Fiesta Taco Salad

Greek Chicken Tacos

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos

Taco Tater Tot Casserole

This scrumptious taco tater tot casserole recipe includes a layer of tater tots loaded with your favorite taco flavors, like taco seasoning, melted cheese, beef, and the toppings of your choice.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: casserole, taco
Servings: 4
Calories: 477kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 bag frozen tater tots small bag, you won't need them all
  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 2 packets taco seasoning mix
  • 1.5 cups water
  • 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese I use sharp
  • Taco toppings of your choice

Instructions

  • Place a layer of frozen tater tots in the bottom of an 8x8 casserole dish. Set aside.
    1 bag frozen tater tots
  • In a large skillet, brown the ground beef until it's no longer pink. Then add the water, taco seasoning mix, and barbecue sauce. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until thickened. It will be very saucy and that is fine.
    2 pounds ground beef, 2 packets taco seasoning mix, 1.5 cups water, 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
  • Spoon the ground beef mixture over the tater tots. Sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese. Cover with foil and bake at 400 for about 30 minutes. Top with your favorite taco toppings and enjoy!
    1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, Taco toppings of your choice

Nutrition

Calories: 477kcal
Tried this recipe?Mention @southernplate or tag #southernplate!

If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.

~Maya Angelou

Hearty Taco Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

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159 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Another of your recipes that we love. I have made it without the BBQ sauce when I didn’t have any. I just added a can of diced, sauced or crushed tomatoes instead. Perfect.

  2. My Grandma taught in a 1 room schoolhouse. Can you imagine having all those ages by yourself? No way could I do that

  3. I missed this post back in 2017, but absolutely loved reading everyone’s sweet memories. Grandparents are the best. My husband didn’t know any of his grandparents. He did know the step-grandmother on his dad’s side, but she died early, too. I’ve always regretted that for him. The thing I think of most when I think of things they did that I couldn’t do is use an outhouse! I just barely remember the one at my grandmother’s house and it scared me to death as a little girl. I was always afraid someTHING would be hiding in that hole! 🙂 Night time was the worst!

  4. Never realized how much we have in common. My grandparents were share croppers too. I learned many of the same things from them as you did from your grandparents except I really don’t know how to put up meat. Do you have any posts on that?
    One thing I thought of as you told your story is my great grandfather was a Water Witcher and Grandma would lower the bird in the cage into the well for him. If the bird fainted, they knew there were gases and he would have to get out quickly. I’ve since learned Grandma (now 100 years young) knows how to do water witching as does my daddy (in his 80s) but they haven’t taught me. Next time I go down south with my daddy, I want him to show me how to do it.

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