Tater Tot Casserole Recipe With Ground Beef

This beefy Tater Tot Casserole Recipe is one of those easy dinners that always hits the spot. It’s rich, creamy, and full of flavor in every bite. All you need is a handful of ingredients to get things going! If you’re into tater tots, you and your family won’t be able to get enough!

Close-up shot of a spoon taking a scoop of beef tater tot casserole.

Easy Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

When I first served this tater tot casserole recipe at my mom’s dinner table, she was hesitant at first. One bite later, and she was a fan for life. Tot-ally nailed it…

I mean, how can you resist crispy tater tots, juicy ground beef, and a creamy cheese sauce all cozied up together in a casserole dish? It’s the kind of comfort food that fills you up and has you ready for a nap.

This tater tot recipe is so easy too. In just 30 minutes, you’ll have a delicious casserole dish ready to enjoy. Looking for more simple and tasty casserole recipes? Check out my Chicken Noodle Casserole, Mexican Cornbread Casserole, and Sloppy Joes Casserole!

Recipe Ingredients

Ground beef
Onion
Frozen tater tots
Cream of mushroom soup
Milk

Cover the beef tater tot casserole in the soup mixture.

Fun Variations to Try

Customize with Vegetables: Add a layer of canned vegetables like bell pepper, green beans, corn, peas, or carrots for extra texture and flavor.
Cheesy Variation: Top the beef with a layer of shredded cheddar cheese or parmesan for a cheesy twist on this classic dish.
Alternative Proteins: Swap out the beef with any other ground meat. Ground turkey or pork would taste just as great. Or just make my Chicken Tater Tot Casserole!
Flavor Enhancers: Boost the flavor of the ground meat mixture by adding 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce and 2 minced garlic cloves.

How to Make My Beef Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

To start, brown your ground beef and onion together in a large skillet. Once done, drain off any grease.

Tip: I like to brown my beef ahead of time and keep it in the freezer to make meals like this so it’s a breeze to put together! It also saves you from having to drain everything!

Cook the ground beef and onion together.

2. Next, place the ground beef mixture in the bottom of an 8×8 baking dish.

Place beef mixture at the bottom of a casserole dish.

3. Then in a single layer, top with the frozen tater tots.

Cover casserole in the frozen tater tots.

In a small bowl, stir together the cream of mushroom soup and milk. Then pour this over the tater tots.

Note: The mixture will still be lumpy but as long as you put forth the effort to give it a good stir it’ll be fine.

Combine milk and mushroom soup and mix well.

Now cover your baking dish with foil and bake at 350°F for 30 minutes.

Tip: A lot of recipes don’t have you covering your casserole. I used to do mine that way, but I’ve found it is even better if you cover it up a bit. If you’d like your tater tots nice and golden brown, uncover for the last 10 minutes of cooking.

Serve and enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this casserole in advance?

Absolutely. You can assemble the casserole and refrigerate it, then bake it when you’re ready to serve. Adjust the baking time accordingly.

What can I serve with this casserole?

Consider pairing it with a fresh salad like my Quick & Easy Greek Salad. It would also taste great with some Fresh Green Beans, or a side of garlic bread for a well-rounded meal. If you make homemade garlic bread, try my Zesty Garlic Bread Seasoning!

Is it necessary to cover the casserole with foil?

Covering the casserole helps to retain moisture and prevent the tater tots from drying out. It’s recommended for best results.

Storage

If you have any leftovers, this tastes even better reheated! Store casserole leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Reheat quickly in the oven to make crispy tater tots again. You can also freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight before reheating in the oven.

Beef Tater Tot Casserole

This beefy Tater Tot Casserole Recipe is rich, creamy, and packed with flavor. Made with just 5 simple ingredients, including hearty ground beef, it's an easy comfort food you'll crave again and again,.

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: beef, casserole, taters

Servings:

Ingredients

2 pounds ground beef
1 small onion, chopped optional
1 package frozen tater tots about 1 pound
1 can cream of mushroom soup can use fat-free
1 cup milk

Instructions

Brown the ground beef and onion together until done, and drain off any grease (I brown my beef ahead of time and store it in the freezer to make this quicker).
2 pounds ground beef, 1 small onion, chopped
Place the ground beef mixture in the bottom of an 8×8 baking dish. Top with the frozen tater tots.
1 package frozen tater tots
In a small bowl, stir together the cream of mushroom soup and milk. Pour this over the tater tots.
1 can cream of mushroom soup, 1 cup milk
Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Video

Notes

A lot of recipes don’t have you covering it and I used to do mine that way but I’ve found it is even better if you cover it up a bit. If you’d like your tater tots nice and golden brown, uncover for the last 10 minutes of cooking.

Tried this recipe?Mention @southernplate or tag #southernplate!