Beef Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

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All you need is 5 ingredients to make this easy beef tater tot casserole recipe. Thanks to the cream of mushroom soup and milk, it’s creamy, rich, and full of flavor in every bite. If you love some tater tots, you and your family won’t be able to get enough!

Beef Tater Tot Casserole

This beef tater tot casserole recipe is one of those recipes that I had to beg my mother to try. She said it just didn’t sound good. I mean, what doesn’t sound good about beef and onion topped with tater tots and cooked in a creamy mushroom sauce?

So I made a big batch and showed up at her house. She took one bite and her eyes got big as dollars. “This really is good, what did you say was in it?”. It has since become one of her all-time favorite meals. I hope you get to try it soon. If there were such a thing as a recipe being too simple, this just might be it. But it’s oooh so good and my family loves it.

All you have to do is brown the ground beef and onion, and then add it to a casserole dish along with the tater tots, cream of mushroom soup, and milk. In 30 minutes, your easy tater tot casserole will be ready to dig into. Told ya it was too simple!

Another easy casserole I love to make as a main dish on busy weeknights is my taco tater tot casserole or Chicken Tater Tot Casserole Enjoy!

beef tater tot casserole ingredients

Recipe Ingredients

  • Ground beef (already browned, with onion in it if you like)
  • Cream of mushroom soup (can use fat-free)
  • Frozen tater tots
  • Milk

Helpful Kitchen Tools

How to Make A Beef Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

browning up ground beef

Brown your beef first

I like to brown my beef ahead of time and keep it in the freezer to make meals like this one a breeze to put together. Use one of these ground beef separators if you’ve got one. If you don’t, promise me you’ll make your life easier by getting one! They’re super cheap and such a lifesaver. 

Cook the ground beef and onion together.

Here I am browning my meat with some onions to give it a bit of flavor. Drain off the grease before moving on to the next step.

I have browned as much as 30 pounds of ground beef in one day and then store it in zipper seal baggies. I generally put about a cup in each bag and then get out one or two bags depending on how much I decide I need.

Place beef mixture at the bottom of a casserole dish.

Place this ground beef mixture in the bottom of your 8×8 baking dish.

Cover casserole in the frozen tater tots.

Cover in the frozen tater tots.

Combine milk and mushroom soup and mix well.

Pour your cream of mushroom soup into a medium bowl and add about a cup and a half of milk to it.

Stir well.

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

Cover the beef tater tot casserole in the soup mixture.

Pour your soup over all of your beef tater tot casserole.

Cover with foil and bake at 350 for about 30 minutes.

A lot of recipes don’t have you covering your casserole 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.

Spoonful of beef tater tot casserole.

Enjoy.

If you have any leftovers, this tastes even better reheated!

Serving of beef tater tot casserole.

Do you make tater tot casserole for your family? I’d love to hear about it!

How To Store Tater Tot Casserole

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.

Additional Tips for Perfecting Beef Tater Tot Casserole

  1. Customize with Vegetables: Add a layer of canned vegetables like green beans, corn, peas, or carrots for extra texture and flavor.
  2. Cheesy Variation: Top the beef with a layer of shredded cheddar cheese or parmesan for a cheesy twist on this classic dish.
  3. Alternative Proteins: Swap out the ground beef for ground turkey or pork if desired.
  4. Flavor Enhancers: Boost the flavor of the meat mixture by adding 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce and 2 minced garlic cloves.
  5. Serve with Sides: Complement your casserole with a simple side salad or warm dinner rolls for a complete meal.
  6. Storage and Reheating: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat quickly in the oven to maintain crispy tater tots. You can also freeze leftovers for up to 3 months, thawing overnight before reheating.

Commonly Asked Questions

Can I use cream of chicken soup instead of mushroom soup?

Yes, you can substitute cream of chicken soup for a slightly different flavor profile.

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, steamed vegetables, or a side of garlic bread for a well-rounded meal.

Can I add extra toppings to the casserole?

Absolutely! Chopped green onions, crispy bacon bits, or even a sprinkle of grated cheese can be delightful additions.

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.

Recipe Notes

  • You can definitely substitute the cream of mushroom soup for cream of chicken soup if you prefer. Here’s my recipe for homemade cream of chicken soup.
  • If you want to add a couple more layers, I recommend topping the beef with a layer of canned vegetables, like green beans, corn, peas, or carrots. You can then add another layer: a cup of shredded cheddar cheese or parmesan cheese for a cheesy tater tot casserole.
  • Substitute the ground beef for ground turkey or ground pork.
  • Add more flavor to the meat mixture by adding 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce and 2 minced garlic cloves.
  • Serve your tater tot casserole with a simple side salad or some warm dinner rolls on a cool night.

You may also enjoy these other easy casserole recipes:

Helpful Kitchen Tools: 

Beef Tater Tot Casserole

With just 5 ingredients, this easy beef tater tot casserole recipe is creamy, rich, and full of flavor in every bite.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: beef, casserole, taters
Servings: 4

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 8x8 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.

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!

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212 Comments

  1. I think this is what Minnesotans call “Hot Dish.” I lived there for a few years and remember the Minnesota State Fair had a booth with “Hot Dish on a Stick” – it was a skewer with alternating tater tots and meatballs and came with cream of mushroom soup to dip them in. 🙂

  2. We have TaterTot casserole quite often since it is one my kids favorites. The way my kids like it best is when instead of using soup, I make sausage gravy to pour over the tots. Turn it into a breakfast casserole & add eggs to it with biscuits for a side.

  3. I’ve been making a slightly different version for years. Brown 1 lb beef, drain, mix in 1 can of cream of what ever soup, layer of cheddar cheese, layer of frozen tater tots, layer of cheddar cheese, cover with foil, bake at 350 for 45 min, uncover and bake for 15 min. It’s enough for the three of us with maybe leftovers for lunch. Yum!

  4. I learned this recipe from a great friend when my family and I had lived in Wisconsin. I had never heard of anything like this before, but was willing to give it a try. The only differences I have are we mix the hamburger and soup and milk together, put the tator tots on top, and add shredded cheddar cheese on top of the tator tots. Everybody loves it, and I never have leftovers, no matter how hard I try, or how much I make! 🙂

  5. Hey there Christy,I use raw hamburger pressed into the bottom of my pan,Then pour the soup over it,add slices of cheese to cover it.cover with tater tots and bake just as you said.The cheese makes for an even better casserole.Kinda like a cheese burger and taters without the bread.My family loves it this way.Try it.See what you think.
    Gayle

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