Description
A golden, cheesy ground beef and tater tot casserole with a creamy base and crispy potato topping, perfect comfort food for family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 can (10.5 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom or cream of onion soup
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 2 cups shredded cheese (Sharp Cheddar and Monterey Jack)
- 1 bag (32 ounces) frozen tater tots
- Fresh green onions, sliced for garnish
- Optional: Sliced jalapeños
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Brown ground beef with diced onions in a skillet over medium-high heat until fully cooked.
- Drain excess fat, then stir in garlic, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and Worcestershire sauce. Cook 2 minutes.
- In a bowl, whisk condensed soup with milk until smooth.
- Spread the beef mixture evenly in the baking dish.
- Pour the soup mixture over the beef and spread evenly.
- Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheese over the beef layer.
- Arrange frozen tater tots in tight rows over the cheese.
- Bake uncovered for 35–40 minutes until tots are golden and crispy.
- Remove from oven, sprinkle remaining cheese and optional jalapeños.
- Return to oven for 3–5 minutes until cheese melts.
- Rest 5–10 minutes, garnish with green onions, and serve.
Notes
Drain beef thoroughly to prevent soggy tots. Use freshly grated cheese for better melting. Place dish on upper-middle oven rack for maximum crispiness. You can add peas, carrots, or bell peppers for extra nutrition. Avoid microwaving leftovers to keep the tots crispy; reheat in oven.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving