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This delicious tater tot casserole is filled with ground beef, green beans, cream of chicken soup, and cheese, then topped with tater tots and even more melted cheese. Crunchy, gooey, and hearty, I guarantee everyone will love this easy meal.
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“Made it, everyone loved it. Easy, filling and versatile. Delicious!!” – Liz
Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole Recipe
When I’m in the mood for a real comfort food meal, this cheesy tater tot casserole is my go-to. Made with green beans, ground beef, cream of chicken soup, lots of cheese, and then blanketed with crispy tater tots, it has layers of flavors and textures. I guarantee everyone at the table will ask for seconds.
Frozen tater tots make this casserole easy and quick to prepare, and when I want to cut down on the prep, I’ll cook the ground beef ahead of time and store it in the fridge.
If I’m in the mood to change things up, I’ll add crumbled bacon for an extra smoky flavor and crispy texture. When I’m feeling like we should eat a little healthier, I’ll stir in sautéed vegetables, and when I’m in the mood for something with a Mexican twist, I’ll prepare this Mexican tater tot casserole. It’s the perfect combination of tacos and a casserole.
Tater Tot Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp dried basil
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- 15 oz. canned green beans drained (1 can)
- 10 oz. cream of chicken soup (1 can)
- 2½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese divided
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ tbsp ketchup
- 1 tsp low-sodium soy sauce
- 16 oz. frozen tater tots do not thaw! (1 bag)
Video
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish and spray it with cooking oil. Set aside.
- In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain grease.1 lb. ground beef
- Season with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, dried basil, and pepper. Set aside.1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp kosher salt, ½ tsp dried basil, ½ tsp ground black pepper
- In a large bowl, mix together the drained green beans, cream of chicken, 1 cup of the divided cheese, sour cream, ketchup, and soy sauce. Add the ground beef to the bowl and mix together.15 oz. canned green beans, 10 oz. cream of chicken soup, 2½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, ½ cup sour cream, ½ tbsp ketchup, 1 tsp low-sodium soy sauce
- Spread the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Make sure it’s evenly dispersed.
- Take frozen tater tots and arrange them in a single layer covering the beef mixture.16 oz. frozen tater tots
- Place the pan in the oven uncovered to cook for 25 minutes.
- Top tater tots with remaining 1½ cups of cheese and return pan to the oven for an additional 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the tater tots are golden brown. The sides should also be bubbly.
Equipment
- 9×13 Baking Pan
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment!
How to Make Tater Tot Casserole Step by Step
Cook the beef and preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking oil. Set aside. Cook 1 lb. ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat until no pink remains. Drain any grease in the pan.
Season with 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp kosher salt, ½ tsp dried basil, and ½ tsp ground black pepper. Set aside.
Make the filling: Mix a 15 oz. can drained green beans, a 10 oz. can cream of chicken, 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, ½ cup sour cream, ½ tbsp ketchup, and 1 tsp low-sodium soy sauce in a large bowl. Add the ground beef and mix.
Spread the filling: Transfer the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread it out so it is evenly dispersed.
Top with tots: Take 16 oz. frozen tater tots and arrange them in a single layer on top of the beef mixture.
Bake the casserole: Place the pan in the oven uncovered to cook for 25 minutes.
Top with cheese: Top the tater tots with the remaining 1½ cups cheese and return the pan to the oven for an additional 10-15 minutes to cook until the cheese is melted and the tater tots are golden brown. The sides should also be bubbly.
Serve: Serve the casserole and enjoy.
How to Store
Store leftover tater tot casserole tightly covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat covered with aluminum foil in a 350°F oven for about 30 minutes, or until warmed through.
This recipe makes a great freezer meal. If you want to make it ahead of time, prep and assemble the casserole according to instructions. Instead of baking it, let it cool, cover it with aluminum foil, then freeze up to 1 month. You can freeze it the same way after cooking, if you have leftovers.
Serving Suggestions
With all of the ingredients in this casserole (beef, green beans, and tater tots), it’s a full meal on its own. But when I’m looking to add something extra, I’ll serve a kale salad before our meal and make a side of sauteed mushrooms. Given this is a kid-friendly meal, I like to prepare a churro cheesecake for dessert.
Made it, everyone loved it. Easy, filling and versatile. Delicious!!
Thanks Liz!
I’m making this as a freezer meal and I was wondering if I’m still supposed to put it in the over after adding the tater tots before freezing? Also, do I still add the cheese now, or do I wait and cook the casserole for a bit without the cheese first and then add it closer to the end to avoid it burning??
Hi Alicia, Go through step 6 and then freeze.
I made in 9×13 pan thinking lots of leftovers. No dice. I had 3 tablespoons left after the 3 of us ate. Already been told this will be a new favorite by my wife and son. The flavor was very nice
If preparing as a freezer meal do you cook from frozen or defrost first? I just wasn’t sure if it would make it weird defrosting it before baking as the tator tots would defrost too.
You can do it either way. Straight from frozen would increase the bake time to about an hour, whereas defrosting would put the bake time at 30 minutes.
Another good one! I was hesitant to use canned green beans but did anyway, and they were fine, but next time I might try chopped green chiles as another person suggested. I also might bake it at a higher temperature because we like our tater tots a little crispier. I also topped the cheddar with some Mexican blend cheese because it melts better than the cheddar I use (no idea why!).
Sounds amazing!
It’s called hotdish.
6th
I make this also except never with green beans, yuck! I use Bacon instead 😊 And it’s delicious ! just fry it up with the hamburger meat then drain almostajj of the grease but not
Sounds like a tasty substitute!
Been making tator tot recipe for years. Only I’m not a fan of green beans in it. I subsituted green chile instead. Try it it’s wonderful.
Definitely modify to your liking!!
Love it!
Thanks for stopping by, Donna!