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mexican tater tot casserole in a baking dish

Mexican Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 708kcal
Author: Becky Hardin
Spicy, hearty and tasty. This Mexican Tater Tot Casserole is pure comfort food! 

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Ingredients

  • 1 16-ounce can refried beans
  • 2 10-ounce cans original Ro-tel style tomatoes, divided; drained
  • ½ cup minced fresh cilantro leaves divided
  • 2 pounds 90% lean ground beef
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce
  • 1 tablespoon canola or vegetable oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion minced
  • 2 cups Colby Jack shredded cheese
  • 2 cups Mexican-style blend shredded cheese
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  • 1 can corn drained or 1 cup frozen corn
  • 1 32 ounce package frozen tater tots
  • Juice of 1 lime

Possible Garnishes:

  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
  • Chopped tomatoes
  • Sliced scallions
  • Shredded Mexican blend or Sharp Cheddar
  • Sliced or chopped avocados
  • Sliced black olives
  • Sour Cream
  • Chopped lettuce

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 425°F and spray a 9x13-inch casserole dish with nonstick spray. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with foil and set the casserole dish in the middle of the baking sheet.
  • In a medium bowl, combine refried beans, 1 can drained Ro-tel tomatoes, hot sauce, and ¼ cup cilantro; set aside.
  • Place beef in a large skillet set oven medium heat. Cook until brown throughout, about 6-8 minutes, breaking apart the meat while it cooks. Drain into a colander; set aside.
  • Add 1-tablespoon oil and onions to the skillet and set over medium heat. Cook the onions about 5 minutes, stirring often, or until translucent and tender.
  • Add garlic, chili powder, cumin, coriander, and oregano and cook, while stirring, an additional 1-minute.
  • Add browned beef, 1 can (drained) Ro-tel tomatoes, corn, vinegar, brown sugar, and juice of 1 lime. Season to taste with kosher salt and black pepper; stir well.
  • Stir and cook about 5-10 minutes or until juices reduce and mixture thickens.
  • Spread the bean/tomato mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish, and sprinkle 2 cups cheese over the top.
  • Spread the beef mixture evenly over the bean mixture and top with the remaining cheese.
  • Cover the cheese layer with a single layer of tater tots and press down gently.
  • Place the casserole dish (set inside the rimmed baking sheet) on the middle rack of the oven and bake at 425°F for 30-40 minutes or until bubbly and the tater tots are dark golden brown.
  • Transfer dish to a cooling rack and cool 5-10 minutes before serving.
  • Garnish with your favorite toppings.
  • Enjoy!

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 708kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 43g | Fat: 41g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Cholesterol: 130mg | Sodium: 1399mg | Potassium: 997mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1328IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 477mg | Iron: 6mg