Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

With ground beef, green beans, creamy soup, lots of cheese, and crispy tater tots, this Tater Tot Casserole is always a hit for the whole family. With just 10 minutes of prep, this is a great casserole recipe for busy weeknights!

The Best Tater Tot Casserole Recipe Ever

As a mom of 3 boys that are in sports, easy dinners that I can whip up in 10 minutes are a life-saver. With never-ending activities that I’m constantly taking them to, it’s important for me to have a handful of tried and true recipes on hand for those busy months. This Tater Tot Casserole is one of my go-tos for those nights when I don’t have much time or energy but am not ready to cave to takeout just yet!

There are just 6 ingredients in this casserole which makes it easy to whip together on a moments notice and it’s easily adaptable to what’s in the cupboard and my family’s preferences! So if you’re looking for an easy dinner recipe for busy weeknights, look no further!

You’ll also want to check out these other delicious Tater Tot Casserole Recipes: Cowboy Casserole, Taco Tater Tot Casserole, Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole, Sweet Potato Tater Tot Casserole, and Mexican Tater Tot Casserole.

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

• Easy. It doesn’t get much easier than this tater tot casserole recipe – a classic comfort food. You only need a few ingredients and there is hardly any active cook time. Just brown the meat, assemble and bake!
• Flavorful and satisfying. Beef, potatoes, cheese – what more could you want in a bite?
• Flexible. There are many ways you could customize this recipe to suit your family’s tastes. Check out the variation ideas section below to get your creative juices flowing!

What Is A Tater Tot Casserole?

Tater Tot Casserole is a classic comfort food made with a creamy ground beef and vegetable filling topped with crispy tater tots and cheese. It’s also commonly called Tater Tot Hotdish, especially in Minnesota and throughout the Upper Midwest. There are lots of variations, but this easy version uses ground beef, green beans, cream of mushroom soup, cheddar cheese, and frozen tater tots.

Ingredients Needed

My favorite thing about making tater tot casserole is that fact there it requires just 6 ingredients! Here’s a quick overview. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for specific amounts.

• Tater tots – Any brand of frozen tater tots will work.
• Ground beef – Use a lean ground beef to avoid lots of grease.
• Sweet onion – Adds flavor to the beef layer.
• Salt & pepper
• Cream of mushroom soup – Adds a comforting, creamy texture to the beef mixture.
• Green beans – I use canned green beans for ease but frozen will work too.
• Cheddar cheese – If you can, grate your own as it melts better.

How to Make Tater Tot Casserole

Talk about easy! This easy casserole recipe comes together so quickly and easily, which is why I love it for weeknight dinners!

• Cook the beef. Cook the beef and onion together until the beef is browned. Salt and pepper to season.
• Add the other ingredients. Stir in the soup and green beans.
• Layer the casserole. Add the beef mixture to the bottom of the casserole dish. Top with cheddar cheese, followed by a layer of tater tots.
• Bake. Bake until the tater tots are golden brown and hot. This should be about 40 minutes.

Tips For The Best Tater Tot Casserole

There’s not much to make this tater tot casserole! Here are a few things that can make it even better.

• Add seasonings as desired. Feel free to add more salt and pepper, garlic powder, or any other desired seasonings to the ground beef and green beans.
• Use a deep baking dish. Since there are so many layers, you’ll want a pan a few inches deep. I use a 9×13 baking dish but a rectangle casserole dish would also work.
• Opt for low-sodium ingredients. If you’re sensitive to sodium, opt for low-sodium soup and green beans.
• Keep the tater tots crispy. I recommend putting the cheese over the beef mixture and arranging the frozen tater tots on top. Keeping the tots as the top layer allows them to brown and get much crispier as the casserole bakes. There’s no need to thaw the tater tots first.

Can I Make This Ahead? Can I Freeze It?

Yes, absolutely! One of the great things about tater tot casserole is that it can be made in advance and works great as a freezer meal!

To prepare the casserole in advance, assemble as directed but don’t add the tater tots. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.

For a tater tot freezer meal, assemble then cover tightly with plastic wrap and foil and freeze for up to 3 months. Tater tots don’t do well thawed so bake directly from frozen. You’ll need to increase the bake time by 10 to 20 minutes.

How to Store & Reheat Leftovers

Leftovers will last in the fridge for 3 or 4 days. Keep the casserole dish covered with foil or transfer the leftovers to an airtight container.

If you’re reheating the whole casserole, you can reheat it in the oven. Cover the top with foil to prevent any burning. Smaller portions of leftovers can be reheated in the microwave.

More Casserole Recipes:

• Twice Baked Potato Casserole
• Cheesy Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole
• Cauliflower Bacon Cheese Casserole
• Easy Chicken and Rice Casserole
• Best Corn Casserole