Tater Tot Casserole Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

Tater Tot Casserole Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (1)

By: Becky Hardin

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Tater Tot Casserole is so cheesy and so easy! This delicious dish is filled with ground beef, green beans, cream of chicken, and cheese, then topped off with tater tots. Everyone will love this easy meal!

Tater Tot Casserole Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2)

Table of Contents

Why We Love This Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

This is the best tater tot casserole, made with green beans, ground beef, lots of cheese, and so much more for an amazing flavor. Then everything is topped off with tater tots!

  • Creamy. Cream of chicken soup and sour cream keep this casserole moist and delicious.
  • Crunchy. Frozen tater tots form a crisp golden crust on top!
  • Flavorful. Garlic powder, onion powder, salt, basil, and pepper add so much flavor to the beef!

Variations on Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole

There are so many ways you can change up this casserole. Try adding crumbled bacon for an extra smoky flavor and crispy texture. For a healthier casserole, add additional sautéed vegetables, like bell peppers, onions, and mushrooms. For a southwestern take, try making my Mexican Tater Tot Casserole!

Tater Tot Casserole Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (3)

Tater Tot Casserole Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (4)

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How to Store and Reheat

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.

How to Freeze

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 if you’d like to add something extra, I’d recommend serving it with another veggie side, a salad, or maybe some bread. Try this spinach salad and cornbread muffins.

How do you thicken a tater tot casserole?

The cream of chicken soup should make this casserole plenty thick, but if yours seems a bit thin, try whisking together equal parts cornstarch and cold water, then stir it into the filling until thick.

Why aren’t my tater tots crispy?

If your tater tots aren’t crispy, they probably need a bit longer to bake. You can also try spraying or brushing on some cooking oil to help them brown more in the oven!

What goes with tater tot casserole?

This casserole is a full meal all by itself, but you could also serve it with some buttermilk biscuits or coleslaw!

Tater Tot Casserole Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (5)

More Beef Casserole Recipes To Try

  • Corned Beef Casserole
  • Beef Stroganoff Casserole
  • Taco Casserole
  • Doritos Casserole
  • Sloppy Joe Casserole
  • Hamburger Casserole
  • Sour Cream Noodle Bake

5-Star Review

“Love it!” – Donna Rose

Recipe

Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

4.60 from 62 votes

Author: Becky Hardin

Prep: 15 minutes minutes

Cook: 50 minutes minutes

Total: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Tater Tot Casserole Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (6)

Serves8 people

Print Rate

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This classic tater tot casserole recipe is easy to make, and it's sure to please everyone at the table. If you're looking for something simple for dinner, this is it!

Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.

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Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon dried basil
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 15 ounces canned green beans drained (1 can)
  • 10 ounces cream of chicken soup (1 can)
  • cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese divided
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • ½ tablespoon ketchup
  • 1 teaspoon low-sodium soy sauce
  • 16 ounces frozen tater tots do not thaw! (1 bag)

Recommended Equipment

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F. Prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish and spray with cooking oil. Set aside.

  • In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain grease.

    1 pound ground beef

    Tater Tot Casserole Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (8)

  • Season with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, dried basil, and pepper. Set aside.

    1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon dried basil, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

    Tater Tot Casserole Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (9)

  • 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 ounces canned green beans, 10 ounces cream of chicken soup, 2½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, ½ cup sour cream, ½ tablespoon ketchup, 1 teaspoon low-sodium soy sauce

    Tater Tot Casserole Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (10)

  • Spread the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Make sure it’s evenly dispersed.

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  • Take frozen tater tots and arrange them in a single layer covering the beef mixture.

    16 ounces frozen tater tots

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  • Place the pan in the oven uncovered to cook for 25 minutes.

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  • 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.

    Tater Tot Casserole Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (14)

Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!

Becky’s tips

  • Cook and season ground beef ahead of time to cut down on prep time.
  • Keep the tater tots frozen while prepping. They’ll cook fully in the casserole.
  • Cook the tater tot casserole uncovered.

Storage:Store leftover tater tot casserole tightly covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 451kcal (23%) Carbohydrates: 23g (8%) Protein: 22g (44%) Fat: 31g (48%) Saturated Fat: 13g (81%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g Monounsaturated Fat: 10g Trans Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 85mg (28%) Sodium: 1225mg (53%) Potassium: 492mg (14%) Fiber: 3g (13%) Sugar: 2g (2%) Vitamin A: 522IU (10%) Vitamin C: 15mg (18%) Calcium: 291mg (29%) Iron: 5mg (28%)

Did You Make This?I want to see! Be sure to upload an image below & tag @thecookierookie on social media!

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Tater Tot Casserole Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (16)

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How to Make Tater Tot Casserole Step by Step

Cook the Beef: Preheat your oven to 375°F. Prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish and spray with cooking oil. Set aside. In a large skillet, cook 1 pound of ground beef over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain grease.

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Season the Beef: Season the beef with 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, 1 teaspoon of kosher salt, ½ teaspoon of dried basil, and ½ teaspoon of ground black pepper. Set aside.

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Make the Filling: In a large bowl, mix together 15 ounces (1 can) of drained green beans, 10 ounces (1 can) of cream of chicken, 1 cup of sharp cheddar cheese, ½ cup of sour cream, ½ tablespoon of ketchup, and 1 teaspoon of low-sodium soy sauce. Add the ground beef to the bowl and mix together.

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Spread the Filling: Spread the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Make sure it’s evenly dispersed.

Tater Tot Casserole Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (20)

Top with Tots: Take 16 ounces of frozen tater tots and arrange them in a single layer covering the beef mixture.

Tater Tot Casserole Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (21)

Bake the Casserole: Place the pan in the oven uncovered to cook for 25 minutes.

Tater Tot Casserole Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (22)

Top with Cheese: Top tater tots with the remaining 1½ cups of cheese and return the 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.

Tater Tot Casserole Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (23)

Tater Tot Casserole Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (24)

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Tater Tot Casserole Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

FAQs

Why is my tater tot casserole soggy? ›

Excess Moisture: Not cooking down the onions or using frozen tater tots may cause extra moisture to be released as it cooks, making the casserole soggy.

What state is known for tater tot casserole? ›

If you grew up in the Midwest or even if you're new to the area, chances are you've heard about the Minnesota tater tot hotdish. Hotdish is the unofficial state cuisine of Minnesota and a go-to for busy families.

Should I thaw tater tots before baking? ›

Do you need to thaw the tater tots first? Tater tots are so easy to bake and you don't need to thaw them before baking!

How long to cook tater tots in the oven at 350 degrees? ›

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Remove from the freezer and slice into 1 1/2-inch tots. Place on a parchment or silicon-lined baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes, or until lightly golden brown.

What is the difference between a tater tot Hotdish and a Tater Tot casserole? ›

But, while anything baked in a casserole can be called a casserole, the Midwestern preparation known as "hotdish" is much more specific. A hotdish always consists of meat, vegetables, a starch, and sauce—it's not a side dish, but an entire meal unto itself.

How do I get the crispiest tater tots? ›

A longer cook time will cause the tots to shrink and dry out a little, which makes them even crispier all around on the outside with a potato-y center that's more dense and creamy.

What are casseroles called in the Midwest? ›

A hotdish or hot dish is a casserole dish that typically contains a starch, a meat, and a canned or frozen vegetable mixed with canned soup.

What do Minnesotans call casseroles? ›

Hotdish is common terminology in western Wisconsin and Minnesota, while casserole is the preferred name everywhere else in the country.

What country invented tater tots? ›

United States

What is a good side dish for tater tot casserole? ›

The best side dishes to serve with tater tot casserole are blooming onion, blistered tomatoes, Korean corn dogs, potato rosti, coconut shrimp, cucumber salad, mozzarella sticks, collard greens, quinoa salad, grilled asparagus, sweet cornbread, loaded baked potato, spinach and strawberry salad, fried rice, and zucchini ...

Why can't you put tater tots in the microwave? ›

Although you can microwave Tater Tots, it's not recommended. The microwave will warm the Tots, but they won't get as crispy as when you bake, deep-fry or grill them.

How many tater tots per person? ›

First, bake or air fry your tots until crispy and golden. If you're cooking for a group, aim to prepare around 10 to 12 tots per person — more if folks are hungry.

Should you flip tater tots in the oven? ›

For even crispiness, flip the tater tots halfway through the cooking time. This will ensure that both sides become golden brown and crispy.

Can you use parchment paper to cook tater tots? ›

Preheat oven to 450°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Place tater tots in a single layer on baking sheet.

Are tater tots better in the oven or air fryer? ›

To the surprise of absolutely no one, air fryer tater tots are even better than oven-baked. They're ready in way less time, are supremely crispy and delicious, and are by far the best way to mimic deep-fried restaurant tots at home. Here's how to do it.

How do you fix soggy tater tots? ›

Oven: Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Place the tater tots on a baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until they are crispy and heated through. Air Fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Place the tater tots in the basket and cook for 5-8 minutes, or until crispy.

How do you make a casserole not soggy? ›

Just because your casserole is starting to look a bit soupy doesn't mean it's beyond saving. In fact, all you need to do is add some pasta noodles or grains to your base. This trick works for the simple reason that both types of ingredients soak up water as they cook.

Why is my casserole so watery? ›

Some of the worst offenders are moisture-rich vegetables, red meats, and high-fat cheeses. There are certainly a lot of dangers to look out for, but not to fear. We've got a collection of ingenious solutions that will rescue your casseroles from the depths of sogginess.

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