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Review RecipeBig Mac Tater Tot Casserole
Big Mac tater tot casserole is a cheesy, beefy comfort food dinner topped with crispy tots, lettuce, and Thousand Island dressing. An easy weeknight meal ready in 45 minutes!
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If you’ve ever craved all the flavor of a McDonald’s Big Mac, this Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole is for you. Think crispy tater tots, seasoned ground beef, tangy pickles, melty cheese, and that signature “special sauce” flavor—all baked into one bubbling dish.
We tested this recipe multiple times, adjusting seasoning ratios and the baking process, until we landed on the perfect balance of crispy tots and flavorful beef.
Below, I’ll walk you through our exact method, what we learned after retesting it, and expert tips that will guarantee success in your own kitchen.
Comfort Food Doesn’t Have To Be Complicated
Instructions For Making This Casserole
1 – Brown the beef & onions in a 4-5 quart skillet until the beef is no longer pink (about 6–8 minutes). Drain any excess oil.
2 – Mix in the sauce: Stir in one cup 1000 Island dressing, pickles, mayo, ketchup, mustard, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix until fully combined.
3 – Layer the casserole: Spread the beef mixture into the prepared dish.
4 – Add cheese: Sprinkle shredded cheddar over the beef layer.
5 – Top with tots: Arrange frozen tater tots in a single layer. Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.
6 – Rest & finish: Let the casserole rest a few minutes, then top with shredded lettuce.
7 – Garnish & serve: Drizzle with the remaining ¼ cup 1000 Island dressing, sprinkle sesame seeds, and serve hot.
Recipe Testing Notes
If you want that fry-basket crunch, prebake the tots for 10 minutes before layering. This small step makes a big difference.
Make sure not to overcrowd the tots. Leaving space between them helps them crisp up evenly.
Ingredients You’ll Need To Make This Big Mac Casserole
Ingredient Substitutions
Pickle options: Chopped dill pickles give a sharper flavor, while sweet relish softens it. We’ve tested both, and either works depending on your preference.
Cheese swap: Mild cheddar melts smoothly, but if you want extra bite, try sharp cheddar or even Colby Jack.
How to Serve
Serve this casserole hot out of the oven with a fresh green salad or extra pickles on the side. If you want to lean into the Big Mac theme, sprinkle on a few sesame seeds right before serving—it really mimics that burger bun flavor profile.
Storage Instructions
Store covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can freeze the beef mixture separately for up to 2 months, then assemble fresh with tots and cheese before baking.
For best results, reheat slices in the oven at 350°F until warmed through to keep the tots crisp. (The lettuce should be added fresh each time.)
More Big Mac Inspired Recipes
Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole
Big Mac tater tot casserole is a cheesy, beefy comfort food dinner topped with crispy tots, lettuce, and Thousand Island dressing. An easy weeknight meal ready in 45 minutes!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 8
Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 cup yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 ¼ cups 1000 Island dressing, divide 1 cup for filling and ¼ cup for topping
- ¾ cup chopped dill pickles
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 teaspoons mustard
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups mild cheddar cheese, freshly shredded
- 32 ounces frozen tater tots, I used the Ore Ida Crispy tots
- 1 ½ cups thinly shredded lettuce, I use the prepackaged lettuce
- 2 teaspoons sesame seeds, optional garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish.
- In a 4 to 5 quart skillet or saucepan over medium high heat, brown the ground beef and onion until the beef is no longer pink. (This should take about 6 to 8 minutes) Drain any excess oil.
- Add in the 1 cup of 1000 island dressing, chopped pickles, mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, onion powder, paprika, kosher salt and pepper. Stir until completely combined.
- Spread the meat mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the meat.
- Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer on top of the cheese. (To avoid soggy tots, do not over crowd, to allow air to circulate while baking) Bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown.
- Allow the casserole to rest for a few minutes before spreading the shredded lettuce over the top of the tater tot layer.
- Drizzle the remaining ¼ cup of 1000 island dressing and sprinkle the sesame seeds on top. Serve while hot.
Notes
- For extra crispy tater tots, you can prebake the tots before layering on top of the casserole.
- Sweet pickle relish can be substituted for the chopped dill pickles.
- You can use shredded colby jack, sharp cheddar or even american cheese slices in place of mild cheddar cheese.
Nutrition
Calories: 689kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 44g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 14g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 1630mg | Potassium: 847mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 672IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 257mg | Iron: 4mg
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