May 30, 2023
Review RecipeTater Tot Casserole Recipe

Table of Contents
- WHAT IS TATER TOT CASSEROLE MADE OF?
- TATER TOT CASSEROLE RECIPE SUBSTITUTIONS AND ADDITIONS
- HOW TO MAKE TATER TOT CASSEROLE
- WHAT FOOD GOES WITH TATER TOT CASSEROLE?
- CAN I MAKE THIS RECIPE FOR TATER TOT CASSEROLE AHEAD OF TIME?
- TATERTOT CASSEROLE STORAGE
- TATERTOT CASSEROLE RECIPE FAQs
- MORE FAVORITES YOU’LL LOVE
- JUMP TO RECIPE
This easy homemade tater tot casserole is a simple family favorite. Loaded with ground beef, seasonings, lots of cheddar cheese, and veggies then topped with a layer of golden brown crispy tater tots, this quick dinner recipe is a crowd-pleaser.
Try our easy recipes for ground beef stroganoff and grandma’s meatloaf recipe as well!

WHAT IS TATER TOT CASSEROLE MADE OF?

You’ll need:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 can of cream of mushroom soup
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables (I used a blend with green beans, carrots, peas, and corn)
- 8 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded
- 32-ounce bag frozen tater tots
TATER TOT CASSEROLE RECIPE SUBSTITUTIONS AND ADDITIONS
MEXICAN: Add black beans, taco seasoning, green chiles, enchilada sauce, and corn to spice up Taco Tuesday. Serve your Mexican tater tot casserole with sour cream on top.
SOUP: If you don’t like cream of mushroom, you can use another cream soup such as cream of celery or cream of chicken soup instead.
BACON: You could also crumble crispy bacon bits on top before serving.
MEAT: You can choose different ground meats for this hearty casserole such as ground pork, ground sausage, ground turkey, or ground chicken.
HOW TO MAKE TATER TOT CASSEROLE
PRO TIP:
This is a fantastic make-ahead dish. You can prepare it up to the baking step and store it in the fridge or freezer covered in foil or plastic wrap before baking it later.
STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray a 9×13-inch casserole dish with nonstick spray.
STEP TWO: In a large skillet cook ground beef, onion, and garlic on medium-high heat until beef is cooked through. Drain if needed.

STEP THREE: Add cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, and Worcestershire sauce to the ground beef mixture and mix thoroughly.

STEP FOUR: Stir mixed vegetables into the beef mixture.

STEP FIVE: Place the beef and vegetable mixture in the bottom of the 9×13 casserole dish.
STEP SIX: Top the meat mixture with 4 ounces of freshly shredded cheddar cheese.

STEP SEVEN: Place frozen tater tots in an even layer on top of the cheese layer. Depending on the size and shape of your dish, you may have some leftovers.
PRO TIP:
For best results, make sure the tater tots are spread evenly in a single layer on top.

STEP EIGHT: Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes.
STEP NINE: Remove from the oven and add the remaining 4 ounces of freshly shredded cheddar cheese on top of the tater tots. Bake for another 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

WHAT FOOD GOES WITH TATER TOT CASSEROLE?
Even your picky eaters will love this delicious tater tot casserole. Add a simple Caesar salad on the side for a complete meal. This is a great recipe to throw together on a busy weeknight and is nice and hearty to fill up your family’s hungry tummies.
MORE CASSEROLE RECIPES
CAN I MAKE THIS RECIPE FOR TATER TOT CASSEROLE AHEAD OF TIME?
This is a great recipe to make ahead of time. Prepare it up to the baking step and keep it in the fridge or freezer covered in aluminum foil until you are ready to bake it.
TATERTOT CASSEROLE STORAGE
IN THE FRIDGE: You can make this easy tater tot casserole recipe 24-hours ahead of time and keep covered with aluminum foil in the fridge until you’re ready to bake. Leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to three days after baking.
IN THE FREEZER: After baking, store leftovers in an airtight container in the freezer for up to three months.

Classic comfort food at its best, this hearty cheesy tater tot casserole is a family favorite that everyone will love. Seasoned ground beef is mixed with veggies and topped with tater tots and cheese before baking for a simple, delicious weeknight dinner.
TATERTOT CASSEROLE RECIPE FAQs
For a thinner crust on top, you can substitute hash browns or even mashed potatoes for the regular tater tots.
You can prepare this easy casserole recipe right up to the baking step. Freeze until you are ready to serve it, thaw in the refrigerator, and bake.
If you would prefer to use ground pork, turkey, chicken, those would taste great in this dish.
Tater tot casserole is a dish that originated in the midwest. If you grew up in that area, it’s likely you grew up enjoying this comforting food.
To crisp up your tater tots, you can turn the oven to broil for the last 2-3 minutes of baking, but keep a close eye on the casserole so that you don’t burn them.
Tater Tot Casserole is also known as Tater Tot Hotdish.
Casserole generally refers to the dish that the meal is cooked in while a Hotdish is the actual meal itself. Casseroles also tend to be made with lighter meats such as chicken or tuna while a hotdish often uses meats such as beef. Hotdishes also use potatoes but usually do not include rice or cheese while casseroles do.
MORE FAVORITES YOU’LL LOVE

Tatertot Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup frozen mixed veggies, I used a blend with green beans, carrots, peas, and corn
- 8 ounces cheddar cheese freshly shredded, divided
- 32 ounces frozen tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.
- In a large skillet cook ground beef, onion, and garlic until beef is cooked through. Drain if needed.
- Add the cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, and Worcestershire sauce to the ground beef and mix thoroughly.
- Stir in the mixed vegetables.
- Place the beef and vegetable mixture in the bottom of the 9×13 casserole dish.
- Top the beef and vegetable mixture with 4 ounces of freshly shredded cheddar cheese.
- Place the frozen tater tots on top of the cheese layer. Depending on the size and shape of your dish, you may have some leftover.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes.
- Remove from oven and top with the remaining 4 ounces of freshly shredded cheddar cheese. Bake for another 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
Notes
- This is a fantastic make-ahead dish. You can prepare it up to the baking step and store it in the fridge or freezer covered in foil or plastic wrap before baking it later.
- For best results, make sure the tater tots are spread evenly in a single layer on top.
Comments
Lisa M Seckora says
Had company over on a cold December and this Tatertot Casserole was a big hit!! Best comfort food ever!!
Jean Jensen says
I’ve been making tatortot hotdish for 38 years. This recipe is the best I’ve ever had!!
Always making it this way from now on.
The W sauce really adds to the flavor as does the sour cream!
Samantha b says
Tried it before putting in the oven and I’m really excited. Especially now starting to smell it. I doubled the recipe to put one in the freezer for later. But when I’m ready to do so, should I bake thawed or frozen?
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Samantha – I would thaw in the fridge and then bake. Enjoy!
Sylvene says
This was a huge hit! I added some salt, pepper, paprika, and chili powder on top.
Vicki says
Can I substitute cream of chicken soup. Family doesn’t like cream of mushroom?
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Vicki – yes, you can use another cream soup. Enjoy!
Donna Ingram says
I’ve made tater tot casserole before but this is the best recipe ever