Tater Tot Casserole
This Tater Tot Casserole recipe is loaded with flavor from caramelized onions, ground beef, creamy cheese, and topped with tater…
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This Tater Tot Casserole recipe is loaded with flavor from caramelized onions, ground beef, creamy cheese, and topped with tater tot coins. It comes together quickly and bakes just until bubbly.
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Why You’ll Love this Recipe
This easy weeknight meal is packed with flavor from the caramelized onions, sweet red pepper, soy sauce umami, and creamy asiago cheese then topped with tater coins or tots and baked to perfection.
It’s been gloomy in the Pacific Northwest this Spring and with that I have made a lot of warm cozy comfort food like this Beef Tater Tot Casserole. Don’t get me wrong, I’m really ready for summer weather and summer food vibes for sure. If you’re in the mood for an elevated version of Mom’s Tater Tot Casserole, then give this recipe a shot. Simple ingredients, and the result is absolutely delicious! Some other cozy favorites from the Farmgirl Gourmet archives are: Homemade Hamburger Helper, Beef Stroganoff, Classic Meatballs with Spaghetti, or my speedy Baked Swedish Meatballs recipe.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You’ll need these few simple ingredients you likely have in your pantry to make this easy 30 minute or less recipe.
- Ground Meat – ground beef, chicken, lamb, or turkey will work for this recipe
- Red Bell Pepper – you can use a green, yellow or orange bell pepper also.
- Yellow Onion – I like using sweet yellow onions or regular yellow onions because they are less fire-y than a white onion.
- Garlic – fresh garlic is always best, but you can use bottled or frozen pre-pureed garlic cubes.
- Fresh Herbs – fresh thyme leaves and minced chives.
- All-Purpose Flour – creates a thickened sauce. You could also use a cornstarch slurry.
- Chicken Stock – chicken stock or broth give this dish extra richness.
- Soy Sauce – soy sauce adds umami – that little hint of deliciousness that really makes this dish sing.
- Worcestershire Sauce – just like soy sauce, Worcestershire adds umami and flavor.
- Asiago Cheese – if you can’t find asiago, use romano or parmesan cheese.
- Frozen Tater Tots – or tater coins which are my favorite because they are less bulky.
Substitutions & Variations
- Substitute/Add Vegetables: peas, chopped asparagus spears, corn kernels, small broccoli florets, or chopped green beans.
- Substitute/Add Meat: ground lamb, ground chicken, ground turkey, or ground game can be used instead of ground beef.
- Substitute/Add Cheese: any easily shredded cheese will work for this recipe like cheddar, pepper jack, monterey jack, or swiss cheese.
- Substitute/Add Herbs: you can omit fresh herbs and use dried, cut the quantity by 1/2 if using dried.
Find the printable recipe card with exact measurements and instructions below.
How to Make Tater Tot Casserole
Step 1: Preheat the Oven
Preheat the oven to 425ºF.
Step 2: Saute Vegetables & Herbs
Place a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil, onion, and red pepper. Saute until onions are just translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and fresh thyme and stir for 30 seconds. Remove to a bowl and set aside.
Step 3: Cook the Ground Beef
Add the ground beef to the skillet. Then cook until no longer pink inside, about 6 minutes. Add the vegetables back to the skillet and sprinkle everything with flour. Add the chicken stock, worcestershire sauce, and soy sauce. Stir well to combine and cook until the liquid mixture becomes slightly thick and bubbly. Stir in 1/2 of the cheese just to incorporate. Remove from the heat.
Step 4: Top with Tater Tots & Bake
Arrange tater tots or tater coins on the top and bake for 16-18 minutes, until the mixture is bubbling and the tater coins are brown. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake for another 5 minutes, until the cheese melts. Remove and sprinkle with chives, if using, and serve immediately.
What to Serve with Tater Tot Casserole
- Garlic Parmesan Roasted Garlic
- Green Bean Mushroom Gratin
- Kale Salad with Garlic Tarragon Dressing
- No Knead Bread
- Pumpkin Apple Cake
Tips for Storing
- Storing casserole
- Wrap tightly with cling film or store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or freeze as directed below.
- How to reheat tater tot casserole
- If warming 1 serving, use a microwave safe dish or place and cover lightly with a piece of parchment paper and microwave on high in short 30-45 second bursts until desired temperature
- If warming a large quantity, place in a preheated oven at 425ºF and cover the dish with foil. Bake for 15-20 minutes then remove the foil for another 5-10.
- Can I freeze tater tot casserole?
- Yes you can. Put into an airtight container and freeze up to 3 months.
More Weeknight Recipes We Love
Recipes that take 30 minutes or less to prepare.
- Baked Swedish Meatballs
- Gochujang Sloppy Joes
- Homemade Hamburger Helper
- Cheesy Skillet Chicken Chilaquiles
- Quick Herb Chicken Pasta
- Black Bean & Polenta Casserole
Tater Tot Casserole
Equipment
- 1 Large Cast Iron Skillet or other oven safe skillet
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- 2 medium onions, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ½ cup chicken stock
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups shredded asiago cheese
- 2 lbs tater tots, tater crowns, or tater coins
- fresh chives, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425ºF.
- Place a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil, onion, and red pepper. Saute until onions are just translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and fresh thyme and stir for 30 seconds. Remove to a bowl and set aside.
- Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook until browned and no longer pink inside, about 6 minutes.
- Add the vegetables back to the skillet and sprinkle everything with flour. Add the chicken stock, worcestershire sauce, and soy sauce. Stir well to combine and cook until the liquid mixture becomes slightly thick and bubbly. Stir in 1/2 of the cheese just to incorporate. Remove from the heat.
- Arrange tater tots or tater coins on the top and bake for 16-18 minutes, until the mixture is bubbling and the tater coins are brown. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake for another 5 minutes, until the cheese melts. Remove and sprinkle with chives, if using, and serve immediately.
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Recipe Nutrition
* Nutritional information is not guaranteed to be accurate.
Recipe By:
Co-Founder at Spiceology | More About Heather…
Heather is a recipe developer and content creator living in Vancouver, Washington. She started Farmgirl Gourmet in 2006, almost 20 years ago, as a way to share recipes with friends and family. Heather is also the co-founder of Spiceology , a unique spice company, which she started in 2013. She shares family friendly recipes for easy everyday meals with a gourmet twist.
I love this recipe so much and hope you do too!