Description
This hearty Tater Tot Casserole recipe combines seasoned ground beef, green beans, creamy soup, and plenty of sharp cheddar cheese, all topped with crispy golden tater tots. Perfect for a comforting family dinner, this easy-to-make casserole bakes in the oven to melty, bubbly perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Ground Beef Mixture
- 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
Casserole Base
- 15 ounces canned green beans, drained (1 can)
- 10 ounces cream of chicken soup (1 can)
- 2½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ tablespoon ketchup
- 1 teaspoon low-sodium soy sauce
Topping
- 16 ounces frozen tater tots (do not thaw, 1 bag)
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare the dish: Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking oil and set aside to prevent sticking.
- Cook the ground beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until it is no longer pink. Drain off any excess grease to keep the casserole from being greasy.
- Season the beef: Add garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, dried basil, and black pepper to the cooked beef. Stir well and set aside.
- Mix casserole base: In a large bowl, combine the drained green beans, cream of chicken soup, 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, ketchup, and soy sauce. Stir until smooth and evenly mixed. Then fold in the seasoned ground beef.
- Assemble casserole: Spread the beef and vegetable mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
- Add tater tot topping: Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer on top of the beef mixture, covering it completely.
- Bake uncovered: Place the casserole in the oven and bake uncovered for 25 minutes to allow the tater tots to cook through and start to crisp.
- Add remaining cheese and finish baking: Sprinkle the remaining 1½ cups of cheddar cheese evenly over the tater tots, then return the casserole to the oven for 10 to 15 more minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the tater tots turn golden brown.
Notes
- Do not thaw the tater tots before baking to ensure they become crispy.
- Drain excess grease from the cooked beef to prevent a soggy casserole.
- You can substitute cream of chicken soup with cream of mushroom for a different flavor.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- For extra crunch, broil for 1-2 minutes at the end, watching carefully to avoid burning.
