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Baked tater tot casserole with ground beef in a white dish, golden tater tots over melted cheddar and green onions, a corner scooped out showing beef, corn and green beans

Tater Tot Casserole With Ground Beef

Creamy ground beef with corn, green beans and cheddar under a crispy golden tater tot topping. About 15 minutes of hands-on work.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Resting Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 670
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the beef filling
  • 2 lb ground beef 85% lean (900 g)
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup 10.5 oz / 298 g, undiluted
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 2 cups frozen corn and cut green beans about 300 g, not thawed
For the topping
  • 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar 225 g, divided
  • 32 oz frozen tater tots 900 g bag, kept frozen
  • 2 green onions sliced

Method
 

  1. Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  2. Cook the ground beef and onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking up the meat, until no pink remains (160°F / 71°C). Add the garlic, salt, pepper and paprika for 1 minute, then drain the fat.
  3. Off the heat, stir in the Worcestershire sauce, cream of mushroom soup, sour cream and frozen vegetables. Spread in the baking dish.
  4. Sprinkle with 1 1/2 cups of the cheddar and arrange the frozen tater tots on top in tight rows.
  5. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes, add the remaining cheddar between the tots and bake 5 to 10 minutes more, until the tots are deep golden and the filling bubbles.
  6. Rest 10 minutes, sprinkle with green onions and serve.

Notes

Make ahead: refrigerate the cooled beef filling in the dish for up to 24 hours; add cheese and frozen tots just before baking and add 5 to 10 minutes.
Storage: refrigerate leftovers for 3 to 4 days; reheat in the oven or air fryer to keep the tots crisp. Freeze the unbaked casserole up to 3 months and bake from frozen at 375°F (190°C), covered 45 minutes, then uncovered 20 to 30 minutes, to 165°F (74°C) in the center.
Substitutions: cream of chicken or celery soup; ground turkey (cook to 165°F); pepper jack instead of cheddar.
Nutrition is an estimate calculated from standard ingredient values, not a laboratory analysis.