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A close-up shot of the cheesy ground beef filling for the tater tot casserole being spread in a baking dish before adding the topping.

Tater Tot Casserole (The Ultimate Comfort Food Recipe)

The ultimate Tater Tot Casserole recipe! This easy, cheesy casserole features a savory ground beef filling topped with crispy tater tots. A perfect, hearty comfort food dinner for the whole family.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb lean ground beef 90/10 recommended
  • 1 medium onion finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots

Equipment

  • 1 9x13 inch Baking Dish
  • 1 Large Skillet

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
  2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef and chopped onion until the beef is browned. Drain any excess grease.
  3. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for one more minute until fragrant.
  4. Reduce heat to low and stir in the cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Mix until well combined.
  5. Pour the beef mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
  6. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese over the beef mixture.
  7. Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer on top of the cheese.
  8. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the filling is hot and bubbly and the tater tots are golden brown and crispy.
  9. Let the casserole stand for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Notes

For extra crispy tots: Bake the casserole without the tots for 15 minutes, then add them and continue baking for the remaining 20-25 minutes.
Storage: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.