Cheesy Ground Beef Tater Tot Casserole (Printable version)

Hearty casserole with seasoned beef, vegetables, and cheese topped with crispy tater tots

# What you need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb ground beef (80/20 or lean)

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn, green beans)

→ Dairy & Cheese

04 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
05 - 1 cup whole milk

→ Pantry

06 - 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup
07 - 2 tbsp ketchup
08 - 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
09 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
10 - 1/2 tsp onion powder
11 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
12 - 1/2 tsp salt

→ Topping

13 - 1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots

# How to make it:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef and chopped onion until beef is browned and onion is soft, about 6-8 minutes. Drain excess fat.
03 - Stir in mixed vegetables, cream of mushroom soup, milk, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until well combined.
04 - Spread the beef mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle 1 cup cheddar cheese over the mixture.
05 - Arrange tater tots in a single layer over the top.
06 - Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes, until tater tots are golden and crisp.
07 - Remove from oven and sprinkle remaining cheddar cheese over the casserole. Return to oven for 5 minutes, until cheese is melted.
08 - Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • Everything comes together in one pan while the oven does the hard work
  • Those crispy tater tots on top somehow make everything underneath taste even better
  • The leftovers actually improve overnight, if you somehow manage to have any
02 -
  • Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving, otherwise the cheese will slide right off your first scoop
  • The tater tots on the edges get the crispiest, so position them strategically if you have family members who fight over corner pieces
  • If the tots are browning too fast, loosely tent the dish with foil for the last 10 minutes
03 -
  • Sprinkle some paprika over the tots before baking for extra color and a subtle smoky flavor
  • If you have leftover cooked vegetables from another meal, toss them in instead of the frozen mix
  • Line your baking dish with foil for the easiest cleanup ever

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