The short answer: Tater tot casserole, also called tater tot hotdish, is seasoned ground beef in a creamy sauce with vegetables and cheese, topped with frozen tater tots and baked until crisp.
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Prep time: 15 minCook time: 51 minTotal time: 1 hr 11 minServings: 6 to 8 servingsTotal includes 5 min of resting, chilling or rising.
Brown 1½ pounds of ground beef with a diced onion, stir in a 10.5-ounce can of cream of mushroom soup, ½ cup of sour cream and 2 cups of frozen mixed vegetables, spread it in a 9x13 pan, add 1½ cups of shredded cheddar, cover it with a 32-ounce bag of frozen tots and bake uncovered at 400°F for 35 to 40 minutes. It serves 6 to 8 and takes about 15 minutes of hands-on time. Below are the ingredients, steps, a from-scratch sauce, swaps and freezer instructions.
I love cooking for my family, and a one-pan dinner that everyone actually finishes is exactly the kind of meal that earns a permanent spot on the weekly plan.
Tater tot casserole ingredients
| Ingredient | Amount | Swap |
|---|---|---|
| Ground beef (85% lean) | 1½ pounds | Ground turkey or half sausage |
| Yellow onion | 1, diced | 1 teaspoon onion powder |
| Garlic | 2 cloves, minced | ½ teaspoon garlic powder |
| Cream of mushroom soup | 1 can (10.5 ounces) | Cream of chicken or cheddar soup |
| Sour cream | ½ cup | Plain Greek yogurt |
| Worcestershire sauce | 1 tablespoon | |
| Frozen mixed vegetables or green beans | 2 cups | Corn, peas and carrots |
| Shredded cheddar | 1½ cups | Colby Jack or pepper jack |
| Frozen tater tots | 32-ounce bag | Frozen crispy crowns |
| Salt and pepper | To taste |
How to make tater tot casserole
- Heat the oven to 400°F and grease a 9x13 baking dish.
- Brown the beef. Cook the beef and onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it up, until no pink remains, about 8 minutes. The USDA's ground beef safety page says to cook ground beef to 160°F. Add the garlic for 1 minute, then drain the fat.
- Make the filling. Stir in the soup, sour cream, Worcestershire, vegetables, salt and pepper.
- Layer. Spread the filling in the dish and sprinkle on 1 cup of the cheese.
- Add the tots. Line up the frozen tots in tight rows across the top.
- Bake. Bake uncovered for 35 to 40 minutes, until the tots are golden and the filling bubbles at the edges.
- Finish. Sprinkle on the last ½ cup of cheese, bake 3 minutes more, then broil for 1 to 2 minutes if you want extra crunch. Rest 5 minutes before serving.
From-scratch sauce (no canned soup)
Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in the skillet after draining the beef, stir in 3 tablespoons of flour for 1 minute, then whisk in 1½ cups of milk or beef broth and simmer until it coats a spoon, about 4 minutes. Season with Worcestershire, salt and pepper and use it in place of the soup.
Variations at a glance
| Version | Change | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Cheeseburger | Ketchup, mustard and pickles in the filling | Picky eaters |
| Breakfast | Sausage and 8 whisked eggs instead of beef and soup | Holiday mornings |
| Chicken bacon ranch | Cooked chicken, bacon and ranch seasoning | Using up leftover chicken |
| Taco | Taco seasoning, black beans and salsa | Taco night twist |
| Lighter | Lean turkey, extra vegetables, half the cheese | Lighter weeknights |
For more meals built on a pound of beef, see our ground beef dinner ideas, and for nights when you need something even quicker, our easy dinner ideas.
Make-ahead, storing and freezing
Tater tot casserole is a great freezer meal. The USDA's freezing guidance notes that food kept at 0°F stays safe indefinitely, but quality is best within a few months, so label the pan with the date. In the fridge, FoodSafety.gov's cold storage chart gives cooked casseroles 3 to 4 days. For more meals that freeze well, see our freezer meals list. For a chicken version that also freezes well, try our chicken rice casserole.
Put casserole night on the plan
A 9x13 tater tot casserole feeds a family with leftovers for lunch, and pantry staples like frozen tots and canned soup are easy to stock up on when they're on sale.
- Meal Planner & Grocery List, $3.99. Plan casserole night, the double batch for the freezer, and shop from one list.
- Family Recipe Binder, $6.99. Keep your family's version of tater tot casserole, with its swaps, on a recipe card you'll find again.
- Holiday Season Bundle, $15.99 (regularly $25.94 for the six items bought separately). The meal planner plus the Christmas Budget & Gift Planner, a cleaning schedule and savings trackers for the busy season.
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Want another family-friendly bake? Our stuffed bell peppers bake at 375°F and freeze well. For more pan dinners, browse our casserole recipes. For another family bake with seasoned beef and beans, try our easy taco casserole.
Frequently asked questions
How do you make tater tot casserole? To make tater tot casserole, brown 1½ pounds of ground beef with a diced onion, stir in a can of cream of mushroom soup, ½ cup of sour cream and 2 cups of frozen mixed vegetables, and spread it in a 9x13 pan. Top with 1½ cups of shredded cheddar and a 32-ounce bag of frozen tater tots, then bake at 400°F for 35 to 40 minutes.
Do you thaw tater tots before making tater tot casserole? No, use the tater tots straight from the freezer. Frozen tots hold their shape and crisp up on top; thawed tots go soft and soak up the sauce.
How do you keep the tater tots crispy on the casserole? Keep tater tot casserole crispy by lining the tots up tightly in a single layer, baking it uncovered at 400°F, and finishing it under the broiler for 2 minutes. A thick filling that isn't watery also helps.
What can I use instead of cream of mushroom soup? Use cream of chicken or cheddar cheese soup, or make a quick sauce with 3 tablespoons of butter, 3 tablespoons of flour, 1½ cups of milk or broth and 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce, simmered until thick.
What is the difference between tater tot casserole and tater tot hotdish? Tater tot casserole and tater tot hotdish are the same dish. Hotdish is the Minnesota and North Dakota name for a baked one-dish meal, and this version, with beef, creamed soup and tots, is the most famous one.
Can you make tater tot casserole ahead of time? Yes, make the beef filling up to 1 day ahead and refrigerate it in the baking dish. Add the cheese and frozen tots right before baking, and add 10 minutes to the bake time since the filling starts cold.
Can you freeze tater tot casserole? Yes, tater tot casserole freezes well for 2 to 3 months, baked or unbaked. Wrap it tightly, bake from frozen at 375°F covered for 45 minutes, then uncover and bake 20 to 30 minutes more until hot in the center.
How long does tater tot casserole last in the fridge? Tater tot casserole lasts 3 to 4 days in the fridge. Reheat portions in a 375°F oven or air fryer to bring back some crunch; the microwave works but softens the tots.
What should I serve with tater tot casserole? Serve tater tot casserole with something fresh and green, like a crisp salad, steamed green beans or roasted broccoli. It's already a full meal of meat, vegetables and potatoes.
What temperature do you bake tater tot casserole at? Bake tater tot casserole at 400°F so the tots on top get crisp while the filling bubbles underneath. Bake it uncovered for 35 to 40 minutes, until the tots are golden and the sauce is bubbling at the edges.
Can you make tater tot casserole with ground turkey? Yes, ground turkey works well in tater tot casserole. Brown it with the onion as you would beef, add a little extra seasoning since turkey is milder, and cook it until no pink remains before adding the sauce.
How do I plan casserole nights into a busy week? Give casserole night a fixed spot on your weekly plan and cook a double batch for the freezer. The Meal Planner & Grocery List from HomeBase Paper Co. ($3.99) shows the week's dinners and the shopping list side by side.
Sources
- USDA FSIS: Ground beef and food safety fsis.usda.gov
- USDA FSIS: Freezing and food safety fsis.usda.gov
- FoodSafety.gov: Cold food storage chart foodsafety.gov