Here is an easy comfort food dinner recipe for everyone’s favorite tater to casserole! It’s only a few ingredients and is perfect for families! Love casseroles, you’ll LOVE this then!
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What is the one recipe you remember the most from school nights as kid? Was it not the most comforting meal ever? Have you noticed that you’ve forgotten about that dish since you’ve become a parent?
Me too.
But this week I am ‘righting the wrong’ and serving up my childhood favorite casserole– and it’s so simple!
Growing up, my parents always worked a lot. So we didn’t have fancy meals or dishes that were hard to pronounce. My mom always relied on recipes that were easy enough for her to cook every night (whoa, mom) and easy on the budget to feed us all, well.
So this tater tot casserole definitely isn’t fancy. Or healthy.. or any other adjective that generally describes food that’s good for you.
But it’s pretty darn great for this overworked mom’s soul.Other Posts I Think You’ll Love:
Its simplicity is perfect for whipping up on a weeknight. You can have it prepped in about ten minutes and have it baking while you work on other to-dos around the house.
It doesn’t need a roux, prepping veggies, or even cooking the raw beef. 🙂#easypeasy
How to Make Tater Tot Casserole (Plus Mix-in Ideas!)
First, you’ll layer your ground beef in a 13″x 9″ casserole dish. I don’t think 1 pound is quite enough to cover the entire pan and satisfy your family.
I’ve learned that for a 13″ x 9″ pan, you’ll likely need about 1 and a 1/3 pounds to 1.5 pounds of meat. If you only have a pound of ground beef, I would use a smaller pan and monitor the bake time to make sure the internal temperature still reaches 160 degrees.
Once you have your ground beef leveled, top with one can of Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom soup.
Next, you’ll want to lay down a single layer of cheese. Growing up we used pre-packaged American cheese slices. However, over the years, I’ve used sliced cheese, grated cheese, and pretty much whatever we have in the fridge.
Can I Mix Other Ingredients into the Tater Tot Casserole?
Make it Taco themed! (Taco Seasoning, Taco Cheese, etc..)
Finally, Add Your Tater Tots
Once you have all your ingredients under the cheese, it’s time for the final step— the tater tots! This Tater Tot Casserole recipe uses almost a full bag of tater tots from the store. Depending on the configuration of your tots, you may have 3 or 4 tater tots left afterward.
You can line up the frozen tater tots in neat little rows OR you can pour the entire bag on top of the casserole. If you pour the bag, try to make sure the tater tots are in a single layer so that they all cook evenly.
I might be a bit fanatical about lining up the tater tots.
Whenever my husband, Jordan, is out of town traveling, this recipe pops up on our meal plan. The kids know that when Dad is away, this casserole is likely popping up for dinner. They share my enjoyment in this dish and we all enjoy the leftovers for lunch.
I think the best part of making a childhood dish isn’t for the taste, but for the comforting memories that we shared with our parents. And it’s something that we get to create with our kids. That can’t be a bad thing if we do it in moderation, right?
Let yourself reminisce about your own favorite childhood dish. What did you love coming home to after school or practice?
Add it to your meal plan next week. There is a good chance your favorite recipe is super easy, just like this Tater Tot Casserole!
Tater Tot Hotdish Frequently Asked Questions:
Before we dive into the recipe, let’s address a few common questions you might have:
Can I prepare this casserole in advance?
Yes, you can assemble it ahead of time and refrigerate it until you’re ready to bake. Just allow a little extra baking time, at least an additional 20 minutes, if it’s chilled. Internal temperature needs to be at least 165 degrees when cooked through.
How do I store leftovers?
Simply refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container. Reheat in the microwave or oven for a quick and easy meal.
Make this super easy tater tot casserole for a quick family dinner! You can mix in your favorite add-ins to customize it to your family's liking! It's so simple and perfect for a busy week night.
Ingredients
1.5 lbs lean ground beef
1 can of Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup
Sliced American Cheese
1 24 oz Bag of Tater Tots
+ Your favorite add-ins!
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In a 13" x 9" baking dish, spread out the raw ground beef evenly.
Empty of Cream of Mushroom soup over the meat. Spread out an even layer.
Cover the dish with a single layer of American cheese. Fill in any gaps for extra cheesiness.
Top with a single, even layer of tater tots.
Bake uncovered for 55-60 minutes.
Notes
Customize this tater tot casserole with your favorite add-ins! Here's a list of all the ways to make this casserole extra flavorful.
I’m a busy mom of two little ones who is constantly looking for the yummiest meals that are quick to make for school nights. I am a big fangirl of chalk paint projects because they make my DIY skills look amazing– even though I’m not a pro. I believe in creating routines to keep our days in check– even if they change each season! I completely understand what it’s like to be a Type A personality who tries to plan all the things, but still, wonder where to simply start.I’m a huge fan of not being Pinterest perfect. I prefer done over perfect any day.
15 Comments
Your Tater Tot Casserole looks delicious! Hope you are having a great day and thanks so much for sharing your post with us at Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Making it for the first time, I was hesitant about not browning the meat first. It was pretty darn good!! I made it gluten free using gluten free cream of mushroom. Thanks for sharing.
Hello Brittany,
I have two questions: The first is the tater tots are still frozen when you put them on? The second is, have you ever made this with 2 lbs of ground meat? I was curious to see if so and for how much longer you would cook this for. Maybe even have to cover the top up at some point?
Thank you so much for this recipe! It looks amazing and easy too!
Betsy
Hi Betsy! The tater tots are frozen! If you use two pounds, I would be sure to use a 13″x9″ pan to make sure it cooks through without burning the top. I’d check the internal temp after an hour to see if you need to adjust. Take care! –Brittany
Hi:
I bought your week night cookbook and everything downloaded fine. However the free 9 slow cooker recipes you offered requires me to sign in with a pass word and I was not furnished with one. Your assistance would be appreciated.
Thank You,
Lamont
PS, Women are not exclusive when it comes to working, kids and cooking nightly meals. I find your tips and insights very helpful Thanks again.
I made this tonight, it was way better cooking it with the meat raw in the bottom of my dish, I used 2 lbs ground beef, I added a little onion powder and garlic powder to the meat, cream of chicken, didn’t have mushroom, American cheese, then some shredded cheese, and topped with tots, I cooked it for 1 hour 10 mins. Really tasty. My 2 adult sons liked it, and never liked any version I made when they were kids. Quick and easy to assemble, just put in oven and let it cook. Tasted like a cheesy cheeseburger with tots.
Have you made it as a freezer meal? Any idea how long it would take to bake if it was frozen? I’m making freezer meals for a family with a new baby and I thought this might be a good option.
Hi Elina! This would be a great freezer meal! I haven’t tried it personally, but I would try it two ways. 1. Layer the casserole and immediately freeze. Bake for 70 minutes or until reaches 160 degrees. OR you can bake the casserole, and then freeze, then they could bake until 160 degrees again. For myself, I would probably make it and immediately freeze, so that it’s only baked one time.
So this tater tot casserole definitely isn’t fancy. Or healthy.. or any other adjective that generally describes food that’s good for you.
But it’s pretty darn great for this overworked mom’s soul.
Other Posts I Think You’ll Love:
First, you’ll layer your ground beef in a 13″x 9″ casserole dish. I don’t think 1 pound is quite enough to cover the entire pan and satisfy your family.
I’ve learned that for a 13″ x 9″ pan, you’ll likely need about 1 and a 1/3 pounds to 1.5 pounds of meat. If you only have a pound of ground beef, I would use a smaller pan and monitor the bake time to make sure the internal temperature still reaches 160 degrees.
Once you have your ground beef leveled, top with one can of Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom soup.
Next, you’ll want to lay down a single layer of cheese. Growing up we used pre-packaged American cheese slices. However, over the years, I’ve used sliced cheese, grated cheese, and pretty much whatever we have in the fridge.
Let yourself reminisce about your own favorite childhood dish. What did you love coming home to after school or practice?
Add it to your meal plan next week. There is a good chance your favorite recipe is super easy, just like this Tater Tot Casserole!
So this tater tot casserole definitely isn’t fancy. Or healthy.. or any other adjective that generally describes food that’s good for you.
But it’s pretty darn great for this overworked mom’s soul.
Other Posts I Think You’ll Love:
First, you’ll layer your ground beef in a 13″x 9″ casserole dish. I don’t think 1 pound is quite enough to cover the entire pan and satisfy your family.
I’ve learned that for a 13″ x 9″ pan, you’ll likely need about 1 and a 1/3 pounds to 1.5 pounds of meat. If you only have a pound of ground beef, I would use a smaller pan and monitor the bake time to make sure the internal temperature still reaches 160 degrees.
Once you have your ground beef leveled, top with one can of Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom soup.
Next, you’ll want to lay down a single layer of cheese. Growing up we used pre-packaged American cheese slices. However, over the years, I’ve used sliced cheese, grated cheese, and pretty much whatever we have in the fridge.
Let yourself reminisce about your own favorite childhood dish. What did you love coming home to after school or practice?
Add it to your meal plan next week. There is a good chance your favorite recipe is super easy, just like this Tater Tot Casserole!
Your Tater Tot Casserole looks delicious! Hope you are having a great day and thanks so much for sharing your post with us at Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
I throw in a can or two of french style green beans. Gotta have your veggies! LOL
Sounds good Teresa! Thank you for stopping by! -Brittany
Is it not super greasy??
Hi Ali! I typically use 90/10 or 92/8 beef and it’s never too greasy.
I’ve always cooked the ground beef a little – enough to drain the grease and then I add frozen peas before topping it with tater tots
Making it for the first time, I was hesitant about not browning the meat first. It was pretty darn good!! I made it gluten free using gluten free cream of mushroom. Thanks for sharing.
Hello Brittany,
I have two questions: The first is the tater tots are still frozen when you put them on? The second is, have you ever made this with 2 lbs of ground meat? I was curious to see if so and for how much longer you would cook this for. Maybe even have to cover the top up at some point?
Thank you so much for this recipe! It looks amazing and easy too!
Betsy
Hi Betsy! The tater tots are frozen! If you use two pounds, I would be sure to use a 13″x9″ pan to make sure it cooks through without burning the top. I’d check the internal temp after an hour to see if you need to adjust. Take care! –Brittany
Hi:
I bought your week night cookbook and everything downloaded fine. However the free 9 slow cooker recipes you offered requires me to sign in with a pass word and I was not furnished with one. Your assistance would be appreciated.
Thank You,
Lamont
PS, Women are not exclusive when it comes to working, kids and cooking nightly meals. I find your tips and insights very helpful Thanks again.
If you were making it a taco theme, (pepper Jack cheese, taco seasoning, corn) what soup would you use?
I would try adding in some salsa and extra cheese!
I made this tonight, it was way better cooking it with the meat raw in the bottom of my dish, I used 2 lbs ground beef, I added a little onion powder and garlic powder to the meat, cream of chicken, didn’t have mushroom, American cheese, then some shredded cheese, and topped with tots, I cooked it for 1 hour 10 mins. Really tasty. My 2 adult sons liked it, and never liked any version I made when they were kids. Quick and easy to assemble, just put in oven and let it cook. Tasted like a cheesy cheeseburger with tots.
Have you made it as a freezer meal? Any idea how long it would take to bake if it was frozen? I’m making freezer meals for a family with a new baby and I thought this might be a good option.
Hi Elina! This would be a great freezer meal! I haven’t tried it personally, but I would try it two ways. 1. Layer the casserole and immediately freeze. Bake for 70 minutes or until reaches 160 degrees. OR you can bake the casserole, and then freeze, then they could bake until 160 degrees again. For myself, I would probably make it and immediately freeze, so that it’s only baked one time.