Ahh, the beloved casserole. Not sure if these were a thing where you are from, but in the Midwest (especially Wisconsin), casseroles are a way of life! They bring warmth, heartiness, and flavor while being extremely easy to make.
I think my favorite part about casseroles is that everyone did them just a little bit differently. The same goes for this tater tot casserole recipe. You may see my recipe below and think “that’s not how we made ours,” and that’s ok. In fact, I hope you all leave a comment or two with the tweaks you made (or used to make). I would love to try them out!
For those who haven’t had tater tot casserole, I hope you enjoy this one! It is so quick and simple to put together, perfect for weekdays, and hopefully leaves you with full bellies and some leftovers! At the end of the day, bringing everyone together around the table builds memories, and this meal has brought us so many!
As always, I will now walk through a few of the key ingredients and cooking tips to help you crush this meal and be the dinner time hero:
- Meat – Ground beef is the clear-cut choice for this dish. I am not sure I would even try another, as they may dry out. If you really want, maybe you could go for sausage or pork?
- Veggies – The more the merrier! I use corn and beans, sometimes adding carrots or peas as well. If you don’t like one of those, that’s okay, just omit!
- Cheese – I like using a combination of cheddar and Monterey Jack. Don’t be shy with the cheese, ooey gooey makes this one even better!
- Tater Tots – Sometimes I use plain, other times I mix in some sweet potato tots to mix it up! Whatever you prefer, I highly encourage you to mix it up and try new variations!
See below for full measurements and cooking instructions!
If you make this, please leave a comment or rate the recipe below! Also, feel free to leave a comment with anything else you want me to make! I love putting my spin on classic recipes or creating new ones!
Equipment
- Pan
- Baking dish
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- ½ onion
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire
- 1 tsp. chili powder
- 1 tsp. paprika
- Salt & pepper
- 1 can cream of mushroom
- ¾ cup frozen corn
- ¾ cup frozen green beans
- 2 cups Tater Tots or more
- 2 cups shredded cheese cheddar and Monterey Jack
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°.
- Mince the garlic, chop the onion.
- In a pan, add the ground beef and season with salt and pepper. Break into bits and cook.
- Once browned, lower the heat and add the Worcestershire, onion, and garlic.
- After 1 minute, add the chili powder, paprika, and any additional salt and pepper. Cook for another minute and remove the heat.
- Grease your baking dish and build the layers.
- First, add the cooked ground beef, then spread on the cream of mushroom, layer in the frozen veggies, then the shredded cheese, and finally the tater tots.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes and eat.
- Enjoy!
