Classic cheesy Tater Tot Casserole is quick and easy to make, but packed with flavor. Made with ground beef, tater tots, cheese, corn, and a creamy gravy, it's comfort food at its finest!
Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole
Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole, a.k.a. tater tot hotdish, is one of my favorites. It is sooo good, and the perfect chilly-weather, belly-warming, stick-to-ribs dish.
Plus, it is so quick and easy, the longest part is the cook time! It's perfect for weeknight meals.
With ground beef, corn, cheese, and tater tots all coming together in this dish, side dishes become optional. I love to put a little ketchup on mine, because ketchup and tater tots? Yum!
What goes with Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole?
Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole already has meat (ground beef), dairy, and carbs or starch (corn and potatoes), so we will generally serve it with some sort of vegetable.
To keep it simple, it goes great with a nice fresh leafy green salad. If you're looking for a warm vegetable, try these green beans with shallots or sauteed zucchini and squash.
Can Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole be Frozen?
Yes! This is one of our go-to freezer meals. It's easy to make, and easy to freeze.
After you've fully assembled your casserole in a freezer safe dish, cover and freeze for up to 3 months (or 6 months in a deep freezer).
When you're ready to use, thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Then follow the baking instructions. You will likely need to increase cook time by 5-10 minutes since you will be starting with a cold dish.
Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole Variations
If you're looking to spice up this classic with an extra burst of flavor, try these different variations:
- Add bacon! Because everything is better with bacon!
- Substitute green beans! Add some extra veggies by substituting the corn for green beans.
- Go Mexican! Add some taco seasoning to the ground beef mixture for a taco version. You can use store bought seasoning, or try this easy homemade taco seasoning, which is way better.
More Comfort Food Recipes You'll Love
- Best Chicken Pot Pie - classic comfort food and the BEST you will ever taste.
- Taco Bake Casserole - hubby's childhood favorite with ground beef and tortilla chips.
- Cheeseburger Soup - warm, cheesy and probably my favorite soup recipe of all time.
- Best Meatloaf - a classic with fresh twists! One of our family favorites.
- Chili Cheese Dog Casserole - Quick, easy, cheap, and the kids love it!
Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef
- 1 medium sweet onion chopped
- 3-5 cloves garlic minced
- 1 can whole kernel corn (15 ounces) drained
- 1 can cream of mushroom (10.5 ounces)
- ½ cup milk
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 2 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 bag frozen tater tots the flat circle kind
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Brown ground beef with onions and garlic in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until meat is cooked through. Drain and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add cream soup, milk, and sour cream. Whisk until combined.
- Add corn, 1 ½ cups of cheese, and ground beef mixture to the mixing bowl, and stir until everything is incorporated.
- Cover the bottom of a greased 9"x13" baking dish with tater tots.
- Pour your ground beef mixture over the tots.
- Scatter the remaining tater tots on top of the ground beef mixture.
- Bake in a 375°F for 20-25 minutes. Remove from oven.
- Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Continue cooking in the oven for 15-20 more minutes, or until tater tots are golden and crunchy.
Notes
- Do you need to cook the tater tots before adding them to the casserole? Nope! Just put them in frozen!
- Do I have to use cream of mushroom? I know there are some mushroom haters, and that's okay. You can simply sub cream of chicken for the mushroom. If you want to get rid of the "cream of" soup all together, 1.25 cups sour cream, plus ¼ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon dried parsley, ½ teaspoon celery salt, and a pinch of ground thyme. This will give you all the flavors with none of the "cream of" soup!
- Make ahead directions: Simply assemble, cover, and refrigerate up to a day in advance. When ready to eat, follow the cooking instructions in the recipe. You will need need to increase the cook time by 5-10 minutes since the dish is starting off cold.
- Freezer directions: Fully assemble your casserole, cover, and place in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to use, thaw in the refrigerator over night, and follow the cooking instructions in the recipe, increasing the cook time by 5-10 minutes to account for the cold dish.
Nutrition
UPDATE INFO: This post was originally published in March 2014, and is now republished in September 2020 with new photos, a video, and more specific instructions.
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Stephanie R says
Oh gosh this looks like something that my kids would adore!
Cathy says
Yes please, to a big plate of this cheesy, yummy casserole! My mouth is watering! 🙂 I would love for you to share this over at my new link party Making Memories Mondays going on now!
Cathy
Pauline Molinari says
This looks so cheesy & delicious! Thanks so much for sharing your yummy recipe on the Monday Funday Party!
charmaine says
did a few changes add 2 large chicken breast [in stead of ground beef] saute it with garlic and onion, used mushroom soup and added 1 cup freeze dried broccoli my daycare children loved it.
Michelle says
Yum! That DOES sound delicious! Glad you enjoyed it!
Jenn says
I used this recipe to use up of leftover meatloaf. I didn't have any regular tater tots, so I subbed sweet potato tater tots. It was fantastic. Will definitely make this again.
Courtney | Love & Good Stuff says
Pure comfort food! Love the cheesy tater tot topping!
Raia Todd says
Fun recipe! Super kid-friendly, which is just what I need!
Sara says
I can't tell you how many times a month we make this dish - it's literally almost weekly - it's just so easy and a great go to that even my husband or oldest can handle making lol. 🙂
Heidy L. McCallum says
This sounds like a great casserole that would go over well with the kids. I have been looking for some stuff that they will enjoy today and I think I found the winner. Glad it also freezes well. That way if there are leftovers they won't go to waste.
Kristina says
A classic comfort food topped with cheesy goodness, takes this over. the. top! yum!
Erika says
I haven't had tater tot casserole in so long. What a great comfort food!
Angela says
This recipe was easy to follow and very tasty. No leftovers here!
Katie says
My mouth is watering at the idea of this. Can't wait to try it!
Tammy says
What a fun and delicious idea for the family! I've never tried making a tater tot casserole but perfect idea for the cool weather..so comforting!
Kathryn Donangelo says
This is such a fun recipe!! Also a great brunch item. I am having leftovers for breakfast this morning and I'm so excited about it 🙂
Beth says
My family just loved this casserole! I love how easy it is! It's going on my regular rotation. Thanks
Beth Sachs says
A big hit with my kids. It's already been requested again!
Andrea Metlika says
This casserole looks marvelous! I really like tots on bottom and top!
Emily Liao says
Loved the tater tots in this! Definitely has become a family favorite now
Suzy says
The best casserole! The kids really love it! Super simple to make and the flavor is awesome!
Priya Lakshminarayan says
I am absolutely loving this idea of tater tot casserole! Can't wait to try it
Kimberly says
Very easy, yummy, will make again, thx
Tavo says
I am loving this recipe! Super fllavor-packed and tasty!
Gloria says
What a fun casserole for the whole family. Great as a side to breakfast, bunch or dinner.
Alison says
A delicious warm and comforting casserole for the autumn and winter months! A big hit with the family!
Heather Johnson says
love the addition of corn - great new idea for tt casserole!
Sara Welch says
Served this for dinner last night and it was a hit all around the table! Easily, a new family favorite dish; my kids loved it!
Autumn Brooke says
I've never added corn tho this recipe but I love that idea. Thank you for sharing.
Jeremy D Lawrence says
Always a hit!!! I just tried a different twist on it tonight. I subbed the corn with green chiles, used cream of chicken, added crumbled bacon to the mixture along with a bit of leftover consumé from birria tacos, and i sprinkled French fried onions on the tater tot layers. Nothing wrong with the original, but this was out of this world!!! Worth a try for sure.
Michelle says
That sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing your version!