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Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole

Sep 21, 2021 · 31 Comments

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Classic cheesy Tater Tot Casserole is quick and easy to make, but packed with flavor. Made with ground beef, tater tots, cheese, corn, and sour cream, it's comfort food at its finest!

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!

A serving of cheesy tater tot casserole on a spatula in a 9x13 baking dish on a rustic white wood background.

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.
Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole next to a wooden spoon and a white and blue striped linen on a rustic white wood background.

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!
A serving of cheesy tater tot casserole on a spatula in a 9x13 baking dish on a rustic white wood background.

Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole

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!
5 from 23 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole, Tater Tot Casserole, Tatertot Hotdish
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes
Total Time: 1 hour hour
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 660kcal
Author: Michelle

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
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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

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 660kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 104mg | Sodium: 1027mg | Potassium: 781mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 553IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 318mg | Iron: 3mg
Did you make this recipe?I love seeing your creations. Snap a quick photo and mention @TheGraciousWife or tag #thegraciouswife on Instagram! Leave a STAR rating below!

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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Beef, Casseroles, Dinner, Freezer Meals, Kid-Friendly Food, Potatoes, Recipes

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Stephanie R says

    March 15, 2015 at 10:24 am

    Oh gosh this looks like something that my kids would adore!

    Reply
  2. Cathy says

    March 16, 2015 at 2:53 pm

    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

    Reply
  3. Pauline Molinari says

    March 20, 2015 at 2:11 pm

    This looks so cheesy & delicious! Thanks so much for sharing your yummy recipe on the Monday Funday Party!

    Reply
  4. charmaine says

    June 30, 2015 at 2:45 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      June 30, 2015 at 2:49 pm

      Yum! That DOES sound delicious! Glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  5. Jenn says

    August 30, 2015 at 6:28 pm

    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.

    Reply
  6. Courtney | Love & Good Stuff says

    October 03, 2019 at 9:48 am

    Pure comfort food! Love the cheesy tater tot topping!

    Reply
  7. Raia Todd says

    October 03, 2019 at 10:03 am

    Fun recipe! Super kid-friendly, which is just what I need!

    Reply
  8. Sara says

    October 03, 2019 at 10:47 am

    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. 🙂

    Reply
  9. Heidy L. McCallum says

    October 03, 2019 at 11:00 am

    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.

    Reply
  10. Kristina says

    October 03, 2019 at 1:59 pm

    A classic comfort food topped with cheesy goodness, takes this over. the. top! yum!

    Reply
  11. Erika says

    September 14, 2020 at 10:46 am

    I haven't had tater tot casserole in so long. What a great comfort food!

    Reply
  12. Angela says

    September 14, 2020 at 10:55 am

    This recipe was easy to follow and very tasty. No leftovers here!

    Reply
  13. Katie says

    September 14, 2020 at 11:02 am

    My mouth is watering at the idea of this. Can't wait to try it!

    Reply
  14. Tammy says

    September 14, 2020 at 11:19 am

    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!

    Reply
  15. Kathryn Donangelo says

    September 14, 2020 at 11:21 am

    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 🙂

    Reply
  16. Beth says

    September 14, 2020 at 3:35 pm

    My family just loved this casserole! I love how easy it is! It's going on my regular rotation. Thanks

    Reply
  17. Beth Sachs says

    September 22, 2020 at 12:25 pm

    A big hit with my kids. It's already been requested again!

    Reply
  18. Andrea Metlika says

    September 22, 2020 at 1:05 pm

    This casserole looks marvelous! I really like tots on bottom and top!

    Reply
  19. Emily Liao says

    September 22, 2020 at 2:18 pm

    Loved the tater tots in this! Definitely has become a family favorite now

    Reply
  20. Suzy says

    September 22, 2020 at 2:20 pm

    The best casserole! The kids really love it! Super simple to make and the flavor is awesome!

    Reply
  21. Priya Lakshminarayan says

    September 22, 2020 at 3:07 pm

    I am absolutely loving this idea of tater tot casserole! Can't wait to try it

    Reply
  22. Kimberly says

    June 03, 2021 at 3:19 pm

    Very easy, yummy, will make again, thx

    Reply
  23. Tavo says

    September 21, 2021 at 1:25 pm

    I am loving this recipe! Super fllavor-packed and tasty!

    Reply
  24. Gloria says

    September 21, 2021 at 2:46 pm

    What a fun casserole for the whole family. Great as a side to breakfast, bunch or dinner.

    Reply
  25. Alison says

    September 21, 2021 at 2:53 pm

    A delicious warm and comforting casserole for the autumn and winter months! A big hit with the family!

    Reply
  26. Heather Johnson says

    September 21, 2021 at 3:09 pm

    love the addition of corn - great new idea for tt casserole!

    Reply
  27. Sara Welch says

    September 21, 2021 at 5:10 pm

    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!

    Reply
  28. Autumn Brooke says

    October 01, 2021 at 1:16 pm

    I've never added corn tho this recipe but I love that idea. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  29. Jeremy D Lawrence says

    March 26, 2022 at 10:55 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      March 27, 2022 at 9:08 am

      That sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing your version!

      Reply

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Hello! I'm Michelle!
I'm a comfort food lover and self-taught cook with five amazing kids and a firefighter husband, surviving mostly on coffee. I love to create easy and delicious family recipes, and share creative family tips I've learned along the way.
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