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Home » Uncategorized » Easy Tater Tot Casserole with Ground Beef

Easy Tater Tot Casserole with Ground Beef

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Recipe Cost $13.61
Recipe Serving Cost $1.70
Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
This Easy Tater Tot Casserole is great for busy weeknights. It's comfort food at its best that the entire family will enjoy.  via @easybudgetrecipesThis Easy Tater Tot Casserole is great for busy weeknights. It's comfort food at its best that the entire family will enjoy.  via @easybudgetrecipesThis Easy Tater Tot Casserole is great for busy weeknights. It's comfort food at its best that the entire family will enjoy.  via @easybudgetrecipes

This Easy Tater Tot Casserole with ground beef is great for busy weeknights. It’s comfort food at its best that the entire family will enjoy. 

This Tater Tot Casserole recipe is layers of flavor that everyone loves, even those picky eaters. Casseroles are classic comfort food that makes the perfect weeknight meal. This recipe serves eight and costs about $13.61 to make, that’s just $1.70 per serving. 

Two more of our favorite casseroles are our Taco Rice Casserole and our Crockpot Broccoli Casserole to satisfy all your casserole needs. 

A close up picture of tater tot casserole on a white plate.

MORE GROUND BEEF RECIPES: Ground Beef and Broccoli Teriyaki | Easy Beef Chili

Easy Tater Tot Casserole

Growing up, Jess’s mom broke 12 ribs (ouch!) and was on bed rest. Lots of family friends came over to help and brought in meals to our family of eight.

One of the most popular meals brought was a Tater Tot Casserole dish made with ground beef. We had a freezer full! To be honest, this dish was not my favorite. There did not seem to be a lot of flavors within the casserole.

A Tater Tot Casserole is so easy to make, though, so we knew we could put our twist on this classic dish and bring it back to life! We use simple ingredients that are packed with flavor to create a satisfying and quick meal that will quickly become a family favorite. 

This Tater Tot Casserole is full of cheesy, savory goodness that friends will LOVE to be given and will give rave reviews over the dish. Your kids will grow up loving this casserole and not moan when you tell them what is for dinner!

A spoon taking a scoop out of the casserole.

Where did Tater Tot casserole come from?

Tater Tot Casserole, known initially as “hotdish,” has its origins in the Midwest, United States. The Midwest is known for some serious comfort foods, so it is no surprise this dish first came from there.

Many still refer to this dish as Cowboy Casserole, White Trash Casserole, or Church Lady Casserole. Either way, we call it delicious!

Can you freeze Tater Tot casserole after you cook it?

Our preferred method of freezing this dish is to prepare as directed in the recipe card up until placing it in the oven. Instead of baking it, wrap it securely with plastic wrap and then tin foil.

Doing this helps avoid freezer burn. Then simply place it in the oven directly from the freezer after removing the plastic wrap and foil to bake. 

What can I use if I don’t have a casserole dish?

You do not need to have a casserole dish to make this recipe. You can use a baking pan as an alternative and achieve the same delicious meal. 

How much will this Easy TaterTot Casserole recipe cost to make:

RECIPE COST: $13.61

PRICE PER SERVING: $1.70

To find out more about how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained. 

An overhead picture of all of the ingredients needed to make this recipe.

  • 2 lbs lean ground beef – $6.02
  • 1 yellow onion – $0.62
  • 2 garlic cloves – $0.10
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce – $0.06
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt – $0.01
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper $0.02
  • 1 10.75 oz can condensed cream of celery soup – $0.84
  • 1 cup sour cream – $1.44
  • 16 oz frozen mixed veggies – $1.00
  • 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese – $1.92
  • 4-5 cups frozen tater tots – $1.58

How to make Tater Tot Casserole with Ground Beef recipe: 

STEPS ONE AND TWO: First, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and then grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Set the dish aside. 

STEPS THREE AND FOUR: Next, brown the ground beef in a large skillet. After browning it, drain the excess fat. Then add the onion and cook for about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for about 1 minute. Then stir in the Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Now, transfer the ground beef mixture to the baking dish and spread evenly. After that, mix the condensed soup and sour cream.

The beef mixture layered into the bottom of a 9 by 13-inch pan.

STEPS FIVE AND SIX: Spread the mixture over the ground beef, followed by the frozen mixed veggies. 

The cream mixture being spread over the meat mixture.

STEPS SEVEN AND EIGHT: Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the top. Top with tater tots. 

The tater tot casserole before it is baked.

STEPS 9 AND 10: Finally, bake for 35-40 minutes. Serve immediately. 

The finished casserole with a spoon taking out a scoop.

Cook’s Tools:

  • 9×13-inch pan
  • large skillet
  • medium bowl
  • wooden spoon
  • mixing spoon

The Flavor and Recipe Variations

Instead of ground beef, you can use shredded or ground chicken, or ground turkey. 

Feel free to use any variety of frozen vegetables. Just make sure you about 16 ounces. 

If you’re looking for Southwest flavors, then this Tex-Mex Tater Tot Casserole is a must-try! 

How long is it good for:

Serve: As with most recipes with dairy products in them, you shouldn’t leave this casserole out for longer than 2 hours. 

Store: Leftover will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. 

Freeze: Because of the sour cream used in the casserole, we do not recommend freezing this casserole. You can, however, use 2 cans of condensed soup instead of 1 can plus 1 cup of sour cream, and then it will be freezer-friendly! 

How to get the kids involved with this recipe:

Ages 2-3: Let them help spread out the tater tots on the top layer. They can also help sprinkle on the cheese. 

Ages 4-5: Have your kiddo help mix the condensed soup and sour cream together. They can then help spread this over the ground beef. 

Ages 6-8: Teach them how to cook and brown the meat. 

Ages 9-11: Supervise them while they prepare the entire recipe. Remember to have them read it twice before beginning the recipe. 

Ages 12+: Let them prepare the entire recipe, unsupervised, while you do the happy dance in the corner!

More Easy Main Dish Ideas:

  • American Goulash
  • Copycat Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo
  • Crockpot White Chicken Chili
  • Easy Beef Chili
  • Foolproof Grilled Recipes
  • Grilled BBQ Chicken Breasts
  • Ground Beef and Broccoli Teriyaki
  • Homemade Sloppy Joes
  • Inside Out Chicken Pot Pie
  • Machaca Burritos
  • Meatball Subs
  • Mexican Chicken Rice Bowls
  • One Pan Cheesy Broccoli Chicken
  • Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
  • Slow Cooker Italian Harvest Soup
An overhead picture of the finished tater tot casserole with ground beef.
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5 from 2 votes

Tater Tot Casserole

Recipe Cost $13.61
Recipe Serving Cost $1.70
This Easy Tater Tot Casserole is great for busy weeknights. It's comfort food at its best that the entire family will enjoy.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time50 mins
Total Time1 hr
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: casserole, tater tots
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 567kcal
Author: Easy Budget Recipes Original!

Equipment

  • 9x13-inch pan
  • large skillet
  • Medium bowl
  • Wooden spoon
  • mixing spoon

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds lean ground beef
  • 1 medium yellow onion chopped
  • 2 large garlic cloves minced
  • 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 10.75 ounces can condensed cream of celery soup
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 16 ozs frozen mixed veggies thawed
  • 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 4-5 cups frozen tater tots
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

PREP OVEN AND PAN:

  • Move the oven rack to the middle position and preheat to 375 degrees F.
  • Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.

MAKE MEAT LAYER:

  • Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, and then drain excess fat.
  • Add the onion and cook until the onions are translucent for about 5 minutes.
  • Add the garlic and cook while constantly stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  • Stir in Worcestershire sauce and salt and pepper.

ASSEMBLE CASSEROLE:

  • Transfer ground beef mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
  • In a medium bowl, combine condensed soup and sour cream. Spread over the beef mixture, followed by frozen mixed veggies, followed by the cheddar cheese.
  • Finally, top with tater tots.

BAKE AND SERVE:

  • Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until tater tots are golden brown and cheese is melted.
  • Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Serving: 1.5cups | Calories: 567kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 134mg | Sodium: 1025mg | Potassium: 839mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 3590IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 389mg | Iron: 4mg
Did you love this recipe?We'd love to hear from you, follow us on our Facebook page @EasyBudgetRecipesOfficial and let us know how it turned out in the comments below!

This Easy Tater Tot Casserole is great for busy weeknights. It’s comfort food at its best that the entire family will enjoy. 

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Filed Under: $15 RECIPES, Main Dish, Uncategorized Tagged With: black pepper, cheddar cheese, condensed cream of celery soup, frozen mixed veggies, frozen tater tots, garlic cloves, ground beef, sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, yellow onion

Previous Post: « Taco Rice Casserole
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jenn

    August 25, 2020 at 12:07 pm

    5 stars
    This checks all the boxes for my comfort food cravings right now! Love this easy tot casserole – thank you!

    Reply
    • Jess Jankowski

      August 26, 2020 at 7:07 am

      You are so welcome!

  2. Nellie Tracy

    August 25, 2020 at 1:20 pm

    5 stars
    I am all about easy weeknight dinners and this is perfect! Love this recipe!

    Reply
    • Jess Jankowski

      August 26, 2020 at 7:08 am

      So easy and a perfect weeknight meal! Thanks for stopping by!

  3. Michael Coovert

    September 3, 2020 at 11:23 pm

    I love Tater tot casserole. I hope this one is as good as the one I had before.

    Reply
    • Jess Jankowski

      September 6, 2020 at 9:58 am

      We know you will love it!

  4. Doris Huddleston

    September 4, 2020 at 8:42 am

    I love your easy recipes!

    Reply
    • Jess Jankowski

      September 6, 2020 at 9:57 am

      Thanks Doris!

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Beth, Jill, and Jess of Easy Budget Recipes

We’re Beth, Jill, and Jess, and we’re the team of sisters-in-law behind Easy Budget Recipes!

Combined, we have over 50 years of cooking, meal planning, and budgeting experience. Each of our recipes serves at least six people, and we have broken down the cost of every recipe for you so that it’s easier to budget your shopping list every week!

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