Description
This Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole is a hearty, comforting dish featuring seasoned ground beef mixed with creamy cheddar soup, sour cream, crispy bacon, and topped with crunchy tater tots and melted cheddar cheese. Baked to golden perfection, it’s an easy, crowd-pleasing meal perfect for family dinners or potlucks.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Dairy
- 1 lb ground beef
- 10.5 oz cheddar cheese condensed soup
- 8 oz sour cream
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 3/4 cup cooked bacon, chopped
- 1/2 cup milk
Seasonings
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Other
- 32 oz frozen tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat and prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Cook the beef: In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef until fully cooked, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain any excess grease to avoid a greasy casserole.
- Season the meat: Add Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper to the cooked beef. Stir well to evenly distribute the flavors throughout.
- Mix creamy ingredients in: Stir in the cheddar cheese condensed soup, sour cream, cooked bacon pieces, and milk until everything is fully combined, creating a rich and creamy beef mixture.
- Layer the casserole: Spread the beef mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish, ensuring an even base layer for the casserole.
- Add tater tots and cheese: Sprinkle the frozen tater tots and shredded cheddar cheese over the beef mixture. Gently toss or press slightly to coat the tots with the cheesy beef mixture.
- Even out the top: Spread the mixture evenly in the pan to promote uniform baking.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until the edges are bubbly and the top is golden brown and crisp. Serve hot.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, you can broil the casserole for 2-3 minutes at the end—just watch carefully to prevent burning.
- Cook the bacon ahead of time and crumble it to save prep time.
- Make sure to drain excess fat after browning the beef to keep the casserole from becoming too greasy.
- This casserole can be prepared a day ahead and refrigerated; just add a few extra minutes to the baking time if baking cold.
- Feel free to add diced onions or green peppers to the beef mixture for more flavor and texture.
