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The Ultimate Classic Tater Tot Casserole with Crispy Topping

Close-up of a slice of tater tot casserole showing a crispy, browned tater top layer with melted cheddar cheese over seasoned ground meat.
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Make this classic tater tot casserole with ground beef and a creamy mushroom sauce. This recipe focuses on achieving a perfectly crispy tater tot topping for the ultimate comfort food dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 lbs ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
  • 1 (32 ounce) bag frozen tater tots

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat. Drain off any excess fat.
  3. Add the chopped onion to the skillet with the beef. Cook until the onion softens, about 5 minutes.
  4. Stir in the garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute more.
  5. In a separate bowl, mix the cream of mushroom soup and milk until smooth.
  6. Stir the soup mixture and 3/4 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese into the ground beef mixture.
  7. Spread the beef mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
  8. Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single, even layer over the top of the meat mixture. Do not overlap them too much for best crisping.
  9. Bake for 30 minutes.
  10. Remove the casserole from the oven. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of cheddar cheese over the tater tots.
  11. Return the casserole to the oven and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the tater tots are golden brown and crisp.
  12. Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before you serve it.

Notes

  • For the crispiest tater tots, place the tots in a single layer and avoid covering them with any liquid or cheese until the last 10 minutes of baking.
  • You can assemble this entire casserole, cover it, and refrigerate it up to 24 hours before baking. Add 10 to 15 minutes to the initial bake time if cooking directly from the refrigerator.
  • Substitute cream of chicken soup for cream of mushroom soup if you prefer a different flavor base for this hearty freezer casserole meal.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://juliameal.com/tater-tot-casserole-ultimate-classic-crisp/