This cheesy tater tot casserole recipe is a super simple crowd-pleaser featuring only a few ingredients but loads of flavor. You can whip up this comfort food really quickly!
Y’all, I have a confession. I went most of my life never having Tater Tot Casserole. I know, right?!? And it’s especially crazy knowing how much I love a tater tot. A few years back, my boss at the time shared the best Tater Tot Casserole with me, and I’ve been hooked ever since.
You know how much I love easy recipes – especially one that works as an easy dinner in one big casserole dish. And this one surely fits the bill. It comes together quickly with delicious gooey, cheesy, hearty layers.
I think the thing that really makes this dish different is the smoked paprika. I’ll admit I had never used smoked paprika before this recipe, but I often use it when I roast vegetables now. It add a delicious smoky flavor to everything! You can certainly substitute the smoked paprika for regular if that’s all you have. Just keep in mind it won’t have that perfect smoky flavor. And no, regular paprika is not spicy. They do make spicy versions, however.
This version also includes tater tots with onions, but they can be a little harder to find. Regular tater tots work just as well, too – though you might be sacrificing a little flavor there. Regardless, I’m sure you’ll love this take on this classic comfort food weeknight dish. It even makes for great leftovers! Enjoy!
What ingredients do I need to make Tater Tot Casserole?
The quick answer is… not very many! At least with my recipe, you mostly just need frozen tater tots, of course, ground beef, an onion, cream of mushroom soup, ketchup, cheese, and a few seasonings, like garlic salt and smoked paprika. Other common ingredients you may find when looking at different versions of this casserole recipe are black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. I’ve even seen some tater tot casserole recipes sneak in some vegetables, like green beans, and corn.
There are lots of variations out there! However, I am a bit partial to this easy, cheesy tater tot casserole and its simple ingredients.
What to serve with tater tot casserole?
You have lots of options here! This casserole can stand on its own, but if you feel like you need a side or two, I’ve got some great ideas:
Green Beans – I’m a little partial to my unbundled green bean recipe which features a sprinkle of homemade bacon bits and a few simple ingredients. Delicious!
Salad – Since this is one of those super easy casserole recipes, let’s keep that simple theme going. Make it easy on yourself with minimal prep time by grabbing a salad kit from your local grocery store. Or, if you can spend a few minutes of prep, you can even make this homemade ranch for your salad.
Corn – I love a good ol’ piece of corn on the cob, but what’s even better is my Southern Fried Corn recipe! You simply cut off your corn into a large bowl. Then, throw it in a large skillet with melted butter, bacon grease, salt, and black pepper. You stir it up, cook over medium heat, and enjoy!
Do you thaw the tater tots for tater tot casserole?
I get this question a lot. You do not need to thaw the onion tater tots before you put them in your baking dish. They can come right out of the freezer! Those delicious barrels of grated potatoes don’t need any special treatment!
Recipe Card
Paige’s Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chuck
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 (10.75-ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 3 to 4 cups frozen onion tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Brown meat and onion together. Drain off fat.
- Add ketchup, Worcestershire, garlic salt and paprika. Spoon into the greased dish. Spread undiluted soup over beef mixture. Top with cheddar cheese.
- Cover top of mixture with tater tots.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until tater tots are done and browned.
Nutrition
* If nutritional values are provided, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend grabbing your favorite brands and plugging those ingredients into an online nutritional calculator.
Cynthia
I made it for my son and his family tonight and it was a hit. My daughter-in-love asked for the recipe. I hadn’t made my version since moving from Nebraska to Oklahoma four years ago.
Awesome! Love hearing that! So glad everyone enjoyed it!
Beth Ann
I’m from eastern NC originally and I had never even heard of tater tot casserole until moving to North Dakota a few years ago. Here it’s called “hot dish” and EVERYONE makes it. It’s a a potluck staple. This looks like a good rendition, I will have to try it soon!
Hope you’ll enjoy it, Beth Ann!
Linda Galla
Do you thaw the tator tots
No, ma’am! No thawing needed.
Paula
I make mine similar, but I have never added the seasonings to the meat, just salt & pepper. I’m going to make it this way this week. Also, I sprinkle a pkg of dry onion soup mix over the mushroom soup. ?
Sounds like a GREAT addition! Enjoy!!
Mark Piper
It’s in the oven now. I am my own worst critic and I think this is great. The first time I made it, I had never heard of smoked paprika. Not only does it add a little something to the tater tot casserole, it works in quite a few other recipes I’ve made. I do add a little chopped green bell pepper to the meat mixture. Otherwise, it’s strictly by the recipe. Everyone that I have cooked this for absolutely loves it. It’s so simple to make too. When I told my wife I had just picked up some ground beef, she asked me “how about your tater tot casserole?” Big ole’ smile on her face too. She knows it’s your recipe, not mine (actually your bosses). Like so many of your recipes. Everyone cleans their plates when I serve this one. Thanks Stacey
I just love hearing that! That smoked paprika really makes a difference. It’s one of those things that I don’t use a lot of but it really adds a whole new level of flavor in this dish.
Tracy G
I try out new recipes all the time. Sometimes, my family will say, “This is good, Mom”. Often I will get a funny look on their faces and they will ask “Where did you get this recipe again?”. Last night, I decided to make this casserole. It was chilly out and I wanted easy, comfort food. After his first couple of bites, my husband looked up and said, “DON”T lose this recipe”. It was a hit!!! Thanks!
Awesome! That’s the highest compliment I could get, Tracy!!
Betsyfartblossom
I usually made my kids costumes. They told me what they wanted to be and I made it. On the subject of kids being people, one cold winter day, when my son was about 4, he wanted to go out and play. It was nearly zero out. I told him that it was too cold to go out. He said “Not for me.” I said “Well, it is for me.” He looked me straight in the eye and said “I didn’t ask you to go out and play.” I said “Go get your boots.” He was right, it was too cold for me, but not for him. That day I learned to listen to what he wanted, not what I wanted. Oh yeah, he lasted about 5 minutes out there, but it was what he wanted and it was no skin off of my nose but a lesson learned;)
amanda rauch
I almost always put a layer of veggies in there to add some nutrition. And I have made it with all kinds of different condensed soups. Usually just use what we have in the cupboard. To make the tater tots a little extra crispy bake for a bit first then put on top of casserole and bake in oven. We also have used hash browns or French fries if we don’t have tater tots.
Great ideas, Amanda!! Thanks for sharing!
laurie R
Hi Stacey!
I’ve been making this casserole for years and years! Only I DON’T cook the meat first. Just get some decent low-fat beef (or turkey), smush it in the pan, sprinkle with the other spices (I use onion powder in lieu of actual onions), then smear over the soup, sprinkle with cheese then potatoes. You do have to cook it for about 45-50 minutes but it comes out more “solid” like a meat loaf rather than crumbly. Delish!!
What a neat way to do it! Sounds delicious!
Aaron
I plan to try this recipe, but my wife dislikes mushrooms. Any particular suggestions to replace cream/mushroom soup? Maybe cream/onion soup? Open to ideas!
Thanks!
Cream of onion should work perfectly! Enjoy!
Ronni
Put the soup into blender, viola no more mushroom but that great mushroom flavor!
Great idea!
Amy
I made this for my husband who is a professional chef. He loooved it!! I was never enticed to try a tater tot casserole until I saw your recipe. I will definitely make this again! Your recipes and pics are really user friendly and look delicious.
Great news! So glad y’all enjoyed it!
Alice
My husband will not eat tater tots. Could you use southern style hash brown potatoes (chunky potatoes)? Just wondering!
I don’t see why not. 🙂
Wendi Ward
Hey Stacey, thanks for the simple and delicious recipe! My husband and I are stationed in Japan. I am an active duty military member and he is a busy music director, so meals during the week have to be easy for us or we will go hungry 🙂 The only addition we made was to add peas and it turned out great! Thanks for posting recipes that are easy to make and that taste good! God bless!
Wendi, you are so welcome!! I’m so glad that these recipes are helping you get a home-cooked meal on the table. Glad to hear y’all are enjoying them, too!
Keri Stonecipher
LOVE.LOVE.LOVE! I usually make the Duggar’s recipe but I wanted to try something different. My boys told me they were tired of casseroles but I had all of the ingredients for this recipe so I thought I would just try it. They LOVED it and said it was one of the best casseroles they have had. Thank you!!
Wow! Thanks for taking the time to let me know how it turned out. I’m thrilled your family enjoyed it so much!
Judi
My casserole adds green beans and sour cream to the chop meat, mushroom soup and cheese. Still a favorite with my kids who are in their forties….
Debbie Strum
You are so right about allowing children to dress as they like for Halloween (within reason), Stacey. I sure feel for the little fella you mentioned. As for the Tater Tot Casserole and you never having had it all these years… Well, you had me clutching my chest and gasping in shock! Glad you gave yourself the chance to try it. You know… You liking tater tots and all! LOL This recipe looks like another yummy version that I’ll have to try!
Thanks, Debbie!
Sharon T
I used to leave out the cheese and add frozen peas. when kids were growing up. One of their favorites still………like having taters & gravy.
Stephanie @ PlainChicken
I’ve never had tater tot casserole – looks good!
Thanks, Stephanie. It’s nothing fancy, but it is SO good.
Tina
Great recipe and post. I agree. All too soon the excitement of dressing up is over! I’m for letting the little ones be what they want to be..within reason for sure!!!
🙂
Nana
I never bought Halloween costumes-hated that sleazy satiny fabric that split and raveled before the evening was even over. We made most of our outfits from old clothes to be hobos, farmers, miners with blackened faces and such. Old sheets made grand ghosts or mummies wrapped. Your recipe looks like a good winter’s night comfort dish and not hard on the budget. I am already thinking I could use it and vary it at times with sausage instead of hamburger. maybe keilbossa sliced into coins. Shredded chicken or pork roast leftovers could be used by changing the soup to cream of chicken/
Unhip Chick
I just love reading your thoughts on life and what’s going on with your family. You have a real gift with words and seem to have a good grasp on what’s really important in life. Thanks for sharing your stories, lessons, and recipes!
Thanks so much! I had reservations about publishing this post. Now I’m glad I did. 🙂
Kathy Stephenson
I’ve been making Tator Tot casserole for about 28 years now and mine is real similar. I use 2 pounds of hamburger, 2 cans of cream of chicken and a can of peas that have been drained. My tots don’t look that nice…I just throw them on haphazardly. With all the extra ingredients I have to use a 9×13 pan.
Tina Butler
I totally agree with your Stacey. Our children are only little once and we need to let them be children as well as have a little voice. Once day we will look back at all those Halloween Costumes packed away and wish just one more time they could dress up and we could take them trick or treating. It is so hard to overhear conversations like that and keep our opinions to ourselves. My little guy has been a doctor every year for the last 3 years and I haven’t said a word about it. He even wore the same costume 2 years in a row, because he loved it so much. We shall see this year since we haven’t found a costume yet, but if he wants to wear it again then so be it!!!