We’re excited to share our Tater Tot Casserole recipe. If you are needing a simple, crowd-pleasing meal, try this tater tot casserole. Even our 2-year-old approves. This is so comforting with basic, easy to love ingredients. Plus, this dish works for many occasions. Personally, I love this as part of a big family breakfast served alongside eggs and maybe something sweet (like sticky buns or cinnamon rolls), but it could work just as well as a main course or side dish at a potluck or holiday meal.

This may be a regional thing but you could also call this a tater tot hotdish. It has all the necessary elements—potatoes, meat, and can of condensed soup. In the Midwest where I live, we call it a casserole. Layers of meat, cheese and crispy tater tots create an affordable, filling meal—you’ll love this easy recipe!

Related: Biscuits and Gravy Casserole, Breakfast Casserole, Corn Casserole, Tuna Casserole and 100+ Comfort Food Recipes.

Ingredients

• Ground Beef – We used a lean ground beef. You may also swap it for sausage or turkey sausage if you want to lean into the breakfast vibe.
• Garlic – Minced garlic.
• Cream of Mushroom Soup – Or cream of chicken soup.
• Cheddar Cheese – For a melty, cheesy layer.
• Tater Tots – Frozen tater tots work just fine for this recipe.
• Chives or other Fresh Herbs – As garnish.

This tater tot casserole is essentially five basic ingredients, but I’ll share a few ways I spice it up so it’s more flavorful or seasonal. You’ll bake this all in a casserole dish.

Directions

Mince the garlic. In a large skillet or pan over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef with the garlic until cooked (no pink remains). The meat can be slightly undercooked at this stage, so don’t overcook it, as it will bake in the oven for another 35 minutes.

Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the can of soup and season with a little salt and pepper.

Now assemble the casserole. Lightly grease a 9×13 casserole dish. Add the meat mixture. Then sprinkle on the grated cheese. Then add a layer of tater tots to the top (frozen).

Bake at 350°F (177°C) for 35-40 minutes. The tater tots should look golden brown and crispy and the mixture below will be bubbling. Top with chives or other fresh herbs and serve warm.

Tips for Making

• Sometimes, I add more seasoning to the meat as I brown it, just for added flavor. Some good additions include: chili powder, cayenne, Italian seasoning, black pepper, onion powder or other spices you may love.
• If you want to reduce the amount of fat in this casserole, you could swap the ground beef for a ground turkey or ground chicken. You can also use ground pork if you like.
• I like to top this tater tot casserole with some green onions or chives, but you could use other fresh herbs like cilantro or for a holiday rosemary or thyme.

More Casserole Recipes:

I don’t eat chicken salad a lot, but when I do, it’s from Costco. It’s so tender, creamy, and perfectly seasoned that I have a hard time not eating the whole thing (which is probably meant to serve at least four people) in one sitting. But there are times when I can’t get to Costco, and desperate times call for desperate measures. For some, desperate might mean placing an Instacart order to have the chicken salad delivered (I promise I haven’t done this…yet). But for me, that means taking matters into my own hands and making a big bowl of the good stuff myself.

At the heart of a great chicken salad is juicy, tender meat. The best way we’ve found to achieve this is by cooking your chicken sous vide. By adding aromatics like lemon and herbs to the sous vide bags, you can also infuse the chicken with better flavor. But leftover roast chicken will work for these preparations, too, whether you’re making our classic chicken salad (which just might be better than the Costco version), or one of our many variations. With not one, but eight delicious recipes to choose from, I have no reason not to kick my Costco chicken salad obsession to the curb. The only thing that’s left to do is choose between piling it on toasted bread or digging in with a spoon.

Make mealtime fun, fast, and teenager-approved with these easy air fryer recipes designed with kids in mind—but loved by all ages. While these dishes were originally picked to satisfy little ones with big appetites, I can confirm they’re still a massive hit with my own teens. The best part? They’ve officially reached the age where they can whip these up on their own. That’s right—thanks to the magic of the air fryer, dinner no longer means hovering over a hot stove or begging them to eat something green.

From crispy chicken tenders and veggie-loaded nuggets to sweet potato fries and cheesy toasts, these air fryer creations are healthier takes on classic comfort foods. No deep frying, no drama—just golden, crunchy deliciousness with a fraction of the oil and effort. Whether you’ve got picky eaters, hangry teenagers, or you just want dinner on the table in under 20 minutes, these air fryer recipes are your new secret weapon.

Air Fryer Bread Pizza

Air Fryer Bread Pizza is a delicious and simple alternative to traditional pizza. It is made with bread rather than pizza base.

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Air Fryer Mini Potatoes

These Air Fryer Mini Potatoes are absolutely delicious, with a crispy outside that is perfectly seasoned. It’s a must-try recipe!

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Air fryer cheese toast consists of french bread slices topped with garlic herb butter and parmesan cheese. The toast is air-fried until crispy, and the cheese is melted and gooey.

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Air Fryer Frozen Wings

These air fryer frozen wings are cooked directly from the freezer to your air fryer and, when properly cooked, taste exactly like fresh wings.

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Air Fryer Empanadas

These savory Air Fryer Empanadas with Chicken are a lighter version of the classic dish that’s just as tasty and satisfying!

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Air Fryer Frozen Waffles

Cooking frozen waffles in the air fryer is quick and simple. This recipe consistently produces waffles that are perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

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Air Fryer Fajitas

When you need a delicious meal that will leave the family wanting more, look no further than air fryer fajitas!

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Air Fryer Dessert Sweet Potato Toast

This air fryer dessert sweet potato toast is the best simple dessert recipe. Chocolate is rich and high in healthy fats.

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Air Fryer Puff Pastry

Air fryer puff pastry is the ideal dessert! Cook puff pastry in the air fryer and serve with a variety of toppings for a simple and tasty treat.

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Air Fryer Sweet Potato Chips

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Chips crisp up nicely without using as much oil as deep frying, and they’re quick to make.

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Air Fryer Chocolate Cupcakes

Super moist and fluffy air fryer chocolate cupcakes topped with chocolate buttercream. They are simple to make and full of flavor.

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