Description
A comforting and cheesy tater tot casserole featuring savory ground beef, diced tomatoes with green chilies, creamy mushroom soup, and melted cheddar cheese, baked to golden perfection. This hearty American main course is perfect for family dinners and easy to prepare.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Mixture
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 can (10 oz) Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies, drained
- 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
Topping
- 1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Cook Beef and Onion: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and finely chopped onion until the beef is browned and the onion turns soft. Drain any excess fat to keep the mixture from being greasy.
- Combine Ingredients: Stir in the drained Rotel tomatoes, condensed cream of mushroom soup, garlic powder, black pepper, and 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese. Mix everything thoroughly and heat through to combine the flavors evenly.
- Assemble Casserole: Transfer the beef mixture into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, spreading it evenly. Layer the frozen tater tots evenly over the beef mixture.
- Bake First Phase: Bake the assembled casserole uncovered for 35 minutes, allowing the tater tots to cook through and start crisping.
- Add Cheese and Bake Again: Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Return it to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Rest and Serve: Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes after removing from the oven. This helps it set for easier serving. Then serve warm.
Notes
- You can substitute cream of mushroom soup with cream of chicken or cream of cheddar soup for a different flavor profile.
- For a spicier dish, use hot Rotel diced tomatoes or add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the beef mixture.
- Add frozen mixed vegetables to the beef layer for extra nutrition and color.
- Ensure to use certified gluten-free soup to keep the dish gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 940 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
