Description
A comforting and hearty casserole dish that combines the classic flavors of meatloaf with the crispy goodness of tater tots, all smothered in melted cheese. This Cheesy Tater Tot Meatloaf Casserole is a family-friendly favorite that’s easy to make and perfect for a cozy dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatloaf Mixture:
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- ½ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (divided)
- 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables (optional)
Additional Ingredients:
- 1 (28-ounce) bag frozen tater tots
- ½ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- Chopped parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Prepare the meatloaf mixture: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, ½ cup of cheddar cheese, and mixed vegetables if using. Mix well but do not overwork the meat.
- Form the casserole: Press the meat mixture evenly into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Arrange tater tots in a single layer over the meat.
- Add toppings: Mix ketchup and brown sugar, then spread over the tater tots.
- Bake: Bake uncovered for 40–45 minutes until fully cooked. In the last 5 minutes, sprinkle remaining cheese over the casserole and bake until melted.
- Rest and serve: Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley if desired.
Notes
- You can swap cheddar for Colby Jack or pepper jack for different flavors.
- To add more veggies, finely dice and mix them into the meat layer.
- Leftovers reheat well and make a great next-day lunch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 generous slice
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 115mg
