Tater Tot Casserole is a beloved comfort dish found in many Midwestern homes. Known for its satisfying layers of ground beef, creamy soups, and a crispy tater tot topping, this hearty bake is perfect for family dinners or potlucks. Its origins lie in economical, pantry-friendly cooking, where canned soups and frozen ingredients come together quickly. It's a crowd-pleaser that’s easy to make, filling, and full of
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1 oz dry onion soup mix (½ package)
- ½ can cream of celery soup
- 1 can cream of chicken soup
- 32 oz tater tots
Instructions
Step 1: Brown the Beef
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat until fully cooked. Drain excess fat.
Step 2: Mix Ingredients
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked ground beef, dry onion soup mix, cream of celery soup, and cream of chicken soup. Mix well.
Step 3: Assemble the Casserole
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Spread the beef mixture evenly into a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Top with an even layer of frozen tater tots.
Step 4: Bake
- Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 1 hour, or until the tater tots are golden and crispy.
Tips
- Add shredded cheddar cheese between the meat layer and tater tots for extra richness.
- Replace ground beef with ground turkey for a lighter version.
- Add frozen vegetables (peas, corn, green beans) to make it a one-pan meal.
- Use the whole can of cream of celery instead of half for additional creaminess.
- Substitute dry onion soup mix with chopped fresh onions + garlic powder.
- Add a dash of Worcestershire sauce to the beef for deeper flavor.
- Make it spicy with diced jalapeños or red pepper flakes.
- Use crispy crowns instead of tater tots for a different texture.
- Prepare in advance and refrigerate overnight to bake the next day.
- Double the recipe and freeze one casserole for future meals.
Transcription of the Original Recipe
Read or copy the transcription
Casserole 2 lb ground beef ½ pkg. dry onion soup ½ can cream celery - 1 can Cream of chicken tater tots 1 hr. 350.
From Transcription to Instructions
The original directions were basically an ingredients list and “1 hr. 350., ” so we turned that little note into friendly, step-by-step instructions to keep you sane in the kitchen. We focused especially on the two things the note left vague: brown and drain the beef before anything else, and mix that beef with the dry onion mix and both cream soups so the filling is even. The instructions also tell you to preheat to 350, spread the mixture in a dish, top with tater tots, and bake an hour until golden.
Nutrition
Calories: 515kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 28gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1.2gCholesterol: 98mgSodium: 1130mgPotassium: 650mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 325IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 85mgIron: 3.1mg
