Description
This Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole is a comforting and easy-to-make dish featuring savory ground beef, melted sharp cheddar cheese, creamy chicken soup, and crispy tater tots baked to golden perfection. Perfect for a family dinner, this casserole combines hearty flavors with a deliciously crispy topping for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 1/2 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
Seasonings and Condiments
- 1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt (plus additional 1/2 teaspoon for sprinkling)
Dairy
- 1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese
Other
- 1 (10 ounce) can cream of chicken soup
- 1/2 pound frozen tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F to ensure it’s at the perfect temperature for baking the casserole evenly.
- Cook Ground Beef and Onion: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and diced onion until the beef is browned thoroughly and the onion becomes soft and translucent. Drain any excess fat.
- Assemble Base Layer: Transfer the cooked ground beef and onion mixture to the bottom of a 9×9 inch casserole dish, spreading it out evenly.
- Season the Meat: Gently sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of seasoned salt over the beef and onion mixture to enhance the flavors.
- Add Cheese: Evenly sprinkle all of the sharp cheddar cheese over the seasoned meat mixture.
- Spread Cream of Chicken Soup: Spread the entire can of cream of chicken soup evenly over the cheese and meat layer.
- Top with Tater Tots: Arrange the frozen tater tots as the top layer on the casserole, placing them evenly to cover the surface.
- Final Seasoning: Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of seasoned salt evenly over the tater tots for added flavor.
- Cover and Bake: Cover the casserole dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes to cook through and meld the flavors.
- Uncover and Finish Baking: Remove the foil and bake the casserole uncovered for another 20 minutes to crisp up the tater tots on top.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and serve the casserole immediately while hot and cheesy.
Notes
- For a more flavorful variation, consider adding garlic powder or paprika to the seasoning.
- You can substitute the cream of chicken soup with cream of mushroom for a different flavor.
- Be sure to use frozen tater tots straight from the freezer to achieve a crispy topping.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven to maintain crispiness.
