Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole Classic Comfort Food

Anytime Tater Tot Casserole comes up in conversation (and believe me, it actually comes up more than you’d think) it sparks childhood memories. My friend told me every time her mom was out of town, her dad would make a big batch and they’d eat on it all week. Another friend remembers forgoing any sort of vegetables in their recipe and piling her plate high with cheese, beef and that kid-friendly favorite: tater tots! But if this one-dish wonder never graced your childhood dinner table, it’s time to introduce your family to the best easy tater tot casserole recipe. Serve with a side salad or some fresh fruit for a complete meal!

Ingredients in Tater Tot Casserole

The most wonderful thing about casseroles are their versatility. Many of the ingredients in this casserole recipe are interchangeable, except of course for those tender taters it’s named for. Traditionally, this recipe calls for the following:

Ground beef – You can also use ground turkey or ground pork in place of hamburger meat. Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup – Use canned or make your own condensed cream of mushroom soup. Homemade creamed soups are so good and easy to make! Cream of chicken soup or cream of celery soup an also be used. Vegetables – Green beans, corn, frozen mixed veggies or peas are favorites around here. Tater tots – Piles of delicious crispy tater tots. Shredded Cheddar Cheese – Lots and lots of gooey cheese. Try it with sharp cheddar cheese or Mexican blend cheese. Sour cream – optional, but you can top a serving of casserole with a dollop of sour cream.

Kick Up the Flavor

If you are looking to add more flavor to this casserole dish, you can always include more flavor-enhancing ingredients to the ground beef mixture.

Add minced garlic or garlic powder Use a tablespoon or so of Worcestershire sauce Sprinkle on onion powder and/or dry ranch dressing mix powder Replace Ground beef with spicy ground sausage. Add diced bacon along with the ground beef

Variations and Additions

This delicious family dinner staple can be dressed up a million different ways. Your kids will beg for all the casserole all the time! Try these favorite variations on the traditional Tater Tot Casserole:

Chili Tot Casserole– Add chili, corn, and olives to the base and top with tater tots and cheese Mexican Style– Use taco seasoning in the ground beef, then add green chiles, corn, diced tomatoes, black beans and pepper jack cheese to give this recipe a spicy kick. Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole– Who says dinnertime is the only time for tater tots? Layer those gorgeous potato nuggets with eggs, crumbled breakfast sausage and cheese.

Is Tater Tot Casserole Gluten Free?

YES! But here’s the catch. It’s gluten free if, and only if, you use cornstarch as the thickener for the sauce instead of flour AND you make sure you’re using a gluten free bouillon powder. It’s available next to regular bouillon at most grocery stores. Just be sure to check those labels! When using cornstarch as the thickener you can use half the amount– so about 3 tablespoons should be all you will need to make your sauce.

Make Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole Ahead of Time

How to Store and Reheat Tater Tot Casserole

Store leftovers is an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheating this tater tot hotdish is simple and it tastes delicious! Take the frozen dish out of the freezer and allow to thaw in the refrigerator. Then bake as directed. Leftovers taste even better the next day (or several days, as my friend can attest from her childhood). This recipe reheats in the microwave beautifully. You could also pop it under the broiler to crisp up your tots again.

More Quick Casseroles

You can never have too many casserole recipes on hand for those busy weeknights. Here are some delicious comfort classics:

Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole California Breakfast Casserole Easy Chicken Casserole Cheesy Enchilada Casserole Chicken Broccoli and Quinoa Casserole Spaghetti Casserole