Description
Tater Tot Taco Casserole is a hearty, cheesy weeknight dinner made with seasoned ground beef, taco spices, melted cheddar cheese, and crispy golden tater tots. It’s easy, comforting, and customizable with your favorite taco toppings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 small bell pepper, diced
- 1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning
- ½ cup water
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese or Mexican cheese blend
- 1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots
- 1 tbsp olive oil, if needed
- ½ cup sour cream, for serving (optional)
- ½ cup salsa, for serving (optional)
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro, for serving (optional)
- Sliced jalapeños, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef, onion, and bell pepper. Cook for 6–8 minutes, breaking up the beef, until browned and cooked through.
- Drain any excess grease from the skillet.
- Add the taco seasoning and ½ cup water. Stir well and simmer for 2–3 minutes, until the seasoning is evenly distributed and most of the liquid has reduced.
- Spread the seasoned beef mixture evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over the beef.
- Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer over the cheese. Keep them as evenly spaced as possible so they crisp properly.
- Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the tater tots are golden brown and crispy.
- For an extra-crispy topping, broil for 1–2 minutes at the end, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for 5 minutes.
- Serve warm with sour cream, salsa, cilantro, jalapeños, or your favorite taco toppings.
Notes
- Use freshly grated cheddar or a Mexican cheese blend for the smoothest melt.
- Lean ground beef can be used to reduce excess grease.
- For a vegetarian version, replace the beef with 2 cans of drained black or pinto beans.
- Add corn, diced green chiles, or extra bell peppers for more vegetables.
- Make it spicier with jalapeños, hot sauce, or spicy taco seasoning.
- For a milder casserole, use mild taco seasoning and omit the jalapeños.
- Assemble the casserole up to 24 hours ahead, cover, and refrigerate until ready to bake.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for 3–4 days.
- Freeze baked portions for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Reheat at 350°F (175°C) until heated through; broil briefly to restore some crispness to the tater tots.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Casserole, Comfort Food
- Method: Baking, Stovetop
- Cuisine: American, Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 485 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
Keywords: tater tot taco casserole, taco casserole, Mexican tater tot casserole, ground beef casserole, cheesy tater tot casserole, easy weeknight dinner