Description
Hearty midwestern classic tater tot casserole delivers pure nostalgic warmth straight from family kitchens. Layers of ground beef, creamy sauce, and crispy potato tots create a comforting meal that brings generations together at one delicious table.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 pound ground beef
Starch:
- 1 (32 ounces) package frozen tater tots
Dairy and Seasoning:
- 1 (10.75 ounces) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350°F, preparing a spacious baking vessel for the hearty casserole.
- Sauté ground beef in a skillet over medium heat, breaking it into fine crumbles until completely browned and no pink remains.
- Drain excess fat from the meat, then fold in cream of mushroom soup, creating a rich, savory base with a gentle seasoning of salt and pepper.
- Transfer the beef and soup mixture to the baking dish, spreading it into an even, smooth layer that covers the entire bottom surface.
- Arrange frozen tater tots in a uniform, overlapping pattern across the meat mixture, ensuring complete coverage.
- Generously distribute shredded Cheddar cheese over the tater tots, allowing it to cascade between the potato nuggets.
- Slide the casserole into the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, watching for a golden-brown crust on the tater tots and a bubbling, melted cheese topping that signals perfect doneness.
Notes
- Select lean ground beef to reduce excess grease and create a lighter dish.
- Enhance flavor by adding diced onions or minced garlic when browning the meat for extra depth.
- Substitute cream of mushroom soup with cream of chicken or a homemade white sauce for a fresher alternative.
- Create a gluten-free version by using gluten-free cream soup and checking cheese ingredients for potential gluten contamination.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg