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Creamy Cheesy Ground Beef Tater Tot Casserole

creamy cheesy ground beef tater tot casserole - featured image
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A comforting and easy-to-make casserole featuring a creamy cheesy ground beef base topped with crispy golden tater tots. Perfect for quick weeknight dinners and customizable to suit your taste.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound (450g) ground beef (85% lean recommended)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 32 ounces (900g) frozen tater tots
  • 2 cups (200g) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup (100g) shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 can (10.5 ounces / 300g) cream of mushroom soup (or cream of chicken as substitute)
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • Optional: 1 small green bell pepper, diced

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 6-8 minutes, breaking it apart until no longer pink. Drain excess fat if needed.
  3. Add diced onion and minced garlic to the beef. Cook for 4-5 minutes until onions are translucent and fragrant.
  4. If using, stir in diced green bell pepper and cook for another 3 minutes until slightly softened.
  5. In a mixing bowl, combine cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Stir until smooth.
  6. Pour the creamy mixture into the skillet with the beef mixture. Stir well to coat evenly and cook on low heat for 2-3 minutes until heated through.
  7. Transfer the beef mixture into a prepared 9×13-inch baking dish, spreading evenly.
  8. Sprinkle 1½ cups (150g) cheddar cheese and all the mozzarella evenly over the beef layer.
  9. Arrange frozen tater tots in a single layer on top of the cheese without thawing.
  10. Bake in the oven for 35-40 minutes until cheese is bubbly and tater tots are golden and crispy. Rotate the dish halfway through baking if needed.
  11. Optional: Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup (50g) cheddar cheese over the tots in the last 5 minutes of baking for extra cheesiness.
  12. Let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to set and cool slightly.

Notes

Keep tater tots frozen until just before baking to ensure crispiness. Drain excess fat from beef to avoid soggy casserole. Freshly shred cheese for best melt and texture. Tent casserole with foil if topping browns too fast but inside is not hot enough. Avoid stirring casserole mid-bake to develop a crispy crust.

Nutrition

Keywords: ground beef casserole, tater tot casserole, cheesy casserole, easy dinner, comfort food, weeknight meal

Find it online: https://dahliadishes.com/creamy-cheesy-ground-beef-tater-tot-casserole-easy-homemade-recipe/