Description
This Best Tater Tot Casserole is a comforting, hearty dish featuring lean ground beef, savory mushroom soup, crisp green beans, melted cheddar cheese, and golden tater tots baked to perfection. It’s an easy-to-make, satisfying meal perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Mixture
- 1 lb lean ground beef (the leaner the better)
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
Main Layers
- 15 oz can green beans, drained
- 10.75 oz can condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 cups frozen tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F to get it ready for baking the casserole.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Lightly grease an 8 or 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking and set it aside for later use.
- Cook Ground Beef: Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it up as it cooks. Once browned, drain excess fat to keep the dish leaner.
- Sauté Onions: Add diced onions to the skillet and sauté them for 4 to 5 minutes until they become translucent and fragrant.
- Add Garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute, stirring frequently to avoid burning.
- Season Meat Mixture: Mix in Worcestershire sauce and season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste for enhanced flavor.
- Layer Meat Mixture: Transfer the cooked ground beef mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread it out evenly to form the base layer.
- Add Soup, Beans, and Cheese: Top the ground beef evenly with the cream of mushroom soup, then add a layer of drained green beans, seasoning the green beans with salt and pepper. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over the green beans.
- Top with Tater Tots: Arrange the frozen tater tots evenly on top of the cheese layer, covering the casserole.
- Bake: Bake the casserole in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown and the cheese has melted completely.
- Serve: Remove from oven and serve immediately while hot and bubbly for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- For a leaner dish, choose ground beef with at least 90% lean content.
- You can substitute cream of mushroom soup with cream of chicken or celery soup for a different flavor.
- If you prefer crispier tater tots, you can broil the casserole for the last 2–3 minutes, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Season the layers individually to ensure balanced flavor throughout the casserole.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
