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Easy Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole With Sour Cream 

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Tater tot casserole is a comforting delicious dish that is a combination of savory ground beef and a creamy, cheesy filling, topped off with crispy tater tots, melted cheese, and bacon bits.


This crowd pleasing dish is so easy to make, perfect for busy weeknights or family gatherings!

There is a light tan plate with a serving of a casserole made of ground beef, cream soup, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, tater tots, and crumbled bacon on the top of the casserole. There are four stalks of roasted asparagus on the plate as well. The plate is on a light gray surface.

It’s one of those easy dinner recipes that can be thrown together in a short amount of time and everyone loves it!

​In this post, we’ll look at key ingredients, how to make this simple recipe, and some variations of this delicious casserole.

Simple Ingredients For The Best Tater Tot Casserole

There are eight white bowls of various sizes. The largest bowl has tater tots in them. There is a medium size bowl with raw ground beef in it. There are four smaller bowls. One has shredded cheddar cheese in it, one has milk, one has sour cream, and the forth has condensed cream of chicken soup it it. There is also a small bowl with cooked crumbled bacon. There is a whole white onion, a white ramekin with a pad of butter it it. There are four clear ramekins. One has Worcestershire sauce, one has garlic powder, one has ground black pepper and the last one has salt in it. All items are on a light gray surface.

What You Will Need

  • Butter 
  • Onion – chopped
  • Ground beef
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Milk
  • Sour cream
  • Cream of chicken soup
  • Sharp cheddar cheese – shredded
  • Garlic powder
  • Black pepper
  • Salt
  • Non-stick cooking spray
  • Frozen tater tots
  • Bacon – cooked and crumbled

Equipment and Helpful Tools

  • Casserole dish
  • Large skillet
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons
  • Cutting board
  • Large cutting knife
  • Whisk 
  • Spatula or wooden spoon
  • Large slotted spoon or strainer
  • Aluminum foil 
  • Oven mitts
There is a white plate serving of a casserole made of ground beef, cream soup, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, tater tots, and crumbled bacon on the top of the casserole. There is a serving of sauteed spinach on the plate as well. The plate is on a light wood surface.

Key Ingredients Of This Easy Casserole Recipe


Tater tots – These bite size cylinders of shredded, deep fried potatoes create a crispy golden brown topping.

You can use your favorite brand that is found in the frozen food section of your local grocery store.

Ground meat – The most popular choice for this classic tater tot casserole usually is ground beef but you can substitute ground chicken or ground turkey. 

Creamy sauce – A variety of condensed soups can be used in this delicious recipe.

Cream of chicken is a favorite although cream of celery and cream of mushroom soup are often used. If you really want the casserole to be extra cheesy, try using cheese soup!

Shredded cheese – Cheddar cheese is most commonly used but feel free to mix in other cheese varieties like Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, or Swiss for a some extra flavor.

Additional Ingredients

Milk -whole milk is my preference for creaminess. Low fat 2% is fine, but I wouldn’t go below that. 

Sour cream – This also helps with the creaminess and adds a little flavor and tang. 

Worcestershire sauce – This just gives it a little extra zing, which I love in ground beef! It’s optional, but it really adds a lot of flavor to it.

Chopped onion – I use white onion but you could also use yellow onion.

Garlic powder – Garlic salt can be used. If you do use it, omit adding additional salt.

Step By Step Easy Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

There is a large gray skillet with cooked pieces on onion in it. A large wooded spoon is resting in the skillet. The skillet is on a light gray surface.

How Do I Make Easy Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole With Sour Cream?

  • Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Cook chopped onion. (see Recipe Tip)
There is a large gray skillet with browned ground beef and small pieces of onion in it. A large wooden spoon is resting in the skillet. The skillet is on a light gray surface.
  • Add the ground beef and cook until done. 
  • Add Worcestershire sauce to the cooked ground beef and simmer for a couple minutes.
Large white mixing bowl with milk, condensed soup, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in it. There is a stainless steel whisk to the side of the bowl. Items are on a light gray surface.
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the sour cream, milk, soup, 2 cups of the shredded cheese, and dry seasonings together. 
There is a large white mixing bowl with a creamy sauce and cooked ground beef on top of it. The mixing bowl is on a light gray surface.
  • Drain the excess grease and add the ground beef mixture.
  • Throughly blend.
There is a large rectangular clear pan with a creamy ground beef mixture in it. Baking dish on on a light gray surface.
  • Pour mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
There is a large rectangular clear pan with a creamy ground beef mixture covered with a layer of light brown tater tots. Baking dish on on a light gray surface.
  • Arrange tater tots in a single layer on top of the casserole.
  • Bake uncovered in preheated oven for approximately 35-40 minutes. 
There is a large rectangular clear pan with a creamy ground beef mixture covered with light brown tater tots, shedded cheddar cheese. There is crumbled bacon sprinkled over the top of. Baking dish on on a light gray surface.
  • Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar and bacon bits (see Recipe Tip) over the crispy tater tots. 
  • Bake for another 10 – 15 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly. 
There is a large rectangular clear pan with a baked creamy ground beef mixture covered with light brown tater tots, shedded cheddar cheese. There is crumbled bacon sprinkled over the top. Baking dish on on a light gray surface.

Variations Of Creamy Tater Tot Casserole

Vegetarian alternatives – Replace the ground beef with chopped tofu, black beans or a medley of sauteed vegetables like bell peppers, corn, and mushrooms.

Mexican Tater Tot Casserole – Switch up the dish by adding Tex Mex flavors of cumin, green chiles, and a Mexican blend cheese.        

Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole – Transform this casserole dish into a morning meal by adding eggs and using breakfast sausage or ham.     

Recipe Tip

To have a quicker prep time, you can buy pre-chopped onions and cooked bacon at most groceries stores.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Store Tater Tot Casserole?

To store Tater Tot Casserole, cover the baking dish with aluminum or place leftovers in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to five days.

How Do You Reheat A Tater Tot Casserole?

To reheat the casserole, let it come to room temperature. Place in a 350 degrees preheated oven.

Warm the tater tot casserole for 20 to 30 minutes.

You can also heat any leftovers in the microwave for 1-2 minutes per serving. Note that if you use the microwave, the tater tots won’t be crispy.

What Types Of Vegetables Do You Serve With Tater Tot Casserole?

Try serving roasted asparagus, sauteed spinach, Brussels Sprouts, or a side salad with your casserole for a complete meal.

Why Is My Tater Tot Casserole Soggy?

There could be a few reasons your casserole is soggy. Often, the main reason is excess moisture due to: not cooking the onions fully, too much ice on the frozen tater tots, or not cooking the casserole long enough.

Looking for more great casseroles to try?

Here are some more of my casserole recipes that are family favorites!

Yield: 10 servings

Easy Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole With Sour Cream

There is a light tan plate with a serving of a casserole made of ground beef, cream soup, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, tater tots, and crumbled bacon on the top of the casserole. There are four stalks of roasted asparagus on the plate as well. The plate is on a light gray surface.

Tater tot casserole is a comforting delicious dish that is a combination of savory ground beef and a creamy, cheesy filling, topped off with crispy tater tots, melted cheese, and bacon bits.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1/3 cup white onion - chopped
  • 1.5 pounds ground beef
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup - 10.5 ounces
  • 2.5 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Non-stick cooking spray
  • 24 ounces frozen tater tots (or enough to cover the top of the dish)
  • 1/3 cup cooked crumbled bacon (about 5 slices)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Gather all the ingredients.
  3. Lightly spray baking dish with non-stick cooking spray
  4. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  5. Cook onion 2 to 3 minutes or until softened.
  6. Add the ground beef and cook until done. (No longer pink)
  7. Add Worcestershire sauce to the cooked ground beef and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.
  8. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the sour cream, milk, soup, 2 cups of the shredded cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper together. 
  9. Drain any excess grease from the cooked beef by using a large slotted spoon or strainer.
  10. Add the ground beef mixture to bowl and throughly blend.
  11. Pour mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
  12. Arrange the tater tots in a single layer on top of the creamy mixture.
  13. Bake uncovered in the oven at 350 degrees F for approximately 35-40 minutes. 
  14. Use oven mitts and take the hot dish out of the oven. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar and bacon bits over the crispy tater tots. 
  15. Place the casserole back in the oven and bake for another 10 -15  minutes or until the cheese is bubbly. 
  16. Use oven mitts to remove pan from the oven.
  17. Let stand for a few minutes before serving.

Notes

Equipment Needed and Helpful Tools

9 x 13 inch casserole baking dish

Large skillet

Large mixing bowl

Measuring cups

Measuring spoons

Cutting board

Large cutting knife

Whisk 

Spatula or wooden spoon

Large slotted spoon or strainer

Aluminum foil 

Oven mitts

Key Ingredients:

Tater tots - These bite size cylinders of shredded, deep fried potatoes create a crispy golden brown topping. You can use your favorite brand that is found in the frozen food section of your local grocery store.

Ground meat - The most popular choice for this classic tater tot casserole usually is ground beef but you can substitute ground chicken or ground turkey. 

Cream soup - A variety of condensed soups can be used in this delicious recipe. Cream of chicken is a favorite although cream of celery and cream of mushroom soup are often used. If you really want the casserole to be extra cheesy, try using cheese soup!

Shredded cheese - Cheddar cheese is most commonly used but feel free to mix in other cheese varieties like Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, or Swiss for a some extra flavor.

Additional Ingredients:

Milk -whole milk is my preference for creaminess. Low fat  2% is fine, but I wouldn’t go below that. 

Sour cream - This also helps with the creaminess and adds a little flavor and tang. 

Worcestershire sauce - This just gives it a little extra zing, which I love in ground beef. It’s optional, but it really adds a lot of flavor to it.

Chopped onion - I use white onion but you could also use yellow onion.

Garlic powder - Garlic salt can be used. If you do use it, omit adding additional salt.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest


© Laura @ Join me in the Kitchen
Cuisine: American / Category: Casseroles

Angie Dittmar

Saturday 22nd of July 2023

This recipe is perfect for a get together! I made it ahead of time and it was a huge hit! Everyone loved it !

Laura @ Join me in the Kitchen

Monday 24th of July 2023

Woohoo!

Bob Bobby

Sunday 16th of July 2023

TOTS are life! Such a great unique recipe. Yum! 10/10 Will rock your socks right off with the flavor explosion!

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