Shake up your Taco Tuesday with this tater tot casserole for when you need an easy casserole recipe your whole family will love. A comfort food dish that is meaty and so satisfying. Crispy tots, taco meat and gooey cheese.
Next time try this cowboy tater tot casserole, same deliciousness with different ingredients.
This is an extremely delightful dish, that bursts with flavors, textures and above all easy to make. A formula that is a winner in my kitchen.
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❓Why This Recipe Works
- Just 10 minutes of prep time and you are done.
- Use canned beans and sauce for shortcut or make your own.
- Kid- friendly recipe and very convenient for busy families.
- An easy go to for potlucks as well.
Flavored ground meat with cheese, beans and green chiles simmered in enchilada sauce and covered with crispy tater tots. There is nothing about this casserole that isn't good.
📝 Ingredients
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- Ground beef, you can also use ground chicken or turkey if you prefer to.
- Black beans or pinto beans.
- Frozen tater tots.
- Taco seasoning.
- Enchilada Sauce.
- Onion.
- Garlic.
- Mexican Blend Cheese.
🥄 Instructions
Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the recipe box below.
- In a skillet, saute onions until translucent then add garlic and cook for 30 minutes.
- Add meat and brown then drain excess fat.
- Add taco seasoning, chiles, beans, enchilada sauce and some cheese.
- Mix everything well together.
- If you are using a pan that can go directly in the oven, then arrange tater tots on top of your pan then bake. If not then transfer to a baking dish place the tater tots on top and bake as directed below.
💡 Tips
- If you do not have taco seasoning, you can season the ground beef with a couple of teaspoons of chili powder.
- I like to use a cast iron skillet as it gets the job done on stove top and the oven.
🧺 Storage
Store any leftover in an air-tight container for up to 4 days.
⌛ Make Ahead
- Assemble the casserole in the baking dish, double wrap with foil and freeze. When ready to use, take it out and bake as directed just give it some extra oven time.
- You can also bake the dish, wait for it to completely cool then wrap with foil and freeze. To enjoy, let it thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the oven.
Related Recipes
- Try this delicious 20-minute sour cream chicken enchilada casserole for dinner tonight.
- Hamburger hashbrown casserole is a comfort food recipe that combines flavorful ground beef with crispy hashbrowns and melted cheese. Try this healthier take on this classic casserole without the cream of chicken soup.
- Warm comfort food at its best. Ground beef doritos casserole is a super delicious, savory mix of seasoned ground beef, cheese and doritos. A kid friendly meal for busy parents.
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Taco tater tots casserole
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons oil.
- 1 small onion diced.
- 2 garlic cloves crushed.
- 1 lb ground beef.
- 1 (1 oz) package taco seasoning mix.
- 1 (4 oz) can Chopped Green Chiles.
- 1 (15 oz) can black or pinto beans, rinsed and drained.
- 3 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese.
- 1 (28 oz) package frozen tater tots.
- 1 (10 oz) can Red Enchilada Sauce.
Serve with:
- olives
- Sour Cream
- Cilantro
Instructions
- In a cast iron skillet over medium heat, sauté onion and garlic in oil. Add beef and cook until no longer pink.
- Drain the fat then return to stove top.
- Preheat oven to 375F.
- Add the green chiles, taco seasoning mix, enchilada sauce, beans, and 2 cups of the cheese. Stir together to combine.
- Arrange tater tots on top of the mixture in a single layer.
- Bake uncovered for 30-40 minutes or until tater tots are nice and crispy. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of cheese on top and place back in the oven for 2-3 minutes or until cheese has melted.
- Top with olives, cilantro, when serving if using.
Video
Notes
- If you do not have a cast iron, prepare in a skillet then pour mixture into the prepared 9x13 pan.
- I like to use a cast iron skillet as it gets the job done on stove top and the oven.
- If you do not have taco seasoning, you can season the ground beef with a couple of teaspoons of chili powder.
- Storage:
- Store any leftover in an air-tight container for up to 4 days.
- Make Ahead:
- Assemble the casserole in the baking dish, double wrap with foil and freeze. When ready to use, take it out and bake as directed just give it some extra oven time.
- You can also bake the dish, wait for it to completely cool then wrap with foil and freeze. To enjoy, let it thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the oven.
Nutrition
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First published April 10, 2018. Last updated September 9, 2021 for better images, step by step instructions and readability.
Kelley Cunningham
I think it is awful that we have to worry about gun violence in schools. My daughter's school has been on lockdown more times that I can remember. Neither should our children have to worry about it. It SHOULD all be grades and cleaning rooms. Our society needs to focus on and address the causes. Thank you for sharing your recipes. I hope you have a great summer!
Amira
Kelley, you are 100% right. This past year especially near the end of the school year we've had about two lockdowns and it was terrifying, a young soul was taken and it was hard for the whole community :(. I hope things will be better soon and somebody finds a solution for this. Thank you for your comment.
Evelyne CulturEatz
A fabulous quick recipe. I am craving it right now. I can't remember when I had tater tots last time. Yes keep loving them and serve them this and all will be alright.
John / Kitchen Riffs
What a fun dish! I haven't had tater tots in ages, and this is such a creative way to use them. And tasty! This is just loaded with flavor. Thanks!
Nathalie
Salam Amira and thank you for the wonderful recipes! I would love yo try this recipe however unfortunately tater tots are not available in my country. Can I use something else? Would hash browns work? Thanks so much