The Impossibly Easy Ground Beef Dinner Your Family Is Guaranteed to Love

If you’re looking for a weeknight dinner that feels like a night off, you’ve come to the right place. This cozy casserole is incredibly easy to prepare, and with no chopping at all it’s no wonder that tater tot casserole is a beloved dish that families have relied on for generations. Some parts of the country call this recipe tater tot casserole, while others use the name hotdish. Linguistics aside, maybe we can agree that this layered bake is delicious.

Tater tot casserole starts with savory ground beef stirred into a creamy sauce that’s layered with green beans (if you want to add a green vegetable) and gooey cheddar cheese. Dinner isn’t done without a blanket of crispy, golden tater tots as the finishing touch.

Why You’ll Love It

• Tots! Is it possible to avoid a smile when dinner is topped with crispy, golden tater tots? I think not.

• It’s classic comfort food. We’ve reached peak cozy with this casserole. It’s made with savory ground beef, tender green beans, a creamy sauce, and a crispy layer of potatoes.

Key Ingredients in Tater Tot Casserole

• Ground beef: You’ll need 1 1/2 pounds of lean ground beef for this casserole.

• Cream of mushroom soup: Many of our parents and grandparents kept cans of this creamy shortcut in their pantries for casseroles just like this one. No can on hand? It’s simple to whip up a homemade version of the condensed soup.

• Sour cream: Adds a slightly tangy flavor so that the cream sauce doesn’t fall flat.

• Cheddar cheese: Pre-shredded cheese works, but grate your own cheese for superior melting.

• Frozen green beans: Make this an all-in-one meal by adding a layer of frozen cut green beans.

• Tater tots: In all their golden, potato-y glory, this casserole is capped with a layer of frozen tater tots. You’ll need 24 to 32 ounces of tots, depending on the shape of your baking dish.

How to Make Tater Tot Casserole

1. Brown the ground beef. The trick to cooking and browning ground beef is to stir infrequently, giving the meat a chance to develop color and flavor.

2. Make the filling. There’s no need to dirty a separate bowl to make the filling. Stir the cooked ground beef, condensed soup, sour cream, and cheese together directly in the baking dish.

3. Add green beans and tater tots. Spread frozen cut green beans over the filling, then top with frozen tater tots. You can arrange them neatly in rows or just nudge them haphazardly into an even layer.

4. Bake and finish with more cheese. Slide the casserole into the oven for 20 minutes, then add a final layer of shredded cheese. Return to the oven and bake until the cheese is melted, the tots are golden, and the filling is bubbling.

Helpful Swaps

• You can keep it simple by seasoning the ground beef with just kosher salt and black pepper, or bump up the seasoning by sautéeing onion and garlic with the meat.

• Adding a layer of frozen vegetables makes this a complete meal. Swap out the green beans with frozen mixed vegetables or use leftover vegetables from the fridge.

• Swap cream of mushroom soup with another variety of condensed creamy soup. Alternatively, you can make a homemade cream sauce (or béchamel sauce) with butter, flour, and milk.

Storage Tips

If you find yourself with leftovers, transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.

Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

You had me at tots.

Prep time 5 minutes

Cook time 45 minutes to 50 minutes

Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients

• Cooking spray

• 1 teaspoon neutral oil, such as canola or vegetable

• 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef

• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

• 2 (10.5-ounce) cans condensed cream of mushroom soup

• 1/2 cup sour cream

• 8 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided (about 2 cups)

• 1 (10-ounce) bag frozen cut green beans (do not thaw)

• 24 to 32 ounces frozen tater tots (6 to 8 cups, do not thaw)

Instructions

Show Images

1. Heat the oven to 400°F. Coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

2. Heat 1 teaspoon neutral oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Cook, breaking up the meat into bite-size pieces, until cooked through and no longer pink, 8 to 10 minutes.

3. Transfer the meat to the baking dish. Add 2 (10.5-ounce) cans condensed cream of mushroom soup, 1/2 cup sour cream, and 2 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese (about 1/2 cup). Stir to combine. Spread into an even layer. Arrange 1 (10-ounce) bag frozen cut green beans in an even layer over the soup mixture. Arrange 24 to 32 ounces frozen tater tots on top in an even layer.

4. Bake for 20 minutes. Sprinkle evenly with the remaining 6 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese (1 1/2 cups). Continue baking until the filling is bubbling around the edges, the cheese on top is melted, and the tater tots are golden-brown, 15 to 20 minutes more.

Recipe Notes

Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Further Reading

We Asked 3 Chefs to Name the Best Ice Cream, and They All Said the Same Thing

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