Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole – This mouthwatering casserole gets 5 stars across the board for ease, versatility, and absolute yumminess! Hearty ground beef, crunchy bacon, and crispy tater tots come together for the ultimate taste experience. It’s everything wonderful about cheeseburgers and fries in one super easy dish!
I was introduced to tater tots shortly after I moved to the States. To be honest, I was skeptical at first. I’m a die-hard, number 1 French fries fan! But after one bite of that crispy, golden exterior and tender interior, I had a new favorite comfort food!
Then I started asking friends for their favorite tater tot recipes and experimenting with variations. And this cheeseburger tater tot casserole recipe finds itself on my meal rotation every couple of weeks or so. Why? Because it’s fast, easy, and fun to personalize. Plus, being loaded with tater tots makes it 100% kid-approved!
What Are Tater Tots?
Tater tots are grated potatoes seasoned, shaped into small cylinders, and then deep-fried. In other words, bite-sized pillows of yum! (health concerns aside for a moment😉) And they’re an excellent side dish or a snack. The name tater tot is a registered trademark, but the same product style is potato gems, tater treats, or potato crunchies.
Recipe Ingredients
- Bacon – For that bacon cheeseburger taste and crunchy texture.
- Ground Beef – To give a classic burger vibe and rich taste. You could also use ground chicken or turkey for a lighter option.
- Veggies – Garlic, onion, and tomatoes give substance and flavor to the cheeseburger part of this tater-tot casserole.
- Steak Seasoning – A delectable blend of spices adds flavor and a touch of warmth.
- Sauce – Ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise make the meat sauce creamy, zesty, and flavorful.
- Cheese – I use freshly grated sharp cheddar for that intense cheesy taste and gooey creaminess I love about cheeseburgers. But any good melting cheese (Monterey Jack, Colby, American, etc.) works great.
- Tater Tots – The star attraction gives this casserole its ultra-crunchy, golden topping. Double yum!
- Toppings – Use classic toppings such as pickles, tomatoes, and lettuce for that cheeseburger experience!
How to Make Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole
Prep the Ingredients
- Cook the Bacon – Cook chopped bacon on the stovetop in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until crispy and golden, 5-7 minutes. Transfer cooked bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain. Reserve 2-3 tablespoons of bacon drippings in the skillet. (Photo 1)
- Cook the Hamburger – Add ground beef to the pan and cook until no pink remains. Drain excess fat from the pan. Then add onion, garlic, tomatoes, and steak seasoning. Cook, stirring frequently, until onion is translucent, 3-5 minutes. (Photos 2-4)
- Add Sauces – Reduce the heat to low, then add mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, and half of the cooked bacon. Mix until thoroughly combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste. (Photos 5-6)
Assemble Your Casserole
- Assembly – Transfer the burger mixture to your baking pan and spread it out evenly. Top with shredded cheddar cheese and sprinkle with the remaining bacon. Arrange your tater tots on top of the cheese and bacon in a single layer.
- Bake – Bake uncovered for 40-45 minutes, or until it bubbles around the edges and the tater tots brown to a beautiful golden.
- Top it Off – Garnish with your favorite cheeseburger toppings and serve.
Recipe Variations
- Raise the heat level by adding several dashes of hot sauce to the meat or sprinkling some jalapenos onto the meat layer!
- Add a couple of teaspoons of Worcestershire or soy sauce to the meat mixture for a pop of umami.
- Substitute the ketchup and mustard for BBQ sauce for a smokey, fresh-off-the-grill flavor!
Tips and Tricks
- To ensure your tater tots are crispy and golden, arrange them carefully in a single layer so they don’t overlap. Then make sure they’re resting on the cheese, not pressed into the mixture.
- Even though the meat mixture contains liquid, remember to spray your baking dish with a non-stick cooking spray. With a dish this easy, washing up should be easy, too!
- For this recipe, lean ground beef works best. If you use a fuller fat beef, strain off as much fat as possible to keep your casserole from getting too moist.
Make-Ahead Instructions
You can assemble this recipe (except the tater tots) the day before for an even easier weeknight meal. Cover the casserole and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours. Then when you’re ready to bake, bring it to room temperature, layer on your tater tots, and follow the baking instructions.
Even better, double the recipe, then freeze one of your baked casseroles. Thaw in the fridge overnight! Your future self will thank you!
Serving and Storage Instructions
Refrigerate your leftover casserole in a sealed container for up to five days. Reheat in the oven for 30 minutes. Or you can reheat individual pieces in the microwave for 1-2 minutes on High, although the tater tots will lose some of their crispiness.
FAQs
You can! Prep the meat mixture as described and place it in a slow cooker. Top with the cheese and tater tots, then cook on low for about 6 hours. The tater tots don’t get as crispy, but it’s a great way to have supper waiting when you get home!
Of course! Canned green beans and corn work well, as do canned tomatoes or sliced black olives. This dish is so tasty your kids will gobble it up without realizing it has veggies!
Both tater tots and hash browns are grated potatoes fried in oil. However, there are a few differences. Tater tots are grated finer and shaped into small cylinders, whereas hash browns are either fried as they are or formed into patties. Tater tots have a creamier interior, while hash browns are crispier.
What to Serve With Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole
Cheeseburger casserole with tater tots is a hearty one-dish meal on its own! That said, a light side dish such as avocado corn salad or Greek salad is refreshing and tasty. Or, if you’re looking to amp up the veggies, sauteed zucchini or parmesan-crusted baked asparagus will add color and nutrients to the dinner table!
More Amazing Kid-Friendly Recipes to Try
Conclusion
All the great taste of cheeseburgers and fries without the messy cleanup, bacon cheeseburger tater tot casserole will have everyone singing your praises! What tater tot casserole toppings do you use? Leave me a comment below with your faves!
Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 6 strips bacon, chopped
- 2 pounds (900g) ground beef
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 plump tomato, diced
- 1 tablespoon (12g) steak seasoning
- ½ cup (230g) mayonnaise
- ¼ cup (60g) ketchup
- 2 tablespoons (30g) yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon (5g) salt
- ½ teaspoon (1.5g) black pepper
- 2 cups (240g) cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- 1 32-ounce bag frozen tater tots
- Your favorite cheeseburger toppings, pickles, tomatoes, lettuce, etc. for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F/177℃. Lightly grease the bottom and sides of an 8×12-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
- Cook chopped bacon on the stovetop over medium-high heat in a large cast iron skillet until crispy and golden, 5-7 minutes. Transfer cooked bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain. Reserve 2-3 tablespoons of bacon drippings in the skillet.
- Next, add ground beef to the pan and cook until no pink remains. Drain excess fat from the pan. Then add onion, garlic, tomatoes, and steak seasoning and cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is translucent or 3-5 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to low, then add mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, and half of the cooked bacon. Mix until thoroughly combined—season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Transfer the burger mixture to the prepared baking pan and spread it out evenly. Top with shredded cheddar cheese and sprinkle with the remaining bacon. Arrange your tater tots on top of the cheese and bacon in a single layer.
- Bake uncovered for 40-45 minutes until bubbly around the edges and tater tots are golden and crispy.
- Garnish with your favorite cheeseburger toppings and serve.
Tips & Notes:
- To ensure your tater tots are crispy and golden, arrange them carefully in a single layer so they don’t overlap. Then make sure they’re resting on the cheese, not pressed into the mixture.
- Even though the meat mixture contains liquid, remember to spray your baking dish with a non-stick cooking spray. With a dish this easy, washing up should be easy, too!
- For this recipe, lean ground beef works best. If you use a fuller fat beef, strain off as much fat as possible to keep your casserole from getting too moist.
- Please remember that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.
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