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Quick Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole: Easy 30-Minute Dinner

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A quick and easy cheeseburger tater tot casserole that comes together in about 30 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights, this crowd-pleaser features seasoned ground beef, melty cheese, and crispy tater tots for pure comfort food satisfaction.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20 works best)
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced (about 1/2 cup)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika (smoked paprika recommended)
  • 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup
  • 1/2 cup milk (whole milk preferred)
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (sharp cheddar recommended)
  • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots (no need to thaw)
  • Optional toppings: chopped green onions, pickled jalapeños, ketchup, mustard

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. Brown the beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up, until no longer pink (about 5-6 minutes). Drain most of the fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon.
  3. Add aromatics: Add diced onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Season the meat: Stir in Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and paprika. Cook for 1 minute. Taste and adjust seasoning.
  5. Make the sauce: Reduce heat to low. Add cream of mushroom soup and milk. Stir until smooth and combined. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
  6. Add half the cheese: Stir in 1/2 cup cheddar and 1/4 cup mozzarella until melted and creamy.
  7. Transfer to baking dish: Pour beef mixture into a 9×13 inch baking dish and spread evenly.
  8. Top with tater tots: Arrange frozen tater tots in a single layer over the beef mixture, packing them tightly.
  9. Add remaining cheese: Sprinkle remaining cheddar and mozzarella evenly over the tater tots.
  10. Bake: Place dish in preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until tater tots are golden brown and cheese is melted and bubbly. For extra crispy tots, broil for the last 2 minutes.
  11. Rest and serve: Let casserole sit for 5 minutes before serving. Top with optional toppings and serve.

Notes

For best results, use 80/20 ground beef for flavor. Don’t thaw tater tots before baking. Let casserole rest 5 minutes before serving to set. For extra crispy tots, broil for last 2-3 minutes. Can be assembled ahead and refrigerated for up to 24 hours before baking (add 10 minutes to baking time). Freezes well for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: cheeseburger casserole, tater tot casserole, easy dinner, weeknight dinner, ground beef casserole, comfort food, 30-minute meal

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