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Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole With Ground Beef: Weeknight Win With Golden Tots

Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole with Ground Beef: Weeknight Win

Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole with Ground Beef: Weeknight Win layers browned beef and mushrooms with creamy soup, cheddar, and frozen tater tots for a bubbling bake with crisp edges.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 8
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 390
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Beef and mushroom layer
  • 1.5 pounds 93% lean ground beef browned and crumbled
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced
  • 8 ounces cremini mushrooms sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt for beef
  • 0.5 teaspoon black pepper for beef
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce for soup mixture
  • 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika for beef
Creamy sauce and topping
  • 10.5 ounces condensed cream of mushroom soup undiluted
  • 0.5 cup whole milk for soup mixture
  • 24 ounces frozen tater tots frozen and unthawed
  • 6 ounces sharp cheddar cheese shredded and divided

Equipment

  • 9-By-13-Inch Baking Dish
  • large skillet
  • Mixing bowl
  • Wooden spoon
  • Spatula

Method
 

Assemble and bake
  1. Heat the oven to 400°F and lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
  2. Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it into small crumbles. Add the onion and mushrooms, then cook until the beef has no pink remaining and the skillet is mostly dry, 7 to 9 minutes.
  3. Stir in the garlic, kosher salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika. Cook for 30 seconds, then remove the skillet from the heat.
  4. Whisk the condensed soup, milk, and Worcestershire sauce in a bowl until smooth.
  5. Spread the beef mixture evenly in the baking dish and spoon the soup mixture over it.
  6. Sprinkle 4 ounces of the cheddar over the sauce, then arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer.
  7. Bake uncovered for 35 minutes, until the tots are deeply golden and the filling bubbles around the edges.
  8. Sprinkle with the remaining cheddar and bake for 5 minutes more. Let the casserole stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Refrigerate leftovers in a covered container for up to 4 days. Reheat uncovered at 375°F until hot and the tots regain some crispness; microwaving is faster but leaves them soft. Baked portions can be frozen for up to 2 months, though the tots will soften slightly after thawing.