Description
This Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole is a comforting and hearty dish featuring browned lean ground beef, a creamy cheesy sauce loaded with vegetables, and topped with crispy golden tater tots. It’s baked to perfection and perfect for a satisfying family meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 3-4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 32-oz. bag frozen Tater Tots® (DO NOT THAW)
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Cream Sauce
- ¼ cup flour
- 1¼ cups low sodium chicken broth, divided
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons beef bouillon (granulated, base or crushed cubes)
- 1 ½ teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 8 oz. (2 packed cups) freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
- ¼ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 1 15 oz. can green beans, drained
- 1 cup sweet corn (canned and drained or frozen, not thawed)
- 1 cup petite frozen peas, not thawed
Instructions
- Prep the Oven and Dish. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and lightly spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray, then set it aside for later use.
- Brown the Beef and Onions. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onions and sauté them for 3 minutes until softened. Add the ground beef and cook until browned through. Drain the excess grease. Then add minced garlic along with chili powder, dried parsley, dried thyme, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Cook everything together for 1 minute to blend the flavors.
- Make the Cream Sauce. Sprinkle the flour evenly over the beef mixture and cook over medium heat for 1 minute to remove the raw flour taste. Reduce the heat to low. Gradually stir in 1 cup of the chicken broth, followed by the milk. Add soy sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, beef bouillon, and Dijon mustard to the mixture and whisk to combine.
- Simmer and Thicken. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer while whisking often. Continue simmering for about 7 minutes until the sauce thickens to a consistency that will hold the tater tots without them sinking. This sauce should be quite thick before baking.
- Add Cheese and Vegetables. Remove the pot from heat and whisk in ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese until melted. Stir in the sour cream or Greek yogurt. Fold in the drained green beans, sweet corn, and frozen peas. If needed, add the remaining ¼ cup chicken broth to keep the sauce thick but slightly saucy. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
- Assemble the Casserole. Transfer the beef and vegetable mixture to the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Then arrange an even layer of frozen tater tots on top, using less than the full 32-oz. bag.
- Bake the Casserole. Place the casserole in the oven and bake at 350 degrees F for 45 to 50 minutes until the tater tots become golden brown and the casserole bubbles around the edges. For extra crispy tots, broil for a few minutes if desired.
- Add Remaining Cheese and Finish Baking. Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese over the top. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes at 350 degrees F until the cheese melts.
- Cool and Garnish. Let the casserole cool for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired for added color and freshness.
Notes
- You can prepare the casserole without the tater tots and refrigerate it tightly covered for up to 48 hours; add the tater tots just before baking.
- If refrigerating before baking, let the casserole rest at room temperature for 30 minutes before baking to ensure even cooking.
- Add an extra 10-15 minutes to the baking time if you bake from chilled to make sure the casserole is heated through.
- For a lighter version, substitute ground turkey for the beef and use reduced-fat cheese and sour cream or yogurt.
- Broiling the tater tots for the last few minutes adds a delicious crispy top layer, just watch closely to avoid burning.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
