Description
Loaded Tater Tot Nacho Casserole is a comforting and indulgent dish featuring crispy baked tater tots layered with seasoned ground beef, sautéed peppers and onions, crispy bacon, and melted cheddar and mozzarella cheeses. This hearty casserole is perfect for a crowd or family dinner, topped with sour cream or Greek yogurt and hot sauce for added flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 Bag (2 lbs) Frozen Tater Tots
- 1 Pound Lean 90/10 Ground Beef
- 1 Medium Sweet Onion, diced
- 6 Mini Sweet Peppers or 1 large bell pepper, diced
- 6 Strips Center Cut Bacon, sliced
- 1/4 Cup Salsa
- 4 tsp Taco Seasoning
- 56 g (1/2 Cup) Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- 28 g (1/4 Cup) Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
Toppings
- Hot Sauce, to taste
- Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt, for serving
Instructions
- Bake Tater Tots: Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Spread the frozen tater tots evenly on a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes until crispy and golden brown.
- Cook Bacon: While the tater tots bake, slice the bacon into small pieces and cook over medium heat in a skillet until crispy. Transfer cooked bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess grease.
- Sauté Vegetables: Carefully wipe excess bacon grease from the skillet, leaving a small amount for flavor. Add diced peppers and onion, season lightly with salt and pepper, and cook for about 1 minute until slightly softened.
- Cook Ground Beef: Add ground beef to the skillet with the vegetables. Break it up with a spatula and cook until browned but still slightly pink, about 5 minutes.
- Season Beef Mixture: Stir in taco seasoning and salsa. Continue cooking until beef is fully cooked and flavors are well combined, approximately 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Assemble Casserole: Spray a 10.5 inch cast-iron skillet with nonstick spray. Add a layer of baked tater tots on the bottom, then spread half of the beef mixture over the tots. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheeses, and add hot sauce if desired.
- Layer Again: Add another layer of tater tots carefully fitting them together. Top with the remaining beef mixture, cooked bacon pieces, and the final 1/4 cup of cheddar cheese.
- Bake Casserole: Place the assembled skillet back in the oven and bake for 10 minutes until cheese is melted and everything is heated through.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from oven and let cool for 5 to 10 minutes. Add additional toppings such as lettuce, sour cream, or Greek yogurt before serving. Scoop out servings and enjoy your loaded tater tot nacho casserole!
Notes
- Use a deep cast-iron skillet for easy layering and even cooking; alternatively, a baking sheet, cake pan, or small baking dish can be used.
- Since all ingredients are pre-cooked, you can assemble in bowls and serve immediately, skipping the final bake.
- Feel free to add other favorite nacho toppings like jalapeños, black olives, or guacamole to customize the dish.
- For a crispy alternative, try cooking the loaded tater tots in an air fryer following a similar layering method.
- This dish is indulgent and best enjoyed as an occasional treat rather than a low-calorie option.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: twenty-eight g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
