Easy Tater Tot Casserole (Grandma's Recipe)

An easy, one-dish meal, this Tater Tot Casserole is a classic comfort food that will become an instant family favorite. Using simple ingredients like frozen tater tots, hamburger, and veggies, you can satisfy even your pickiest eaters. This classic recipe of grandma's is the epitome of a tasty weeknight meal that the whole family will cheer for!

Need more casserole recipes? Try gluten-free green bean casserole with homemade fried onions, gluten free corn casserole, gluten-free eggs benedict casserole, gluten free french toast casserole, gluten free breakfast casserole.

Why I love this casserole

• Grandma’s recipe - My grandma Donna used to make her own variation of this dish that only had peas in it. I always loved it so much! I have made just a few changes since then but it is still equally delicious.
• Popular - Wikipedia says that tater tot casserole originates from and has remained popular in the upper midwest United States. Casseroles and hot dishes both usually contain a variety of meat, veggies and starch. Much like this easy taco casserole.
• Easy and budget friendly - Casseroles are especially popular for larger families who need to make big quantities of food on a budget (similar to our Chinese noodle casserole). It's one of those easy dinners for those busy weeknights.

How to Make Tater Tot Casserole

• Cook: Simply start by cooking up your ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat until it is browned. I like to add a bit of salt and pepper as well. 
• Add: Next, add the cooked ground beef (also great for our tacos), half the tater tots and vegetables together in 9x13 or deep 9x9 casserole dish with salt and pepper.
• Pour: Add the cream of chicken soup into the tots and ground beef mixture along with half of the cheese (or all if you are like me and don't like it on top) and mix the ingredients evenly.

• Even out: Flatten the top and then evenly spread out the remaining tots and cover with tinfoil.
• Bake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and bake for 40 minutes.
• Sprinkle: Remove and uncover then sprinkle the rest of the shredded cheese on top of the tater tots if you love that gooey goodness and bake for 10 more minutes uncovered.

Make Ahead, Freezing, and Reheat Instructions

To make ahead: Assemble everything together in a baking dish then put aluminum foil over and freeze it. OR you can go ahead and bake it first then freeze, it’s just as good the next day.

Freezing: It freezes so well! Just make sure that aluminum foil is nice and tight around the baking dish before you pop it in the freezer.

Reheat: If you freeze before baking, let the casserole sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before baking. If you baked before freezing, you will just need to warm it up before serving. Perfect for those busy weeknights and picky kids!

Recipe Variations

• Different meats: The great thing about this easy tater tot casserole recipe is that there are a few different alternatives that can really switch up the flavor profile a little bit. Try different ground meats like ground turkey or lamb. 
• Swap the veggies: Put a few simple ingredients like green beans, bell peppers, or green onions on your grocery list and swap those in for the peas and/or corn.
• Flavor twist: Give this classic tater tot casserole and easy recipe some Mexican flair by adding in 1 T taco seasoning and ⅓ C salsa. 
• Different cheese: Switch your sharp cheddar cheese to pepper jack. You can also top the crispy tater tots with sour cream and a splash of worcestershire sauce.
• Homemade cream soup: Take a few extra minutes to make our homemade gluten-free cream of chicken soup to use instead of store bought. You won't regret it! It can even be made dairy-free.

Have extra beef? This easy beef stroganoff or this keto taco casserole are both great recipes for using it up. Or give my gluten free burger a try!

A Note About Gluten-Free Tater Tots

While many tater tots are gluten-free, it is important to always check. I've been surprised how many contain wheat flour or other gluten ingredients.

Here are just a few that are gluten free. As with anything, eat at your own discretion. If you have found any other brands, we'd love to hear about them in the comments below.

• Ore Ida Golden Tater Tots
• Cascadian Farms Spud Puppies (according to their twitter page: They don't carry a gluten free claim, but there are no wheat allergens)
• Lamb Weston Crispy Potato Puffs (not labeled but also no warning of shared facility or gluten ingredients on the label)

More Delicious Dinner Recipes:

• BEST Gluten-Free Spaghetti
• Cheeseburger Tots
• BEST Roast Chicken
• Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots
• Gluten Free Casserole Recipe (50+)

This post was originally published March 14, 2014 with the photo below. I have updated the photos and the ingredients slightly but is the same classic recipe you love.