Cheesy Cowboy Tater Tot Casserole

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Created on August 30th, 2025 at 11:49 am

Hearty, comforting, and weeknight-ready!

This Cheesy Cowboy Tater Tot Casserole is the kind of recipe you’ll want to keep on repeat. It’s creamy, crispy, cheesy, and loaded with hearty beef and golden tater tots – aka comfort food at its finest! Whether you’re feeding a hungry family on a school night or need a reliable dish for your next potluck, this casserole delivers big flavor with minimal effort. With just a few pantry staples and 10 minutes of prep, you’ll have a delicious dinner baking while you kick up your boots. Bonus: it’s easy to customize, prep ahead, or freeze for later. 🙌 It’s everything we love about ground beef casserole recipes with the extra magic of crispy tots on top!

Ground beef casserole topped with crispy golden tater tots, just baked

⏱️ Time Breakdown

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 6

📝 Ingredients List

½ pound ground beef (85/15)
1 cup corn (frozen or canned & drained)
⅔ cup condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
⅓ cup whole milk
¼ cup sour cream
1 teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ cup beef bacon, cooked and crumbled
32 oz frozen tater tots

✨ Kitchen Tools You’ll Need

This recipe doesn’t require fancy gadgets, just a few reliable kitchen basics to keep everything simple and stress-free:

Large skillet or frying pan
Sharp knife
Cutting board
Measuring cups & spoons
Mixing bowl
9×13 baking dish
Wooden spoon or spatula
Oven mitts

👩‍🍳 Step-by-Step Beginner-Friendly Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
While it heats, prep your beef mixture.
Brown the beef.
In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until fully browned and no longer pink (about 6–8 minutes). Drain any excess grease.
Mix the filling.
Add corn, cream of mushroom soup, ½ cup of cheddar, milk, sour cream, onion powder, pepper, and crumbled beef bacon. Stir well until evenly combined. 🧀🥣
Layer the casserole.
In a 9×13 baking dish, spread the beef mixture evenly. Top with a single layer of tater tots arranged neatly over the surface.
Bake uncovered.
Place the dish in the oven and bake for 40–45 minutes, until bubbly and golden on top.
Finish with cheese.
Sprinkle remaining cheddar cheese over the hot casserole and bake for an additional 5 minutes until melted. 🤤
Let it rest.
Cool for 5 minutes before serving. Serve hot and enjoy every cheesy, crispy bite!

💡 Pro Tips Section

Make Ahead: Assemble everything and refrigerate (uncooked) for up to 24 hours. Just bake when ready!
Freezer Friendly: Freeze the baked casserole for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight and reheat in oven at 350°F.
Slow Cooker Version: Layer everything in your crockpot and cook on LOW for 5 hours – no peeking!
Swaps & Add-ins: Try swapping corn for black beans, adding diced tomatoes, or mixing in chopped green chiles for a Tex-Mex twist.

📊 Nutrition Table

Serving Size	Calories	Protein	Carbs	Fat	Fiber	Sugar
1 plate	593	20g	48g	37g	4g	3g

Disclaimer: Nutrition facts are estimated using online tools and may vary based on your ingredients and preparation. Please consult a nutritionist for precise dietary advice.