This tater tot casserole recipe is easy to make!

Seasoned ground beef and veggies are mixed in a creamy sauce and topped with melty cheddar and crispy tater tots.

This casserole is versatile and everyone loves it.

cheesy Classic Tater Tot Casserole in a casserole dish

You’ll Love This Tater Tot Casserole Because….

  • Your family will love it—it’s a meal that the whole family can agree on.
  • Budget-friendly tater tot casserole is hearty enough to feed a crowd.
  • Tater tot casserole has meat, veggies, and spuds in one easy casserole.
  • Assemble a day ahead and keep it covered in the fridge until ready to bake.
tater tots , vegetables , milk , cream of mushroom soup , ground beef , cheese , onion , oregano, parsley , salt and pepper with labels to make Classic Tater Tot Casserole

What You’ll Need For This Tater Tot Casserole

  • Tater tots – Use any brand of frozen tater tots in this recipe or frozen potato puffs—any shape will work.
  • Beef – Use lean ground beef in this recipe. It can be replaced with ground chicken or ground turkey.
  • Soup – Condensed cream of mushroom soup is the base of the sauce for this recipe and makes prep super fast. Replace it with any condensed cream soup like cream of celery or chicken .
  • Vegetables – Use a frozen vegetable medley or replace it with cooked leftover veggies.
  • Cheese – Sharp cheddar delivers the best flavor, but shredded mozzarella, Monterey Jack, or a Mexican blend works in a tater tot casserole.

How to Make Tater Tot Casserole

  1. Cook ground beef and onion and drain any fat (recipe below).
  2. Mix the veggies, soup, milk, seasonings, beef, and some cheese.
  3. Spread the mixture in a casserole dish and top with the remaining cheese.
  4. Arrange tater tots on top and bake.
easy Classic Tater Tot Casserole in a bowl with casserole dish full in the back

Leftovers?

Leftover tater tot casserole tastes even better the next day! Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and reheat portions in the microwave. Wrap up leftovers in a tortilla for a hearty (and portable!) school or workday lunch.

Freeze portions in zippered bags for up to 4 months and thaw overnight before reheating.

More Creative Casseroles

Did you enjoy this Tater Tot Casserole Recipe? Be sure to leave a comment and rating below.

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cheesy Classic Tater Tot Casserole in a casserole dish
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Classic Tater Tot Casserole

Cheesy, creamy, and loaded with hearty ingredients, tater tot casserole is comfort food at its finest!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 6
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Ingredients  

  • 28 to 30 ounces frozen tater tots 1 bag
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced
  • 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables thawed, or fresh diced vegetables
  • 10.5 ounces condensed cream of mushroom soup 1 can
  • cup milk
  • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon dried parsley
  • salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  • In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef and onion until no pink remains. Drain any fat.
  • In a medium bowl, mix the thawed vegetables, soup, milk, seasonings, beef mixture, and ½ cup shredded cheese.
  • Spread the beef mixture into a 3qt or 9×13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top.
  • Top with tater tots and bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until the sauce is bubbly and the tots are golden brown.

Notes

*If using fresh vegetables such as carrots and celery, they should be steamed or can be cooked in the frying pan along with the browned beef until tender.
Frozen vegetables should be thawed first. Any variation or mixture of vegetables can be added. 
Canned mushroom soup can be substituted with other “cream of” soups, gravy, or even a can of gravy or tomato soup.
Any size casserole dish can be used for this recipe. A deeper dish may need a little bit of extra cooking time.
This casserole can be assembled ahead of time and refrigerated. If chilled from the fridge, it will require extra baking time.
Leftovers will keep for 4 days in the refrigerator and 4 months in the freezer. 
4.99 from 123 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 606 | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 1326mg | Potassium: 939mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 3492IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 337mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Beef, Casserole, Dinner, Entree
Cuisine American
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tasty Classic Tater Tot Casserole in a bowl and in a dish with writing
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Classic Tater Tot Casserole on the dish and plated with a title

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About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. With a passion for nostalgic flavors and simplified techniques, Holly helps busy home cooks create delicious meals that always work. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
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Comments

  1. I made this tonight for the first time. It was OUTSTANDING! *I used defrosted frozen corn for vegetable. I will have this casserole in regular rotation now. Thank you for sharing it.5 stars

  2. Hi, if I need to half this recipe do you thin a 8×8 or 9×9 dish would be best?

    Thanks Holly!

    1. An 8×8 pan should work well for this half this recipe. I would love to hear how it turns out for you, Joyce!

  3. Dearest Holly, Thanks for all the easy and delicious recipes! My husband loved the tater tot casserole! Thanks again!5 stars

  4. My sister nudged me onto this site for recipes that were easy and delicious..
    I am super excited she did !
    Thank you for offering easy but homemade meals that are no fuss !5 stars

  5. This was so good and so easy to make and a huge hit in our house. Thank you so very much for this quick and easy recipe.5 stars

  6. Wow! How good and easy! This is a keeper. I will be trying this with chicken or turkey next time. Just added a little garlic powder. Thank you so much!

  7. Great! I hadn’t made a Tater Tot Casserole for decades and is perfect for Football Sunday! I used mushroom broth instead of milk and added peppers and bacon bit for flavor. Yummy!5 stars