Tater Tot Casserole
This hamburger Tater Tot Casserole, aka Tater Tot Hotdish, offers a creamy ground beef and mushroom sauce with a crispy and cheesy tater tot topping. Quick and easy to make with 15 minutes of hands-on prep time, this all-in-one, comforting dinner is perfect for busy weeknights all year round.
My family loves creamy hamburger and potato dishes. Just like my hamburger and potato casserole and ground beef hash brown bake, this easy tater tot casserole is packed with stroganoff-like, creamy, and savory ground beef, topped with parmesan covered tater tots. Comfort food at its best!
I love it because it’s an easy, budget-friendly dinner option the whole family will enjoy – even those picky eaters!
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Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 yellow onion sliced
- 8 oz white button mushrooms sliced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1/2 tsp Italian herbs
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 3/4 cup beef stock
- 2 tbsp cornstarch or flour
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups mini hashbrowns aka tater tots
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley optional, as garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425F (220C).
- Add olive oil to a large oven-proof skillet (or large frying pan) over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, breaking it up with a spatula or large spoon.1 tbsp olive oil, 1 lb ground beef
- Add the sliced onion and mushrooms and cook alongside the ground beef, about 2-3 minutes until slightly softened and the beef starts to get brown. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Season the mixture with salt, ground black pepper, and Italian herbs.1 yellow onion, 8 oz white button mushrooms, 2 garlic cloves, 1/2 tsp Italian herbs, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- Sprinkle the cornstarch over the mixture and stir to combine. Cook until the mixture thickens, about 1 minute.2 tbsp cornstarch, 3/4 cup beef stock
- Stir in the beef stock and cook the sauce for 2-3 minutes until it thickens. Remove the pan or skillet from the heat. Add the heavy cream and stir to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.1/2 cup heavy cream
- Place the frozen tater tots on top of the thickened beef and mushroom mixture. Sprinkle over the parmesan cheese and bake it in the oven for 20 minutes until the tater tots are fully cooked and the cheese is melted. Switch on the broiler or grill for the last 5 minutes if the tater tots don't have enough color yet. You want them to be nice and crispy!2 cups mini hashbrowns, 1/2 cup grated parmesan
- Remove the tater tot casserole from the oven and let it sit for 10 minutes before serving to slightly cool it down. Garnish with fresh parsley (optional) and serve.1 tbsp fresh parsley
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Ingredients and substitutions
- Beef – I use lean ground beef for this dish with a 5% fat content but any ratio will work for this dish. Simply drain off any excess fat if you’re using a higher fat mix. Ground lamb, chicken, or turkey would work too for this recipe.
- Tater tots – Mini hash browns make a super easy and delicious casserole topping. I use store-bought ones in this recipe for convenience but you can follow my beef hash brown casserole recipe if you want to make a classic, from-scratch cheesy hash brown topping.
- Cheese – Shredded parmesan cheese adds a savory cheesy crust to the tater tots. You can use a quick melting cheese such as mozzarella or cheddar cheese as well but the hash browns can easily get soggy.
- Cream – Heavy cream works best for this recipe for maximum flavor but you can use lighter options including a classic sour cream stroganoff sauce. This easy, from-scratch recipe doesn’t require cream of mushroom soup.
- Vegetables – Yellow onion, white button mushroom, and fresh garlic give this casserole its savory notes and Hamburger Helper inspired taste. You can use 1 tsp of garlic powder instead. Brown mushrooms or portobello mushrooms are delicious options too. I don’t recommend using red onions as they will discolor the sauce. Add frozen peas, corn, green beans, or baby spinach to the hamburger mushroom sauce to add more color and vegetables to the casserole.
- Seasoning – Italian herbs, salt, and black pepper keep the seasoning side simple but you can add some red pepper flakes for some heat or a more complex Mediterranean seasoning blend instead of the mixed herbs for extra flavor.
Step-by-step: Beef Tater Tot Casserole
1. Break up and brown the ground beef in some olive oil lightly.
2. Add the sliced onions and mushrooms. Cook for 2-3 minutes until softened.
3. Season the mixture and add the cornstarch. Stir to combine to make a simple roux.
4. Add the beef stock and mix to combine. Stir through the cream and season to taste.
5. If you haven’t cooked it in an oven-proof skillet, add the beef mixture to a baking dish first. Add the tater tots on top in an even layer.
6. Sprinkle over grated parmesan cheese and bake for 20 minutes until golden brown.
My top 3 tater tot casserole tips
- Crispy topping: For perfectly crispy tater tots, use sharp, lower-moisture cheese such as Parmesan or Pecorino that will brown beautifully instead of steaming the topping.
- Undercook beef initially: To avoid dry, rubbery beef, brown it lightly initially, remembering it will continue to cook in the oven.
- Preheat well: A fully preheated oven ensures the tater tots cook quickly and evenly without overcooking the filling.
