Published: by Chandice · This post may contain affiliate links · 13 Comments
JUMP TO RECIPE
This easy Tater Tot Casserole is a one-dish meal of classic comfort food that will become an instant family favorite and satisfy even your picky 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 9×13 or deep 9×9 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!
Subscribe to This Vivacious Life
Receive a free e-book of Instant Pot recipes!
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 1/3 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+)
Need an EASY and delicious breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert?
Take a look at my Sheet Pan Meals and More!
NEED MORE GOODNESS? Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter for great recipes, entertaining ideas and more!
Easy Tater Tot Casserole (Grandma’s Recipe)
5 from 29 votes
This easy tater tot casserole is a one pan meal that is simple to put together and even easier to clean up (because there won't be anything left). It is the epitome of a family friendly meal that everyone will cheer for!
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Cook Time: 50 minutes mins
Total Time: 1 hour hr
Course: Beef
Cuisine: American
Keyword: casserole, tater tot
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 485kcal
Author: Chandice
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cup or two 10 oz. cans homemade gluten-free cream of chicken soup
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup fresh or frozen peas
- 1 cup fresh or frozen corn
- 1/2 cup fresh or frozen diced carrots
- 1 pound ground hamburger cooked (leftovers from taco night work great here!)
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, divided more for topping if you’d like
- 32 ounces frozen tater tots, divided
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Cook the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-low heat until browned
In a 9×13 pan, combine vegetables, cooked beef, soup, salt, pepper, half the cheese (1/2 cup) and half the tater tots
Top with remaining tater tots and cover dish with tinfoil then bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes
Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese and cook uncovered for 10 minutes
Video
Notes
Give this classic tater tot casserole some Mexican flair by adding in 1 T taco seasoning and 1/3 C salsa. Also, switch your cheese to pepper jack.
It freezes so well! Assemble everything together then put foil over and freeze it. You would just need to pull it out of the freezer and let it sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before baking.
Pro Tip:Double this recipe and put one pan in the freezer assembled and wrapped in tinfoil but not baked. You just saved yourself a night of cooking!
Pro Tip: For more flavor, take afew extra minutes to make our homemade gluten-free cream of chicken soup to use instead of store bought. You won’tregret it!
This recipe can easily be made gluten-free by using GF tater tots and cream of chicken soup. It can be made dairy-free by using dairy free cream of chicken soup and cheese.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 485kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 1091mg | Potassium: 1008mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1955IU | Vitamin C: 17.3mg | Calcium: 135mg | Iron: 2.2mg
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.
Hi, I'm Chandice!
Parties, gatherings, gorgeous food and ESPECIALLY holidays with my people are what make my heart pitter patter. Having a place to share our favorite traditions, recipes and celebrations is very important to me. I live each day with unapologetic, authentic happiness and hope to help others do the same.More About Chandice
FREEBIES
Subscribe to receive a FREE e-book of Instant Pot Dinner Recipes!
Reader Interactions
Comments
Larry Aldrich says
I am one to mix things up a bit….and my wife has health challenges that sometimes make cooking, so she can eat it, a challenge. Today…..making tater tot casserole and to do something different adding a can of “Rotel” to have more of a Southwest flavor. Time will tell I reckon.
Reply
Chandice says
That’s great Larry! So glad you made it your own way 🙂
Reply
Teralee Williams says
By far, my favorite recipe of Grandma’s! Way to represent!!Reply
Sam says
OMG THIS IS SO GOOD! We even left out the cheese and devoured it! Thank you for such an easy and delicious recipe! Definitely will be making this over and over again!Reply
Chandice says
Awwww thank you so much for letting me know! I have loved it since I was a little girl and I am so glad you do as well. 🙂
Reply
JD says
This is really good and easy to make, too. Thanks, Chandice!Reply
Jess says
I’m so glad I found this! So many people in my family are either intolerant to gluten or have Celiac disease, so it’s always a struggle to think of new meal ideas when we are all together.Reply
Chandice says
Thanks Jess, so glad you loved it!
Reply
Rachel says
Thank you so much for the easy instructions! I love that this is made using frozen veggies…such an easy to throw together on a weeknight! My husband and I love this!Reply
Chandice says
Thanks Rachel, yes it is super easy! 🙂
Reply
Erin says
I made this for my family and my kids loved it! I loved how easy it was! Thanks for a great recipe.Reply
Chandice says
Thank you! It is our kids favorite too! 🙂
Reply
Miki says
This recipe looks so good! Finding great recipes since going gluten free has been challenging so thanks for the tips.This looks like a recipe even my husband will eat.
Reply