Easy Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

What's just as hearty as a meal of meat and potatoes? How about tater tot casserole? The quintessential meal that represents affordability, taste, and a way to feed an army easily, tater tot casserole is filling and flavorful. Recipe developer and mom of three teenage boys Laura Sampson of Little House Big Alaska offers a twist on this traditional dish that will leave you returning to the baking dish for a second heaping scoop.

Instead of using tater tots with meat in a soup base with a few veggies tossed in for a healthier balance, Sampson gives this dish a tasty spin with bacon and plenty of cheese. This dish truly is a crowd pleaser that even her teenage boys give a thumbs up to. Whether you use bacon bits or whip up your own bacon, this dish will fill you up, too. Even better is the fact that it takes just 10 minutes to prepare and 50 minutes in the oven.

To begin your tater tot casserole, preheat the oven to 350 F. Spray a 7x11-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Then, brown one pound of lean ground beef over medium heat, mixing in half a cup of chopped onion for flavor. Place in a heat-resistant bowl.

While any ground meat such as turkey or chicken could be substituted in this dish, beef is traditionally the protein source used. Whatever is on sale at the grocery store will work, too.

"If you can get ground beef at an affordable price, then the rest of the ingredients can be pretty budget-friendly," Sampson said.

Instead of using cream of mushroom soup like the traditional recipe, Sampson uses 1, 10.5-ounce can cheddar cheese soup for the cheesy flavor. Add this to the meat, along with 1 cup sour cream and 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese.

You can also try your own modifications, such as adding ranch seasoning to the tater tot bake, or even making cheesy chili tots by adding chili beans to the base. The options are plentiful.

Sprinkle in 6 tablespoons real bacon bits or cooked, minced bacon you prepped yourself. If you're seeking a healthier bacon for this recipe, you can fix it yourself by either roasting it on a baking rack in the oven at 400 F for 15-20 minutes until cooked through, or popping the bacon in the microwave on a microwave-safe plate lined with a paper towel.

You can try turkey bacon for a leaner option, too. You'd be surprised at how good it tastes.

Pour the tater tot casserole mixture into the prepared baking dish, then carefully layer the frozen tater tots across the top. While Sampson's finished dish looks simply picture perfect, it isn't that easy to line the tots up so nicely and to get them to be so even. What's her secret?

"Precision and years of practice," she said. "You can scatter them on if you'd rather, but it actually cooks better when they're in rows."

So even though it may take a bit longer, try and line them up as best you can.

Bake your tater tot casserole uncovered in the preheated oven for 45 minutes or until bubbling hot. Remove it from the oven and top it with the remaining half a cup of shredded cheese and the remaining bacon. Place it back in the oven to bake for another 5-10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.

Feel free to sprinkle thinly sliced green onions across the top for garnish, and add a dollop of sour cream on each served square.

Be sure to let the easy cheesy bacon tater tot casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. That allows the cheesy soup mixture to firm up and helps it become a firmer casserole. That, in turn, makes it easier to serve as well.

Since casseroles bake for a considerable amount of time and hold in a lot of heat, it's important to let them set so they simmer down to a temperature that won't burn your mouth when you take that first incredible bite. It'll still be plenty warm when it's plated as long as you don't wait too long.