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Tater Tot Casserole (Tater Tot Hotdish)

Sarah Pyle

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This super easy Tater Tot Casserole recipe (aka hotdish) is a complete meal in one pan.  A dish the whole family is sure to love, you can mix and match the filling and vegetables for your favorites.  This recipe makes two pans, so bake one for dinner and freeze the other for a ready to go freezer meal!

close up of tater tot casserole with ground beef and peas filling

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Tater Tot Casserole is exactly what it sounds like. (Although in parts of the country it is called “Hotdish.”) Ground meat, frozen vegetables and a sauce mixed into a delicious, easy casserole and topped with frozen tater tots. It is filling and a complete meal in one plate.

And to make it even better, you can make one or two at a time and package them up as freezer meals or bake right away. For more easy casserole dinner, make sure to check out our Tuna Noodle Casserole or Beef Shepherd’s Pie!

Ingredients

ingredients for tater tot casserole: ground beef, shredded cheese, tater tots, cream of mushroom soup, milk, frozen peas, salt and pepper

Ground Beef: You’ll need 2 pounds of ground beef for this recipe. However, you can easily halve the recipe if you are cooking for 4 and don’t want to freeze the second pan for a future meal. I prefer to use 80%/20% ground beef because it still has a lot of flavor without being greasy. You can absolutely substitute ground turkey or ground chicken if you like, or even diced chicken.

Cream of Mushroom Soup: Using canned soup, we get the convenience of a sauce without having to make from scratch. You’ll need 2 (10.25 ounce) cans.

Milk: Milk will be mixed with the cream of mushroom soup to make the sauce. Use your favorite variety.

Frozen Peas: You’ll need a 12-16 ounce bag of frozen peas. You can use green beans, corn or mixed vegetables if you’re not a fan of peas.

Shredded Cheese: I like to use cheddar cheese in this recipe because it complements the beef and tater tots without overpowering. You’ll need 2 cups shredded (about 8 ounces). You can use pre-shredded or shred your own.

Tater Tots: You’ll need a 32 ounce bag of frozen tater tots. Don’t thaw them. We will be baking them from frozen in the casserole

Seasonings: To punch up the flavor in this tater tot casserole recipe, we’re going to use Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper.

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    Equipment

    • Large skillet or frying pan
    • Wooden Spoon
    • Mixing Bowl
    • Whisk
    • Can Opener
    • Measuring Cup
    • Measuring Spoon
    • (2) 9 x 9 inch baking dishes or (1) 9 x 13 inch baking dish – I even prepare these in square aluminum pans to freeze. They are perfect when I want to give a freezer meal to someone in need or a new mom

    How to Assemble Tater Tot Casserole

    How to Freeze Hotdish

    This recipe will make two 9×9 inch square casseroles, each serving 4 people. For a crowd, assemble the full recipe in a 9×13 inch pan.

    To prepare for freezing, you will follow all instructions up to the point of baking. You’ll brown the meat, mix in the vegetables and soup, and stir to combine everything.

    Next, you’ll spray your pan(s) with cooking spray and split your filling between the two pans. Top with shredded cheese and add a single layer of tater tots. At this point, you’re ready to cover with a lid or wrap in plastic wrap and aluminum foil and freeze for up to three months.

    When you’re ready to bake, you can remove the foil and plastic wrap and bake from frozen.

    Make sure to check out another great make-ahead meal option – Brisket Mac and Cheese!

    baked tater tot casserole on counter with wooden spoon taking out a scoop

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is a casserole or hotdish?

    Casseroles or hotdishes are easy dinners that usually consist of a meat, some kind of sauce or cheese, a vegetable and some kind of starch. This can be pasta or potatoes. Mix or layer it all together and bake or cook on the stove and you’ve got a comforting, filling casserole. In this recipe, we’re using ground beef, canned soup, frozen vegetables and tater tots.

    Can I substitute ingredients?

    Yes, this recipe is perfect for swapping out ingredients to make all kinds of versions! Instead of ground beef, you can use ground turkey or chicken, or even diced chicken. Swap the cream of mushroom soup for cream of chicken soup, and substitute the frozen peas for green beans, corn, or even mixed vegetables.

    How long do I bake if I’m making full 9 x 13 inch casserole?

    If baking immediately, you’ll bake your 9 x 13 inch casserole uncovered at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 60 minutes. If baking from frozen, you’ll bake uncovered at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 75 minutes, or until the filling is bubbly and the tater tots are golden and crispy.

    More One-Pot Dinner Recipes

    tater tot casserole on plate with fork in background
    wooden spoon with scoop of tater tot casserole
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    4.65 from 65 votes

    Tater Tot Casserole (Tater Tot Hotdish)

    This super easy Tater Tot Casserole recipe is a complete meal in one pan.  A dish the whole family is sure to love, you can mix and match the filling and vegetables for your favorites.  This recipe makes two pans, so bake one for dinner and freeze the other for a ready to go freezer meal!
    Prep Time20 minutes
    Cook Time40 minutes
    Total Time1 hour
    Course: Budget Meal
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: budget meal, casserole, cream of mushroom soup, dinner, freezer meal, frozen peas, ground beef, tater tot casserole
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 482kcal
    Author: Sarah Pyle

    Ingredients

    • 2 pounds ground beef or turkey or chicken
    • 2 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon ground pepper
    • 2 teaspoon onion powder
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 2 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
    • 2 10.75 ounce cans cream of mushroom soup
    • 1 cup milk
    • 1 16 ounce bag frozen peas
    • 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
    • 1 32 ounce bag frozen tater tots

    Instructions

    • Brown ground beef in a large skillet until cooked. Add salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and Worcestershire sauce. Remove from heat.
    • In a separate bowl, mix cream of mushroom soup and milk until well combined and no lumps.
    • To the ground beef, add frozen peas and soup mixture. Stir to combine.
    • Spray two 9×9 inch baking pans with cooking spray.
    • Divide meat mixture evenly between both pans.
    • Top each pan with shredded cheese, one cup of shredded cheese per pan.
    • Top each pan with a single layer of frozen tater tots.
    • If cooking immediately, preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake, uncovered, for 35-40 minutes until mixture is bubbly and tater tots are golden and crispy.
    • If freezing, wrap the prepared casserole with plastic wrap and aluminum foil or cover with lid. Label with name of dish and date frozen. Casserole can be frozen for up to three months.
    • When ready to cook from frozen, remove lid or foil and plastic. Bake in a 350 degree oven, uncovered, for 60 minutes.


    Notes

    This recipe makes two 9×9 inch casseroles of 4 servings each. If you prefer, you can make the entire recipe and bake in a 9×13 inch dish for 8 servings. If baking from prepared, bake at 375 degrees for 60 minutes. If baking from frozen, bake at 350 degrees for 75 minutes.
    Variations: Easily swap the ground beef for ground turkey or even diced chicken breast. If using chicken, I recommend swapping the cream of mushroom soup for cream of chicken soup. Substitute the frozen peas for your favorite frozen vegetables: green beans, corn, mixed vegetables

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 482kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 131mg | Sodium: 1088mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g

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    collage of tater tot casserole ingredients and baked casserole

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    By on January 18th, 2025

    About Sarah Pyle

    Hi, I'm Sarah. The voice behind Feast for a Fraction. I've been a penny-pincher all my life, but still have a taste for nice things. I'm here to show you that you can eat (and live) well on a budget. From recipes and DIY tips to ways to make extra money, we'll be in control of our budgets together!

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    3 thoughts on “Tater Tot Casserole (Tater Tot Hotdish)”

    1. We love this. My “tweaks”, I used a can of cream of mushroom and a can of cream of potato cuz it was taking up space in my pantry! Added the spices and WS to the soups along with 8 oz sour cream. I sprayed the 9X13 but I have a deep one and used two pounds of burger. I put a good half of the tots in the bottom, then the browned ( I nuke it) burger, then the frozen (mixed) veggies. I spread the soup Mixture over it all then finished off with the rest of the tots mixed with ~ 1/2 can of dried fried onions. I forgot to put in the shredded cheddar, so in the last 15-20 min of baking I sprinkled about 1 cup all over the top making a cheesy cunch on the topping tator tots! YUMMO. Froze 1/2 cuz it’s a lot for just two people!

      Reply
    4.65 from 65 votes (65 ratings without comment)

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