Description
This Crockpot Tater Tot Casserole is a comforting and hearty one-pot meal featuring layers of crispy tater tots, seasoned ground beef, creamy cheese sauce, and melted cheddar cheese. Perfect for an easy family dinner, it combines simple ingredients with the convenience of slow cooker cooking to deliver a deliciously cheesy and satisfying casserole.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 32 ounces frozen tater tots
- 1 pound ground beef, browned and drained
- 10.5 ounces cheese sauce
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
- ½ tablespoon minced onion
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
Optional Garnish
- Freshly chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Prepare the crockpot: Lightly spray the inside of the crockpot with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Layer the first tater tots: Add about half of the frozen tater tots to the bottom of the crockpot, spreading them into an even layer to form the base of the casserole.
- Mix the beef filling: In a medium bowl, combine the browned and drained ground beef with the cheese sauce, taco seasoning, minced onion, and half of the shredded cheddar cheese. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Add beef mixture: Spoon the beef mixture evenly over the tater tots layer in the crockpot, spreading it out to cover the entire surface.
- Top with remaining tater tots: Arrange the remaining frozen tater tots evenly on top of the beef mixture in a single layer.
- Add remaining cheese: Sprinkle the leftover shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top layer of tater tots for a cheesy finish.
- Cook the casserole: Cover the crockpot and cook on HIGH for 2½ hours, allowing the tater tots to cook through and the cheese to melt and meld with the beef mixture.
- Serve and garnish: Once cooked, serve the casserole warm, optionally garnished with freshly chopped cilantro for a fresh pop of flavor.
Notes
- For extra flavor, you can add diced garlic or chopped bell peppers to the beef mixture.
- Make sure to brown and drain the ground beef well to avoid excess grease in the casserole.
- You can substitute cheddar cheese with pepper jack or a Mexican cheese blend for a spicy twist.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the microwave or oven.
- To make this dish gluten free, verify that the taco seasoning and cheese sauce are gluten-free.
