Taco Tater Tot Casserole is an easy family dinner loaded with seasoned beef, melty cheese, sweet corn, black beans, and crispy tater tots. This hearty, cheesy casserole is perfect for making Taco Tuesday more fun and something everyone will love.
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If there is one dinner my granddaughters request over and over again, it's this Taco Tater Tot Casserole. It combines everything they love: seasoned taco meat, gooey melted cheese, and golden tater tots. This easy casserole is always a hit. A tried and true favorite that never leaves leftovers.
If your family loves easy comfort casseroles like this one, be sure to try my Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole or Buffalo Tater Tot Casserole. They're both family favorites packed with flavor and perfect for busy weeknights.
Reader Review: "I made this tonight and it was really good!! I will definitely be making this again and again. " - Kinsey
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- A Fun Twist on Taco Tuesday: Switch up your usual taco night with this easy casserole. This easy weeknight dinner has all the flavors you love.
- Family-Friendly Favorite: If your family loves tacos, they will love this casserole. It is packed with taco flavors and crispy tater tots, making it a dinner everyone will be excited for.
- Easy to Customize: Add your favorite taco toppings like sour cream, salsa, jalapeños, diced tomatoes, avocado, or green onions!
Equipment
- 8 x 8 casserole dish - Dishwasher and oven safe! This dish works perfectly for a casserole.
- Meat Chopper - A meat chopper makes browning and breaking up the ground beef quick and easy for evenly cooked crumbles.
Ingredients
- Tater Tots: Frozen tots create a crispy, golden topping!
- Ground Beef: A lean ground beef works well to have less grease!
- Enchilada Sauce: Adds rich, savory flavor and helps create the filling.
- Onion: Diced to add sweetness as it cooks.
- Garlic: Fresh, minced garlic gives flavor.
- Taco Seasoning: I used my homemade taco seasoning for this recipe, but store-bought works well also.
- Frozen Corn: Frozen corn is quick and adds a touch of sweetness.
- Black Beans: My favorite beans for this dish, because they pair perfectly with the taco flavors.
- Cheese: The cheese will be split between going into the casserole and being sprinkled on top.
- Sour Cream: To add a creamy element to the sauce.
Tim's Tip: Even though the tater tots can be mixed into the casserole mixture, layering them on top gives you an even cook with a crispy texture.
How to Make Taco Tater Tot Casserole
1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Lightly spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
2. Cook the Filling: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef, diced onion, and minced garlic. Cook until the beef is browned and the onion is softened, breaking the meat into crumbles as it cooks. Drain any excess grease, then stir in the taco seasoning, enchilada sauce, frozen corn, and black beans.
3. Assemble the Casserole: Reduce the heat and let the beef mixture simmer for about 5 minutes to allow the flavors to combine. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the sour cream until smooth and creamy. Pour the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
4. Add the Cheese and Tater Tots: Sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over the beef mixture. Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer on top, covering the entire casserole.
5. Bake Until Golden: Bake for 30 minutes. Remove the casserole from the oven, sprinkle the remaining cheese over the tater tots, and return it to the oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the tater tots are crispy and golden brown. Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving with your favorite taco toppings like sour cream, green onions, salsa, or diced avocado.
Substitutions and Variations
- Ground Beef - Swap the ground beef for ground turkey or ground chicken for a leaner alternative. Both will work well with the taco flavors.
- Enchilada Sauce - Swap out the classic red sauce for a green enchilada sauce for a different flavor profile.
- Corn -Frozen corn is quick and convenient, but fresh corn cut from the cob or drained canned corn can work just as well.
- Bean Swap - Replace the black beans with kidney beans or pinto beans for a different texture and flavor.
- Make it Spicy - Add diced jalapeños, green chiles, or your favorite hot sauce to turn up the heat.
Expert Tips
- Arrange the tater tots in a single layer. This helps them cook evenly and become perfectly crispy instead of steaming underneath.
- Shred your own cheese. Freshly shredded cheese melts more smoothly and creates a creamier, gooier topping than pre-shredded cheese.
- Let the casserole rest before serving. Allow it to sit for 5-10 minutes after baking so the filling can set, making it easier to slice and serve.
- Simmer the filling before baking. Let the beef mixture simmer for about 5 minutes so the taco seasoning and enchilada sauce have time to blend for a richer, more developed flavor.
What to Serve with Mexican tater tot casserole
A perfect taco Tuesday meal that pairs with:
Storage
Refrigeration: Allow the casserole to cool completely, then store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Freezing: Wrap the cooled casserole tightly with plastic wrap and aluminum foil, or transfer it to a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheating: If frozen, thaw the casserole overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. Cover with foil and bake at 350°F until heated through, about 20-30 minutes. Individual portions can also be reheated in the microwave for a quick and easy meal.
FAQs
Yes! Make the filling ahead, but wait until right before baking to add the tater tots! Perfect for after a busy day at work.
No. Use frozen tater tots directly from the freezer for the best texture.
Yes! While hash browns and tater tots aren't the same, you can substitute frozen hash browns if that's what you have on hand. The texture will be a little different, but just as delicious.
Made this recipe? Let me know!
Recipe
Taco Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground Beef
- 3 tablespoon Taco Seasoning
- 1 Onion Diced
- 2 Cloves Garlic
- 1½ cups Enchilada Sauce
- ½ cup Sour Cream
- 1 cup Frozen Corn
- 1 cup Black Beans Drained
- 3 cups Mexican Blend Cheese Divided / Shredded
- 16 oz Tater Tots
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Lightly spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
- Cook the Filling: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef, diced onion, and minced garlic. Cook until the beef is browned and the onion is softened, breaking the meat into crumbles as it cooks. Drain any excess grease, then stir in the taco seasoning, enchilada sauce, frozen corn, and black beans. 1 lb Ground Beef 1 Onion 2 Cloves Garlic 3 tbsp Taco Seasoning 1½ cups Enchilada Sauce 1 cup Frozen Corn 1 cup Black Beans
- Assemble the Casserole: Reduce the heat and let the beef mixture simmer for about 5 minutes to allow the flavors to combine. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the sour cream until smooth and creamy. Pour the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. ½ cup Sour Cream
- Add the Cheese and Tater Tots: Sprinkle 2 cups of shredded cheese evenly over the beef mixture. Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer on top, covering the entire casserole. 3 cups Mexican Blend Cheese, 16 oz Tater Tots
- Bake Until Golden: Bake for 30 minutes. Remove the casserole from the oven, sprinkle the remaining cup of cheese over the tater tots, and return it to the oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the tater tots are crispy and golden brown. Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving with your favorite taco toppings like sour cream, green onions, salsa, or diced avocado.
Video
Notes
- Arrange the tater tots in a single layer. This helps them cook evenly and become perfectly crispy instead of steaming underneath.
- Shred your own cheese. Freshly shredded cheese melts more smoothly and creates a creamier, gooier topping than pre-shredded cheese.
- Let the casserole rest before serving. Allow it to sit for 5-10 minutes after baking so the filling can set, making it easier to slice and serve.
- Simmer the filling before baking. Let the beef mixture simmer for about 5 minutes so the taco seasoning and enchilada sauce have time to blend for a richer, more developed flavor.
Cheryl says
Easy and delicious!
CookitwithTim says
All the things we want!