Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole
Baked with crispy tater tots, melty cheddar, and tangy pickles, this cheeseburger tater tot casserole is comfort food layered with beef, onion, and bacon. It’s diner joy in one golden dish: juicy beef, punchy condiments, crispy tater tot armor, gooey cheddar, and a bacon crown. Prepped in minutes and customizable for any crowd!
6
servings
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
- 1 small onion finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) ketchup
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) yellow mustard
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) BBQ sauce
- 1/2 cup (75 g) dill pickles chopped, plus extra for topping
- 1/2 tsp (2.5 g) salt or to taste
- 1/2 tsp (1 g) black pepper
- 1 bag (900 g) frozen tater tots about 32 oz, straight from the freezer
- 2 cups (200 g) shredded cheddar cheese sharp or mild
- 6 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
Optional Toppings
- shredded lettuce
- diced tomatoes
- dill pickle slices
- drizzle of ketchup and mustard for finishing
Equipment
- 9x13 inch casserole dish
- Large skillet
- wooden spoon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish with nonstick spray.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef with the diced onion, stirring often and breaking up clumps, until beef is cooked through (about 8–10 minutes).
- Add garlic, ketchup, mustard, BBQ sauce, salt, pepper, and chopped pickles to the skillet. Stir and simmer for 2–3 minutes until the mixture is saucy and fragrant. Remove from heat.
- Spread the beef mixture in an even layer in the bottom of the prepared casserole dish. Cover the top with a single, even layer of frozen tater tots (don’t overlap).
- Bake, uncovered, for 45–50 minutes, until tater tots are golden and crispy.
- Remove from oven, sprinkle shredded cheddar evenly over the tots, then return to oven for 5–10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let cool for 5–10 minutes. Top with crumbled bacon and any optional toppings: shredded lettuce, tomatoes, dill pickle slices, and a drizzle of ketchup and mustard. Serve immediately.
Notes
You can prep this casserole ahead—assemble and refrigerate (uncooked) up to 24 hours. For freezing, assemble but don’t bake, then thaw overnight before baking. Leftovers keep 3–4 days in the fridge and reheat best in the oven. Feeling adventurous? Swap proteins, switch cheeses, or skip the pickles to make it your own.
Nutrition
Calories: 575kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 100mg | Sodium: 1310mg | Potassium: 850mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 660IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 260mg | Iron: 3.2mg