If you're looking for an easy weeknight dinner, this Taco Tater Tot Casserole is going to be a hit! Combining all the best elements of a Classic Tater Tot Casserole with bold, Mexican-inspired flavors, this dish is the ultimate comfort food.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Family-Friendly: This Tater Tot Taco Casserole is perfect for picky eaters and busy families. It is loaded with simple ingredients that everyone loves—ground beef, taco seasoning, cheese, and, of course, crispy tater tots!
Quick & Easy: This casserole comes together in no time, whether you're in a pinch for an easy weeknight dinner or prepping a crowd-pleaser for game day. It's a total lifesaver for busy schedules!
Bold Flavors: If you're a fan of Southwest Tater Tot Casserole, this one's for you. With classic taco flavors, melted cheese, and a crispy topping, every bite is packed with bold, comforting flavors.
Customizable: Want to add your own twist? This recipe works great with extra toppings like sour cream, salsa, or jalapeños, so you can make it your own.
Looking for other Tater Tot Casserole Recipes? Check out this recipe for an incredible Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole!
Ingredients
Lean ground beef: Provides a hearty, savory base for the casserole, soaking up the taco seasoning and blending perfectly with the other ingredients.
Yellow onion: Adds sweetness and a bit of crunch, giving the casserole a flavorful and aromatic foundation.
Fresh minced garlic: Infuses the dish with a rich, pungent flavor that enhances the overall seasoning.
Taco seasoning: The star of the show! This blend of spices brings all the bold, Mexican-inspired flavors that make this casserole stand out.
Red enchilada sauce: Adds a tanginess and spice, ensuring the casserole has a saucy, flavorful base that ties everything together.
Water: Helps to thin out the sauce, ensuring all the ingredients cook evenly and the flavors blend smoothly.
Corn: Adds a sweetness and crunch, balancing the savory and spicy elements in the casserole. Recommended recipe...Easy Corn Pudding with Green Chiles!
Rotel: Brings a burst of zesty flavor and a bit of heat, making this dish even more dynamic.
Black beans: These add a rich, earthy flavor and a boost of protein, making the casserole more filling and nutritious.
Shredded Fiesta Blend Cheese: A mix of cheeses that adds a gooey, melty texture and sharp, tangy flavor. Plus, it creates that irresistible golden top layer when baked.
Frozen tater tots: The crispy crown on top of this casserole adds texture and crunch to every bite.
Optional Toppings: Sour cream, salsa, jalapeños, and green onions for added flavor and personalization.
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°f. Cook the ground beef and chopped onions in a medium-high to high skillet until the beef is brown and the onions are translucent.
Step 2: Reduce the heat to medium and stir in the taco seasoning, red enchilada sauce, and water, mixing well. Add the corn, beans, and Rotel, combining thoroughly.
Step 3: Be sure the mixture is evenly distributed in the skillet, and top with shredded fiesta blend cheese.
Step 4: Top with frozen tater tots. Bake in the oven for 45 minutes. For an extra crispy top, broil at 550°f for 3 minutes or until desired crispiness. Serve immediately.
Expert Tips
- Brown the beef properly: Make sure to cook the ground beef until it’s fully browned and slightly crispy. This step enhances the flavor and ensures you don’t end up with soggy meat in your casserole.
- Layer your cheese: For that perfectly cheesy casserole, divide the shredded cheese. Save some extra to sprinkle on top of the tater tots for a melty, golden crust.
- Customize your toppings: Add extra toppings like diced avocado, chopped cilantro, or sliced black olives to give your casserole a personal touch. These fresh ingredients add a nice contrast to the rich, cheesy base.
- Bake until crispy: Make sure to bake until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy. This makes the casserole more delicious and adds the perfect texture contrast. If you need extra crispiness, turn the oven to broil at 550°f for about 3 minutes or until the desired texture is obtained.
- Make it ahead: You can prepare this Tater Tot Taco Casserole in advance by assembling the dish and storing it in the fridge for up to 24 hours. When you're ready to serve, just bake it as directed.
- Spice it up: If you like it hot, add some diced jalapeños or extra chili powder into the taco meat mixture to kick up the heat.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! You can assemble the casserole up to 24 hours in advance and store it in the fridge. When you’re ready to serve, just bake it as directed, adding a few extra minutes if it’s going into the oven cold.
Yes! Ground turkey is a great substitute for ground beef if you’re looking for a lighter option. It will still soak up the taco seasoning and give you a delicious, flavorful casserole.
If you don’t have Rotel on hand, you can use a canned diced tomatoes and diced chiles as a substitute. It provides the same zesty flavor with a bit of spice.
Yes, you can! Simply assemble the casserole, wrap it tightly, and freeze it before baking. When you're ready to cook, thaw it overnight in the fridge and bake as directed. You may need to add a few extra minutes to the cooking time to ensure everything is heated through.
For extra crispy tater tots, you can pre-bake them for about 10 minutes before placing them on top of the casserole. This will give them a head start on getting golden and crunchy.
Get creative! Some great toppings include sour cream, guacamole, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and sliced jalapeños. These fresh ingredients add a nice contrast to the richness of the casserole.
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📖 Recipe
Taco Tater Tot Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ lb Lean Ground Beef
- 1 Yellow Onion Diced
- 2 tablespoon Fresh Minced Garlic
- 2 Packets Taco Seasoning
- ½ Cup Red Enchilada Sauce
- ½ Cup Water
- 10 Oz Canned Corn Drained
- 10 Oz Rotel Canned
- 15 Oz Black Beans Canned
- 3 Cups Shredded Fiesta Blend Cheese
- 32 Oz Tater Tots Frozen and Bagged
- Desired Toppings
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°f.
- Cook the ground beef and chopped onions in a medium-high to high skillet until the beef is brown and the onions are translucent.
- Reduce the heat to medium and stir in the taco seasoning, red enchilada sauce, and water, mixing well.
- Add the corn, beans, and Rotel, combining thoroughly.
- Be sure the mixture is evenly distributed in the skillet by spreading with the backside of a spatula.
- Top with shredded fiesta blend cheese.
- Top with frozen tater tots.
- Bake in the oven for 45 minutes.
- For an extra crispy and golden brown top, broil at 550°f for 3 minutes or until desired crispiness.
- Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
- Brown the beef properly: Make sure to cook the ground beef until it’s fully browned and slightly crispy. This step enhances the flavor and ensures you don’t end up with soggy meat in your casserole.
- Layer your cheese: For that perfectly cheesy casserole, divide the shredded cheese. Save some extra to sprinkle on top of the tater tots for a melty, golden crust.
- Customize your toppings: Add extra toppings like diced avocado, chopped cilantro, or sliced black olives to give your casserole a personal touch. These fresh ingredients add a nice contrast to the rich, cheesy base.
- Bake until crispy: Make sure to bake until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy. This makes the casserole more delicious and adds the perfect texture contrast. If you need extra crispiness, turn the oven to broil at 550°f for about 3 minutes or until the desired texture is obtained.
- Make it ahead: You can prepare this Tater Tot Taco Casserole in advance by assembling the dish and storing it in the fridge for up to 24 hours. When you're ready to serve, just bake it as directed.
- Spice it up: If you like it hot, add some diced jalapeños or extra chili powder into the taco meat mixture to kick up the heat.
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