Description
Craving a cozy, crowd-pleasing dinner that’s loaded with comfort and flavor? This Cheesy Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole is a hearty, satisfying recipe that blends juicy ground beef, a creamy sauce, crispy tater tots, and gooey cheddar cheese into one irresistible bake. It's a perfect choice for easy dinner ideas, family meals, or game-day food ideas. This dish hits all the notes of your favorite cheeseburger — bacon, cheese, pickles (if you like), and crispy potatoes — baked together for a cheesy, crunchy, comforting masterpiece. Great for quick dinners, potlucks, or freezer-friendly meal prep. It’s everything you love about a classic cheeseburger, served up casserole-style.
Ingredients
1 ½ pounds ground beef
1 small onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup
½ cup sour cream
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots
6 slices cooked bacon, chopped
Chopped parsley or green onions for garnish (optional)
Instructions
1. In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks.
2. Add diced onion and minced garlic; cook for 3–4 minutes until softened. Drain excess fat.
3. Stir in salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, cream of mushroom soup, and sour cream until fully combined.
4. Fold in 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese.
5. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
6. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish.
7. Spread beef mixture evenly across the bottom of the dish.
8. Top with a single, even layer of frozen tater tots.
9. Bake uncovered for 30–35 minutes until the tots are golden and crisp.
10. Remove from oven, sprinkle remaining cheese and chopped bacon on top.
11. Return to oven for another 5–10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
12. Let rest 5–10 minutes before garnishing with parsley or green onions and serving.
Notes
Freshly shredded cheese melts better and creates a smoother, creamier top layer.
Letting the casserole rest after baking helps it hold together when slicing.
For added depth of flavor, use smoked bacon or add a few dashes of hot sauce to the meat mixture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of casserole
- Calories: 530
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: cheesy casserole, cheeseburger recipe, tater tot dinner, comfort food, easy dinner, quick meal, family recipe