Description
This Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole is a hearty and comforting dish combining savory ground beef, sautéed vegetables, creamy cheese sauce, and crispy tater tots baked to golden perfection. Perfect for family dinners, this casserole layers tender ground beef with green beans, mushrooms, and a rich cheese blend for a satisfying one-dish meal.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups mushrooms, sliced
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 cans (15 oz each) green beans, drained
- 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 32 oz frozen tater tots (approximately 1 bag; you will not use all)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the casserole later.
- Prepare baking dish: Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set it aside to prevent sticking.
- Brown the ground beef: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef, seasoning with salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Cook until browned and no longer pink.
- Drain excess fat: Drain the fat from the cooked beef and spread the beef evenly at the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Sauté vegetables: In the same skillet, add diced onions and sliced mushrooms. Sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until the onions are translucent and the mushrooms are softened.
- Add garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute, stirring frequently, to release the garlic's aroma.
- Season and make roux: Season the mixture with salt and pepper. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir well to combine, forming a roux that will thicken the sauce.
- Add heavy cream: Gradually pour in the heavy cream, stirring continuously. Allow the mixture to simmer for 1 minute to thicken while tasting and adjusting salt and pepper as needed.
- Incorporate sour cream: Reduce heat to low, stir in the sour cream until fully incorporated, then remove the skillet from heat.
- Assemble casserole layers: Spread the creamy vegetable mixture evenly over the ground beef in the baking dish. Sprinkle 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese over the mixture.
- Add green beans and cheese: Layer the drained green beans evenly over the cheese, then top with the remaining 2 cups of cheddar cheese.
- Add tater tots: Arrange a single layer of frozen tater tots over the top of the casserole covering the entire surface evenly.
- Bake the casserole: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy, and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and serve the casserole immediately while hot and gooey.
Notes
- For extra flavor, consider adding a pinch of smoked paprika or cayenne pepper to the beef.
- You may substitute heavy cream with whole milk mixed with a little extra flour, though the sauce will be less rich.
- Feel free to use fresh green beans if preferred, blanching them before layering.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven to retain crispiness.
- If you like it spicier, adding chopped jalapeños to the vegetable sauté works well.
