Classic Tater Tot Casserole From Scratch Recipe
I was enjoying this tasty casserole long before I knew it was a Midwestern classic. When I was in college, my roommates could not cook anything; in fact, when I was eating a hard-boiled egg, one of my roommates asked me how I made it! After a visit home, we would return to our apartment loaded with food made by our moms. My one roommate’s mom sent him back with a Classic Tater Tot Casserole, and I loved it. So much so that I got the recipe, and I have made it ever since. It was a great recipe to feed a bunch of teenage boys, and it’s still a great way to feed the whole family.
The original recipe I have been making for years is the classic: a can of cream of mushroom soup, a bag of frozen mixed vegetables, a packet of French onion soup mix, and a pile of frozen tater tots. It’s one of those easy dinner recipes, and it’s delicious in a guilty pleasure way. It is a hearty casserole that is perfect for busy weeknights. It is the perfect comfort food, a complete meal in one baking dish.
When I came across a version of the classic in the New York Times, I thought, why would anyone try to elevate this recipe? But I couldn’t resist trying it. To my surprise, it was still easy, and the flavors were actually better. You are basically making your own cream of chicken soup and adding fresh vegetables along with the frozen mixture. It didn’t take much more time, and it was worth it. My original version didn’t have cheese, but this adds cheese, and I think I like a cheesy Tater Tot casserole even better.
What You Need For The Classic Tater Tot Casserole Recipe
The simple ingredients that go into the best tater tot casserole recipe include;
- Butter
- Carrots
- Celery
- All-Purpose Flour
- Whole Milk
- Beef Broth Base
- Ground Beef
- Frozen vegetables (I like mixed vegetables, but you could use peas, green beans, corn, or any combination)
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese
- And, Of Course, Tater Tots!
Step-By-Step How To Guide
- Step 1: Make the creamed soup. In a large pot or large skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add the carrots, celery, and the half of the onions. Cook until softened. Sprinkle the flour and cook for another minute. Add half of the milk and cook until it is thickened. Add the remaining milk and cook until thickened, stirring as it cooks. Be sure to season with black pepper and salt. Set aside.
- Step 2: Melt additional butter over medium-high heat. Add the remaining onion and cook for 5 minutes. Add the ground beef and cook until browned.
- Step 3: Add the ground beef mixture to the bowl with the soup, add frozen vegetables, and stir to combine.
- Step 4: Fill your casserole dish, cover the top with a single layer of frozen tater tots, and sprinkle with cheese (lots of cheese). If it starts to brown too quickly, cover loosely with aluminum foil.
- Step 5: Bake for about 45 minutes, until the top is golden brown. You should have crispy Tater Tots and delicious casserole.
Tips For Success
Tip 1 — Make the soup from scratch; it’s worth it.
Tip 2 — Leftover tater tot casserole is almost better than fresh, so store any leftovers in an airtight container and reheat the next day.
Some variations I have seen include adding sour cream, cheddar cheese soup, or fried onions. I have also run across a Tater Tot breakfast casserole using breakfast sausage, so don’t be afraid to experiment. You will find this easy casserole recipe will become a family favorite.
Looking for more casserole recipes, check out my post A New Take On Top Classic Winter Casserole Recipes.
Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 large onion finely chopped
- 2 carrots finely chopped
- 2 celery stalks finely chopped
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 2 tablespoons beef broth base
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 16 oz frozen mixed vegetables
- 1 1/2 lbs frozen Tater Tots
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Instructions
- In a large pot or large skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add the carrots, celery, and the half of the onions. Cook until softened.
- Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and cook for another minute. Add half of the milk and cook until it is thickened. Add the remaining milk and cook until very thick, stirring as it cooks. Be sure to season with black pepper and salt. Set aside in a large heat-safe bowl.
- Melt additional butter in the same pan over medium-high heat. Add the remaining onion and cook for 5 minutes. Add the ground beef and cook until browned.
- Add the ground beef mixture to the bowl with the soup, add frozen vegetables, and stir to combine.
- Fill a casserole dish, cover the top with a single layer of frozen tater tots, and sprinkle with cheese.
- Bake for about 45 minutes, until the top is golden brown. Allow to rest for 10 minutes and serve.
