Tater tot casseroles the whole table eats — classic beef and cheese, loaded bacon cheeseburger, chicken bacon ranch, cheesy sloppy joe — for busy weeknights.
★ dinner
My take on the Tater Tot Casserole
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Open in Pepper →A pan of tater tots over seasoned meat and cheese is about as close to a sure thing as dinner gets. It comes together in one dish, the top goes crisp in the oven, and kids who argue about vegetables will clean their plates.
Cooks on Pepper reach for this collection on the nights when practice runs late, the ground beef is already thawed, and everybody needs to eat something hot at the same time.
Every recipe here starts with a bag of tots and goes its own direction: the classic Tater Tot Casserole with ground beef and onion, Loaded Bacon Cheeseburger, Chicken Bacon Ranch, Cheesy Chicken Pot Pie, Cheesy Sloppy Joe, and a Smoked Sausage & Cheddar version.
Brown and drain the beef
Cook a pound of ground beef until no pink remains, about 7 to 8 minutes, then drain the grease so the bottom layer doesn't go soupy.
Keep the tots frozen
Arrange tots straight from the freezer in a single layer on top. Thawed tots turn soft and never crisp up.
Bake uncovered the whole time
Foil traps steam and softens the topping. Bake uncovered at 375°F for 40 to 45 minutes until the tots are deep golden.
Add cheese at the end
Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top in the last 8 to 10 minutes so it melts without browning too dark.