Taco Tater Tot Casserole

ByLuke Brown February 18, 2024February 18, 2024

This post contains affiliate links.

Making this Taco Tater Tot Casserole is the perfect way to switch up Taco Tuesday. This is a one pan meal that my kids absolutely love and it’s really easy to make.

You’ll need to grab the biggest oven safe skillet you have for this one to make it truly one pan. If you don’t have an oven safe skillet you can easily brown the beef and assemble in a casserole dish, you’ll just have a little more cleanup!

Disclosure: Cooking in the Midwest participates in affiliate advertising programs. I may earn a commission when you make qualifying purchases through my website.

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
1 chopped onion
1/2 tsp each salt and pepper
1 tsp each of cumin, dried cilantro,
2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp cayenne
1 can corn (drained)
1 can Rotel Diced Tomatoes & Green Chiles (not drained)
1 cup sour cream
2 cups shredded Colby Jack Cheese
Tater Tots or Crispy Crowns
Buffalo Wild Wing’s Southwest Ranch

Brown the Beef

First, get your skillet over medium heat and brown one pound of ground beef with a chopped onion. I like to use this meat chopper for this part to really break up the beef as it cooks.

Once the beef is cooked through, drain any extra fat with a paper towel and season with salt, pepper, cumin, dried cilantro, chili powder, and cayenne. You could use a taco seasoning packet in place of the above seasonings if you prefer.

Assemble the Casserole

If your skillet is oven safe you can begin assembling directly in the pan, if it isn’t transfer the meat mixture to an oven safe dish.

Start by adding one can of drained corn, one can of Rotel (not drained), 1 cup sour cream, and about 1 cup of shredded Colby Jack cheese. Stir that all together well and sprinkle an additional cup of shredded cheese over the top of the mixture.

Next, top the mixture with tater tots or the crispy crowns in an even layer. I didn’t quite use the whole bag when making mine.

Finally, bake at 400 degrees for about 30-35 minutes or until the tater tots are cooked to your liking. If you want the tater tots to get extra crispy turn the oven to broil for the last couple of minutes keeping a close watch.

Serve Taco Tater Tot Casserole

Once the cheese is melted and the tater tots are nice and crispy, it’s time to eat! Serve the casserole hot with your favorite taco toppings. My family enjoys having this with Buffalo Wild Wings Southwestern Ranch drizzled over the top.

This meal is also good served with a dollop of sour cream and scoop of fresh Pico de Gallo placed over the top.

Tips and Frequently Asked Questions

A large oven safe skillet is best for this dish. I like to use a 12 inch cast iron when making this meal.
Freshly shredded cheese is my preference for this type of dish because it seems to melt better than pre-shredded.
I like using the seasonings listed in the recipe for taco seasoning, but you could use a taco seasoning packet instead if you prefer.
This dish had a little bit of a kick of heat to it, but it wasn’t too spicy for my little kids! To cut down on the heat omit the cayenne and be sure to use a mild Rotel.
I like topping this with Buffalo Wild Wings Southwestern Ranch, but it’s also good topped with taco sauce, sour cream, or really any of your favorite taco toppings. The Southwest Ranch sauce can be found at walmart or even on amazon!

Similar Recipes