This easy tater tot casserole is rich and comforting with cream of mushroom soup, sour cream and seasoned ground beef, all baked under melty cheese and crispy tater tots.

Tater tot casserole with cream of mushroom soup, ground beef, cheesy and tater tots in a glass dish with a spoon.

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Tater Tot Casserole with Cream of Mushroom Soup

This easy tater tot casserole with cream of mushroom soup is the cozy, comforting dinner my family asks for again and again. The creamy soup mixes with savory ground beef and melted cheese to create a velvety base that’s so satisfying yet simple comfort food.

If you’ve had my tater tot breakfast casserole, you’ll know what a fun addition tater tots are to any casserole. Kids love it, which is great because it’s an easy recipe to sneak in some extra veggies just like with chicken divan casserole.

Ingredient Notes

Tater tot casserole ingredients including ground beef, tater tots, cheese, corn, cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, onions and garlic.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Ground beef: Use lean ground beef, 80/20 if you can.
  • Onion & garlic: Aromatics that will flavor the beef mixture nicely. If you don’t have fresh garlic, garlic powder works great.
  • Cream of mushroom soup and sour cream: Adding both to the beef gives it a creamy texture and delicious flavor.
  • Corn: I love adding corn to my easy tater tot casserole, but you could easily add sliced mushrooms, peas or carrots.
  • Cheddar cheese: Freshly grated cheddar cheese gets added to the creamy beef mixture and a layer on top!
  • Worcestershire sauce: Adds more flavor to the base of the casserole giving it a salty, savory, umami element.
  • Frozen tater tots: No need to thaw them first, add them as is.

How to Make Easy Tater Tot Casserole

Showing how to make tater tot casserole with cream of mushroom soup in a 4 step collage.
  1. Prepare the beef mixture. In a large skillet, brown the beef and drain excess grease, sauté onions and garlic. Stir in the cream of mushroom, sour cream, corn, 1/2 cup of cheese, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper then bring to a simmer.
  2. Assemble. Transfer ground beef mixture from the skillet to a prepared 9×9 casserole dish. Spread it across the bottom, then sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Arrange tater tots in a single layer over the cheese.
  3. Bake. Place easy tater tot casserole in a preheated 375°F oven for 35 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown, the cheese has melted, and the sides are bubbling up.
  4. Serve. Sprinkle chopped scallions on top and serve this classic comfort food with a side salad!
Top down photo of easy tater tot casserole in a glass baking dish.

Recipe Tips

  • Spray your dish well. You don’t want anything sticking to the bottom.
  • As well, be sure to use one deep enough. There are a few layers to consider, so use one that you might use for lasagna.
  • Use ‘cream of’ whatever! Swap cream of mushroom for cream of chicken soup or cream of celery, if preferred. You can even use homemade cream of chicken.
  • Different meat. Use ground turkey if you would like or easily turn this into a breakfast casserole, by using breakfast sausage or bacon!
  • More veggies. Layer extra veggies in like sliced mushrooms or green beans. You can add bell peppers to the meat as it browns in the skillet.
  • For extra crispy tater tots, place the dish under the broiler for a couple of extra minutes. Watch it carefully so that it doesn’t burn.
Easy tater tot casserole in a glass dish with serving spoon showing creamy ground beef under crispy tots with melty cheese.

A hearty casserole recipe is a satisfying meal! Along with this tater tot hotdish, we love ground beef casserole, hamburger casserole and goulash.

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Easy tater tot casserole with cream of mushroom soup in a glass dish with spoon.

Easy Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

5 from 16 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 6
This easy tater tot casserole is creamy and comforting thanks to cream of mushroom soup and sour cream combined with ground beef then topped with cheese and tater tots!
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Ingredients 

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • ½ onion , diced
  • 2 cloves garlic , minced
  • 1 (10.75-ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
  • ⅓ cup sour cream
  • 1 cup corn
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt , more to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper , more to taste
  • 2 cups frozen tater tots
  • Sliced scallions , for serving

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F. Spray a 9×9-inch baking dish (at least 2 inches deep) with nonstick spray.
  • In a skillet, brown one pound ground beef over medium-high heat. Drain excess fat. Stir in 1/2 onion diced and sauté 5 minutes, or until translucent. Add 2 garlic cloves and cook, stirring frequently, 1 minute more. Stir in one can cream of mushroom soup, 1/3 cup sour cream, 1 cup corn, 1/2 cup cheese, 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook on medium-low heat for a few minutes. Season to taste.
  • Spread beef mixture in the baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 1/2 cups cheese and line 2 cups tater tots evenly over the top.
  • Bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until tots are golden brown and cheese is bubbling. Top with sliced scallions.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

Vegetables: This dish is easy to sneak in more vegetables. You can add a layer of green beans before you add the cheese. You could also add in sliced mushrooms, or cook a diced bell pepper with the onions. 
Make ahead: This dish can be made up to 24 hours in advance. Simply cover and refrigerate before baking. This also makes a great dish to bake and serve throughout the week. 
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge up to 4 days. 

Nutrition

Calories: 398kcal, Carbohydrates: 21g, Protein: 30g, Fat: 22g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Trans Fat: 0.3g, Cholesterol: 87mg, Sodium: 1278mg, Potassium: 656mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 871IU, Vitamin C: 13mg, Calcium: 315mg, Iron: 3mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

FAQs

Do I need to thaw the tater tots first?

No. Keep the tater tots frozen so they crisp up better in the oven. Thawed tater tots can become soft and won’t brown as nicely.

Can I make tater tot casserole ahead of time?

Yes. Assemble the casserole up to a day in advance, cover tightly and refrigerate. Add a few extra minutes to the bake time since it will be cold going into the oven.

How do I store leftovers?

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave, but the oven will bring back the most crispiness in the tater tots.

Can I freeze tater tot casserole?

Yes, this casserole freezes well. Freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat in the oven for the best texture.