Crockpot Tater Tot Casserole Recipe
This Crockpot Tater Tot Casserole is a comforting and easy-to-make meal perfect for busy days. Featuring layers of crispy tater tots, seasoned ground beef, melted cheddar cheese, and a creamy cheese sauce, this hearty dish takes just minutes to prepare and cooks slowly to perfection in your crockpot, delivering a deliciously cheesy and savory dinner.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Tater Tots
- 32 ounces frozen tater tots
Beef Mixture
- 1 pound ground beef, browned and drained
- 10.5 ounces cheese sauce
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
- ½ tablespoon minced onion
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (half of 2 cups)
Topping
- 16 ounces frozen tater tots (remaining half)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (remaining half)
Garnish (Optional)
- Freshly chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Prepare the Crockpot: Lightly spray the inside of the crockpot with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Layer the First Portion of Tater Tots: Place about half of the frozen tater tots evenly on the bottom of the crockpot, forming a solid base layer.
- Mix the Beef Filling: In a medium bowl, combine the browned and drained ground beef, cheese sauce, taco seasoning, minced onion, and half of the shredded cheddar cheese. Stir everything until well blended.
- Add Beef Mixture: Spread the beef mixture evenly over the tater tot layer in the crockpot, ensuring consistent coverage for every bite.
- Top with Remaining Tater Tots: Place the remaining frozen tater tots over the beef mixture in a single even layer.
- Sprinkle Cheese on Top: Evenly distribute the remaining shredded cheddar cheese over the top layer of tater tots.
- Cook the Casserole: Cover the crockpot and cook on HIGH for 2½ hours, allowing the casserole to cook through, melt the cheese, and crisp up the tater tots slightly.
- Serve and Garnish: Once cooked, serve the casserole warm, optionally garnished with freshly chopped cilantro for a burst of color and flavor.
Notes
- Make sure to brown and drain the ground beef well to avoid excess grease in the casserole.
- You can substitute taco seasoning with your favorite seasoning blend to adjust the flavor profile.
- For a spicier twist, add diced jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce to the beef mixture.
- Spraying the crockpot helps prevent sticking and simplifies clean-up.
- If you prefer crispier tater tots, you can broil the finished casserole in the oven for a few minutes before serving.
- Fresh cilantro garnish is optional but adds a fresh herbal note to balance richness.
Keywords: Crockpot casserole, tater tot casserole, slow cooker recipe, cheesy beef casserole, easy dinner recipe
Find it online: https://recipeswithmia.com/crockpot-tater-tot-casserole-recipe/
