This Mexican Tater Tot Casserole is a delicious, easy-to-make weeknight meal! It's packed with ground beef, peppers, and of course tater tots! And it's all topped off with delicious melted cheese. You're going to love this easy casserole recipe!
If you're a fan of tater tots, then the Cowboy Tater Tot Casserole is a must try!
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Why you'll love this recipe
✔️ It's packed with flavor and easy to make.
✔️ And, it's perfect for a weeknight meal.
✔️ Like the Stuffed Pepper Casserole, this is great recipe for feeding a crowd.
Ingredients
For the exact measurements, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- pound of ground beef
- onion
- red bell pepper
- taco seasoning
- frozen corn
- queso
- colby jack cheese, pepper jack or cheddar cheese - all are great in this recipe!
- frozen tater tots
Top with your favorite taco toppings - diced tomatoes, sour cream, cilantro and thinly sliced green onions.
Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions for this easy dinner recipe. For the complete directions just scroll down to the bottom!
- Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- In a large skillet add the ground beef, diced onion and bell pepper. Cook for 5 minutes, until the meat has no more pink and the onions are soft.
- Add the taco seasoning, water, corn and Queso and stir thoroughly.
- Cook about 2 minutes - until bubbly, then add 1 cup of the grated cheese.
- Stir to combine then empty contents of skillet into a lightly greased 9x13” casserole dish.
- Line up the tater tots on top of the ground meat mixture to totally cover evenly.
- Cook in the oven for about 20 minutes, until bubbly on the sides.
- Remove, sprinkle with the remaining cheese and cook another 5 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Equipment
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- casserole dish or baking dish
- large skillet
FAQ's
Tater tot casserole is made with protein, a sauce, cheese, and delicious tater tots.
Tater tot casserole is popular in the Midwest, but it's enjoyed all over the country!
Yes! You can easily make this recipe ahead of time. Simply assemble the casserole, cover it, and refrigerate. When you're ready to bake, allow the casserole to come to room temperature and then bake as directed.
A casserole is typically a dish that has protein, vegetables, and starch all in one. A hot dish is similar but usually has a creamy sauce or soup as the base. Though sometimes they are the same depending on where you live.
Things to know
- Make sure that you grease your casserole dish well with nonstick cooking spray or butter so that your casserole doesn't stick.
- I recommend that you bake this dish uncovered so that this casserole has crispy tater tots on the top.
- I prefer to use cheese that I've shredded myself because it melts better. However, if you only have pre-shredded cheese that's okay.
- If you don't have a taco seasoning mix packet on hand you can use your favorite homemade taco seasoning.
Variations
- You can swap out the ground beef for ground turkey or even shredded chicken.
- If you don't like queso, you could use salsa or homemade enchilada sauce in its place.
- For a spicer casserole, you can add in some diced jalapeno peppers or even green chiles.
- You can also add corn and black beans to the meat mixture in this casserole for an extra boost of protein and fiber.
- For a vegetarian casserole replace the ground beef with your favorite beans or a refried bean mixture.
Storage
Refrigerate - You can store this casserole in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container or tightly sealed with plastic wrap.
Freezer - You can freeze this casserole for up to 2 months. I recommend assembling the casserole and then freezing it before baking. When you're ready to eat, thaw overnight in the fridge and then bake as directed.
Reheat - To reheat, simply bake the casserole in a 350-degree oven until heated through. You may need to add an extra 5-10 minutes of baking time if it's coming straight from the freezer.
Related recipes
- If you are looking for a new recipe for taco night that your whole family will love, look no further than this Chicken Spaghetti with Rotel. Prefer to use the slow cooker? Try the Crock Pot Chicken Spaghetti Recipe instead!
- Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Casserole - all the flavor without all the fussy prep. We love this meal!
- Do you love Mexican food? If so, I suggest for the next Taco Tuesday that you give this Creamy Taco Spaghetti recipe a try. It's an excellent easy weeknight meal when you crave a delicious tack flavor without a lot of work.
- Next time you are in the market for a few casseroles to make, pop on over and browse my casserole recipes. If you're looking for comfort food, this is the place to start!
Serve with
- Start your meal with a bowl of this Authentic Posole Recipe. It's an amazing rich soup!
- If you're looking for a quick and easy side dish to serve with this tater tot casserole recipe, look no further than Roasted Green Beans and Carrots. This fresh vegetable side is always a family favorite.
- You could also serve this Mexican casserole with a side of these Copycat Chiptole Black Beans for a flavorful side dish that tastes just like the restaurant.
- If you want a healthy yet delicious dish to pair with this hearty meal, then this Braised Swiss Chard recipe is for you. It's full of bright-colored greens, but also delicious garlic and butter flavors. You won't regret making this side dish.
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Mexican Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 2 ounces taco seasoning 2 packets
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1 cup queso con salsa
- ½ cup water
- 1-½ cups colby jack cheese freshly grated
- 4 cups frozen tater tots
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Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- In a large skillet over medium heat add the ground beef, diced onion and bell pepper. Cook for 5 minutes, until the meat has no more pink and the onions are soft.
- Add the taco seasoning, water, corn and Queso and stir thoroughly.
- Cook about 2 minutes - until bubbly, then add 1 cup of the grated cheese.
- Stir to combine then empty contents of skillet into a lightly greased 9x13” casserole dish.
- Place a single layer of tater tots on top of the casserole to totally cover the ground beef mixture evenly.
- Cook in the oven for about 20 minutes, until bubbly on the sides.
- Remove, sprinkle with the remaining cheese and place back in the oven. Cook for another 5 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.
- Garnish with your favorite toppings: chopped tomatoes, sour cream, avocado, cilantro, olives, etc.
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