Tater Tot Shepherds Pie

Name: Tater Tot Shepherds Pie Casserole
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 1-½ pounds lean ground beef; 1 white onion chopped; 1 tablespoon Montreal steak seasoning; 10 ounce bag of frozen mixed vegetables; 4 ounces canned sliced mushrooms; 10.5 cream of mushroom soup; 1/2 cup milk; 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese; 28 ounce bag frozen tater tots (you'll use a little over half a bag.)

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Tater Tot Shepherds Pie is a fun twist on the classic dish that will have your whole family asking for seconds. Made with layers of ground beef, and mixed vegetables, and topped with crispy tater tots, this dish is sure to become a new favorite.

Tater tot shepherds pie casserole in a baking dish, with a spoon taking a big scoop to serve.

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What makes this recipe irresistible
What you’ll need: ingredients
Creative variations to try
Step-by-step guide: instructions
Watch and learn: recipe video
Essential equipment for this recipe
Frequently asked questions (FAQ's)
Deb's tips for the perfect dish
How to store leftovers
More recipes you'll love
Perfect pairings: what to serve with
Tater Tot Shepherds Pie Casserole

What makes this recipe irresistible

I love that while this dish is hearty and comforting it only takes about 15 minutes of prep time in the kitchen so that means I can spend more time with my family and less time in the kitchen. Plus, if you ask me the crispy tater tots on the top just give this hearty casserole just give this dish something a little extra that traditional shepherd's pie can't match.

All of the ingredients needed to make the recipe. With print overlay for clarification.

What you’ll need: ingredients

Please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for the exact measurements.

lean ground beef
onion
frozen mixed vegetables
canned sliced mushrooms
Montreal steak seasoning
Mushroom soup - you can use any cream soup you have on hand. Cream of chicken, celery, even cream of broccoli soup.
milk
Cheddar cheese - of course you can substitute with colby jack cheese, sharp cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese.
frozen tater tots

Creative variations to try

You can reduce the fat in this recipe, by using ground turkey instead of ground beef. You may need to add a little olive oil to the turkey to prevent it from sticking to the pan while you brown it.
Instead of using frozen mixed vegetables, you can use any frozen veggies that your family prefers. Sometimes, if I don't have mixed vegetables I will use half a bag of green beans and half a bag of peas and carrots. Or fresh chopped vegetables. That will work too.

Step-by-step guide: instructions

This is an overview of the instructions. For complete directions, scroll down to the bottom.

Ground beef being browned in a cast iron skillet. Then vegetables, milk, cream soup and cheese are added and mixed together.

Preheat the oven. Spray the baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Add the ground beef and diced onions to a large skillet over medium heat. Cook until browned—season with Montreal steak seasoning.
Stir in the frozen vegetables, sliced mushrooms, cream of mushroom soup and milk. Remove from heat. Stir in 1 cup of the cheese.

A cheesy shepherds pie casserole in a baking dish being topped with tater tots.

Spoon the meat mixture to the prepared baking dish.
Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the mixture. Top with tater tots.
Bake for 35 minutes or until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy.

Watch and learn: recipe video

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Essential equipment for this recipe

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Frequently asked questions (FAQ's)

Why is my tater tot casserole soggy?

If your casserole is soggy that usually means that you didn't bake it long enough. Remove the casserole dish from the oven when the tater tots are golden brown on the top.

Can I use hashbrowns instead of tater tots?

Techincally, yes. You can use any type of frozen potato on top of this dish. However, I've found that the other potatoes don't get as crispy as the tater tots, so I really recommend using them if possible.

A baked tater tot shepherd's pie casserole in a baking dish.

Deb's tips for the perfect dish

It's very important that you place your tater tots in a single layer so that they crisp up nicely on the top. So, take a little extra time and line them up evenly.

If you find that your meat mixture is a little on the dry side, add a splash of beef broth or more milk in small amounts until you get the consistency that you desire.
Do not cover this casserole while you are baking it otherwise, the tots won't crisp up.

How to store leftovers

Refrigerate - Store leftovers in an airtight container or covered with plastic wrap in the fridge for up to three days.

Freezer - One great thing, about this recipe is that it's also freezer-friendly so feel free to make it ahead of time and pop it in the freezer for up to three months. Just be sure to seal it well. Thaw it in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Reheat - This casseorle is great reheated. I like to reheat it in the oven at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. You can also reheat single servings in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. Just keep in mind that the tater tots will lose their crispy texture in the microwave.

Tater tot shepherds pie casserole on a plate ready to eat.

More recipes you'll love

Are you looking for more hearty ground beef casseroles to add to your meal plan this month? Some of my favorite casseroles are below. They all make a great meal that your whole family will love.!

Perfect pairings: what to serve with

I like to turn this Sheperd's Pie Tater Tot Casseorle into a complete meal by serving it alongside a simple green side dish like these Crack Green Beans or Steamed Brussels Sprouts. And, to satisfy your sweet cravings you can never go wrong with these Gooey S'mores Bars. What's better than marshmallows and chocolate together?

Casseroles make such a great dinner idea when you need something filling and family-friendly. So, if you need some help making this recipe and have some feedback, leave me a comment and I'd love to hear from you!