Mexican Tater Tot Casserole

This cheesy tater tot casserole is a great option for a busy weeknight meal and the hit of every potluck! It's a meal your entire family loves!

Course Lunch or Dinner

Cuisine TexMex

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 35

Total Time 45

Servings servings

Calories 421kcal

Author Deb Clark

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

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F.
In a large skillet over medium heat add the ground beef, diced onion and bell pepper. Brown ground beef. 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 and golden brown.
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.

Notes

How Spicy is this version? In my opinion, it's a mild-medium spice level. I tried using one package of taco seasoning, and it was not enough; I thought it was bland. If you like your spices low-key, you could try using 1-½ packets instead and go from there.

Storage

Store this casserole in the refridgerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container or tightly sealed with plastic wrap.

This meal freezes well up to 2 months. If you're making it in advance and freezing, I recommend assembling the casserole, wrapping it with aluminum foil 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.

Nutrition