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taco tater tot delight

Taco Tater Tot Casserole

Taco-seasoned ground beef with beans, corn and tomatoes, layered with cheddar and topped with crispy tater tots. A kid-friendly 9x13 dinner.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Casserole, Dinner
Cuisine: American, Tex-Mex
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Filling
  • 1½ lb lean ground beef
  • 1 small yellow onion diced
  • 1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning
  • 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes with green chiles such as Rotel, drained
  • 1 can (15 oz) black beans drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup corn frozen, canned (drained) or fresh
  • ½ cup sour cream
Topping
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar or Mexican-blend cheese divided
  • 1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots
To serve (optional)
  • sliced green onions, diced tomatoes, sour cream, salsa

Method
 

  1. Heat the oven to 425°F and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  2. Brown the beef: Cook the beef and onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 6 to 8 minutes, breaking it up, until no pink remains. Drain the fat.
  3. Season: Stir in the taco seasoning with ¼ cup of water and simmer for 2 minutes. Stir in the drained tomatoes, black beans, corn and sour cream.
  4. Layer: Spread the filling in the baking dish and sprinkle with 1 cup of the cheese. Arrange the frozen tater tots in an even layer on top.
  5. Bake: Bake uncovered for 30 to 35 minutes until the tots are golden and crisp. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup of cheese and bake 3 to 5 minutes more until melted.
  6. Rest and serve: Let it stand for 5 minutes, then top with green onions, tomatoes, sour cream or salsa.

Notes

Crispy tots: put them on straight from the freezer and bake uncovered at a high temperature. Thawed tots turn soggy.
Make ahead: assemble the filling and cheese layer up to a day ahead and refrigerate. Add the frozen tots right before baking and add 5 to 10 minutes to the bake time.
Storage: refrigerate leftovers for 3 to 4 days. Reheat in a 375°F oven or air fryer to re-crisp the tots.