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Easy Tater Tot Taco Casserole

A quick and comforting tater tot taco casserole that combines savory seasoned beef, beans, corn, and melty cheese, all topped with crispy tater tots.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Calories: 470
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 lb ground beef or ground turkey 1 to 1.25 pounds
  • 1 packet taco seasoning or 2 to 3 tablespoons homemade
  • 1 can Rotel or diced tomatoes with green chiles, drained
  • 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup frozen corn optional
  • 1 small onion, diced optional
  • 2 cups shredded cheese like cheddar or a Mexican blend
  • 1 bag frozen tater tots (about 28 to 32 ounces)
  • to taste salt and pepper
  • splash water or broth if needed
Optional Toppings
  • sour cream
  • salsa
  • chopped cilantro
  • sliced jalapeños
  • diced avocado

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Heat the oven to 400 F. Grease a 9x13 baking dish with a light coat of oil or spray.
  2. Brown the beef in a skillet over medium heat, breaking it up as it cooks. If you like onion, cook it with the beef until soft. Drain extra fat.
  3. Stir in taco seasoning and 1 to 2 tablespoons of water to help it coat the meat. Add the drained tomatoes, beans, and corn. Let it bubble for 2 to 3 minutes, tasting for salt and pepper.
  4. Spread the taco meat mixture in the dish. Sprinkle half the cheese on top.
  5. Arrange tater tots in a single layer over the filling.
Baking
  1. Bake for 25 minutes. Pull it out, sprinkle on the rest of the cheese, and bake another 10 to 15 minutes until the tots are deeply golden and the edges are bubbling.
  2. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

Do not thaw the tater tots before baking. For a creamier texture, stir in 2 to 3 tablespoons of sour cream or cream cheese into the meat mixture before baking. For heat, use hot taco seasoning or add diced jalapeños.