Easy Taco Tater Tot Casserole

You can think of Taco Tater Tot Casserole as the Mexican recipe version of a Shepherd’s Pie.

This ground beef casserole is loaded with delicious Mexican flavors, topped with tater tots, and finished with a layer of cheese. It’s a real family favorite.

Our family loves this flavorful easy to make dinner recipe. It’s perfect all year round and of course a must have on Cinco de Mayo!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• This casserole is easy to prep for.
• It’s very flavorful and has great texture.
• Substituting ground beef with ground turkey or ground chicken makes delicious recipe spin offs.
• Turning this casserole into a freezer meal is easy. See Recipe Success Tips for a detailed explanation.
• Chances are that you won’t have to go shopping to make this meal. You’ll probably have all of the ingredients already in your fridge and pantry.

What You’ll Need

complete list of ingredients in recipe card

BEEF – I use lean ground beef (90/10). It has the right amount of fat to sauté the onions.

FILLING – Once the ground beef onion mixture has been cooked, add taco mix, green chili, diced tomatoes, corn, and black beans. Enchilada sauce is layered on the bottom of the casserole dish and the remaining sauce goes atop the tater tots.

TOPPING – Frozen tater tots and shredded cheddar cheese. Once out of the oven I like to add sliced black olives (or green olives) and chopped fresh tomato. This recipe is perfect with a side of fresh guacamole and a dollop of sour cream.

Variations and Additions

• You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or ground chicken, or a combination of both.
• Instead of black olives, you can also use green ones.
• For serving, I recommend shredded romaine lettuce.
• More Topping Ideas: fresh cilantro, green onions, avocado. Adding a dollop or two of sour cream is quite delicious, too.
• For a bit of extra heat add some jalapenos.

How To Make This Taco Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

1. Brown ground beef in a large skillet. Add onions and garlic.

2. Combine the ground beef mixture with canned diced tomatoes, green chiles, corn, and black beans.
3. Spread a thin layer of enchilada sauce on the bottom of a 9×13 inch casserole dish.
4. Transfer the beef mixture into the casserole dish. Top with a single layer of tater tots. Sprinkle with the remaining enchilada sauce and top with shredded cheese.

5. Bake for 30-35 minutes at 400° Fahrenheit until the cheese has melted.
6. Top with black olives and diced tomatoes. Serve and enjoy.

Serving Suggestion.

Serve over a bed of shredded lettuce. It’s an easy way to sneak in a bit of salad. A side of sour cream, avocado, and a sprinkle of cilantro are optional but add extra deliciousness.

Recipe Success Tips

Storing and Keeping

Cover the dish with aluminum foil (or use this casserole dish which has a fitted cover!). The casserole will last 3-4 days in the fridge.

Taco Tater Tot Casserole Freezer Edition

1. Follow all of the instructions – except don’t bake Taco Tater Tot Casserole.
2. Cover the casserole dish with a layer of cling film and the second layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months.
3. When it’s time to cook, you don’t have to defrost the casserole. Remove the plastic film and aluminum foil.
4. Bake for 45-50 minutes at 400° Fahrenheit.

More Easy and Delicious Casserole Recipe Ideas

• Chicken Parmesan Casserole – a reader favorite.
• Beef and Bean Casserole – high protein casserole the entire family can’t get enough of
• Ham and Noodle Casserole – the classic German ‘Nudelauflauf’
• Sausage and Hashbrown Casserole – perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dinner.