Tater Tot Casserole Recipe with Ground Beef

Whether you call this beloved dish Tater Tot Casserole or Tater Tot Hotdish, this Midwest meal is a classic for a reason. Loaded with beef, veggies, and tater tots that are mixed together with a homemade cream of chicken, you can’t go wrong with this all-in-one dinner recipe. Our detailed instructions, step-by-step photos, and tips for a great casserole will ensure you have a delicious hotdish on your table the first time you make this.

Growing up in Minnesota, I ate tater tot hotdish regularly. This dish is so well loved in our house that I even took a picture of my child’s first tater tot hotdish experience to send to my mom (no joke!).

But in an effort to eat more whole foods, I’ve been working to reduce the amount of overly processed items in our pantry. Our from-scratch tater tot casserole recipe is everything you love about the classic, but with a homemade cream of chicken soup instead of that canned condensed soup of yesteryear. And honestly, this version tastes even better! As we were testing this recipe, my husband noted it “doesn’t taste processed, and tastes fresher” using the homemade base. I know you’ll agree and love it too!

Ground Beef Tater Tot Casserole Ingredients

For the Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup

• Salted Butter. Used as the base of our “roux”.
• All-Purpose Flour. Used to thicken our soup.
• Chicken Broth AND Chicken Bouillon Paste. The combination of broth and the bouillon paste give our cream of chicken soup the right pop of flavor. Chicken bouillon paste is a more condense flavor, giving our homemade version the same oomph as the canned condensed soup would.
• Whole Milk. Makes our soup base nice and creamy.
• Seasonings. We’ve got the perfect ratios of salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika to season our cream of chicken soup to perfection, adding a nice flavor profile to the base of our casserole.

For the Casserole

• Ground Beef. We recommend using at least an 85/15 ground beef for this recipe. This ratio of lean-to-fat has enough oomph to still provide nice texture and flavor in this dish.
• Yellow Onion. Used to add texture and be a flavor enhancer.
• Frozen Veggies. While you can use any mix of veggies, our go-to is a blend of carrots, peas, green beans, and corn. We’ve found each brand has their own mixes and sized packages, so you’ll want to look for a 12-14 ounce package, with a 10 ounce package being the next best option.
• Tater Tots. The best part of any tater tot casserole (am I right?!). Use your favorite standard sized tater tots. We haven’t found a package in our stores smaller than 32 ounces… so you’ll end up with leftover tots. Our recipe uses half of a 32 ounce pack, leaving enough for another casserole!
• Salt and Pepper. To add and enhance the flavors of our recipe.

Measurements can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the post, along with full recipe directions.

How to Make Tater Tot Casserole with Ground Beef

Begin by making the homemade cream of chicken soup. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the butter.

Add the flour, whisking continually, until the consistency is that of wet sand. Remove from the heat.

Slowly add in the chicken broth, whisking continuously, working to smooth out any clumps of flour.

Add in the warm milk, chicken bouillon paste, and the seasonings and whisk to combine.

Return the saucepan to the stove and bring to a low boil, while continuing to whisk until it begins to get very thick.

Remove from the heat. It will continue to thicken as it sits. Option to run it through a fine mesh strainer for a smoother texture.

Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease your baking dish (either a 9×9 or 8×8) and set aside.

Make the casserole. In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, sauté the onion with the olive oil, salt, and pepper until the onion begins to soften and brown (about 3-5 minutes).

Add the beef, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks.

Cook until the beef is browned, and no pink remains (about 5-7 minutes). Turn off the heat and remove any excess fat/liquid from the pan.

Stir the homemade cream of chicken soup into the beef until well coated.

Stir in the frozen mixed vegetables until well distributed throughout the filling.

Transfer the beef and vegetable filling to the prepared baking dish.

Spread the filling into an even layer.

Arrange a single layer of tater tots over the filling.

Bake for 35-40 minutes, until the edges are bubbling and the tater tots are golden brown and crispy on top.

Allow to rest for a few minutes, then serve and enjoy!

How Long to Cook Tater Tot Casserole

Once assembled, tater tot casserole takes 35-40 minutes to cook. You’ll know it’s done when the edges are bubbling and the tater tots on top are golden brown and crispy.

Recipe Variation Ideas

Add cheese. My family never made this dish with cheese in it, but your family may have! If cheese is a must for your best tater tot casserole experience, add 2 Cups of your favorite shredded cheddar cheese. Freshly grated cheese tends to melt better than pre-packaged (as it doesn’t have the anti-clumping agents in it). For best results, I also recommend adding the cheese layer between your meat and your tots. That way you’ll still get extra crispy tater tots!

Use cream of mushroom soup. Swapping out the cream of chicken soup for cream of mushroom is a-ok! It’s another standard casserole base.

How to Store Tater Tots Casserole

Tater tot hotdish is at it’s very best the day it’s made (because your tots are crispy and haven’t began to soften by sitting on the filling / on the sauce). However, it’s still great as leftovers. Fully cool, then cover and store in the fridge for up to 4 days.

You can reheat individual portions in the microwave or reheat the casserole in the oven at 350° for 20-25 minutes until heated through and bubbly around the edges.

Serving Suggestions

The best thing about hotdish is that it’s got everything right in the dish! Beef for protein, lots of veggies, and tater tots for the carb. However, adding a green salad as a side is always a great option to extend the meal.

Get extra Minnesotan and serve with ketchup too (because can you really eat tots WITHOUT ketchup?!).