Need a no-fuss dinner that still feels fun? This Tex Mex tater tot casserole has a cheesy ground beef base, a little spice from jalapeños, and a crunchy potato topping. It’s the ultimate comfort food and comes together fast enough for a weeknight.
A Skillet Full of Tex Mex Comfort
There are some dinners you don’t overthink, you just make them. This ground beef and tater tot casserole is one of those. It’s taco-spiced, cheesy, and piled high with crunchy little potato bites.
It’s the kind of casserole recipe that makes everybody stop what they’re doing and actually sit at the table, even the kids. And it takes about 20 minutes to throw together before the oven does the rest.
Featured reader review
“My 13 year-old son and his friend loved this! My son has asked me to make it again soon.”
Susan
If you’re anything like me, you’ve got a rotation of weeknight comfort food that never gets old. Sometimes it’s a cheesy chicken skillet like queso chicken, other nights it’s a big bowl of homemade cheeseburger pasta. And when I want potatoes in the mix? It’s always this Tex Mex tater tot casserole.
The Tater Tot Obsession Is Real
There’s something about tater tots that just hits. Crispy on the outside, fluffy inside, better than fries if you ask me. My girls grew up on them, Taylor always goes for the sweet potato puffs and Natalie refuses to stray from the regular ones. So when they’re both home, I’ll do half and half on top of the casserole just to keep the peace. And yes, I usually double the recipe so I’ve got leftovers tucked in the freezer for quick lunches.
The filling is where all the flavor is. A Tex Mex tater tot casserole isn’t just beef and cheese tossed together, it’s sautéed onions and peppers, a little garlic, corn, taco seasoning, and pepper jack melting into a creamy base.
It’s hearty but with just enough spice to keep things interesting. The jalapeño? Totally optional. I like to seed it so it’s got heat without burning your tongue off.
What Makes This More Than Just Ground Beef and Cheese
I’m only hitting the crucial ingredients here, check the recipe card for the full list and amounts.
Tater tots – frozen, straight from the bag.
Ground beef – or swap in ground chicken or turkey.
Taco seasoning – a packet works fine.
Corn – this makes it interesting.
Prep in 20 Minutes
This is such an easy recipe to put together, and you don’t even need a casserole dish, it cooks right in the skillet.
Step 1: Brown the beef
Add milk and let it simmer until it thickens.
Step 2: Add some cheese and potatoes
This version does not have canned cream of mushroom soup but still has a creamy hamburger base. Some call this a tater tot hotdish, but in the South, it’s a casserole.
We call this comfort food at my house, but it’s also practical food. Leftovers last about 3 days in the fridge, or you can freeze portions for up to 3 months. If you reheat in the oven, the tots stay crispy. Microwave? They’ll get soft, but sometimes that’s okay too.
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Ground Beef Tater Tot Casserole with a Tex Mex Twist
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- ½ cup onion
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 jalapeno diced
- 2 red or yellow pepper diced
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 package taco seasoning 4 tablespoons
- ¾ cup milk
- 8 ounces pepper jack cheese shredded
- 1 cup frozen or fresh corn
- 28 ounces frozen tater tots 1 bag
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400º.
- In an oven proof skillet over medium heat, add ground beef and onion and cook until no longer pink. Add peppers and cook until tender, about 8 minutes. Add garlic and cook an additional minute. Drain grease if necessary.
- Add flour and taco seasoning and cook until incorporated about 2 minutes. Stir in milk and bring to a simmer. Cook until thickened, about 3 minutes.
- Add half of the cheese along with the corn and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle remaining cheese over the hamburger mixture and top with tater tots.
- Place skillet in oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until tater tots are golden brown and crispy. Let stand for at least 5 minutes to cool before serving.
Video
Barbara’s Tips + Notes
- You can substitute ground chicken or turkey for hamburger, if doing so, you will need to add a little olive oil to the skillet before adding the ground chicken.
- To prepare this in advance, let the hamburger mixture cool before adding the tater tots. Then cover and refrigerate.
- If you don’t have an oven proof skillet you can make this in a 9 x 13 baking dish.
Nutrition
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Susan Turner says
My 13 year-old son and his friend loved this! My son has asked me to make it again soon.
Barbara Curry says
Kids and adults alike love tater tots!
STC says
Can this be frozen?
Barbara Curry says
Yes, but it you reheat it in the microwave the tater tots will not be crisp, still delicious though. Heat it in the oven until they crisp up for the best results.
Sonya Cox says
I’d like freeze it BEFORE the final step of putting it in the oven.
Barbara Curry says
If freezing before you bake it, I would suggest placing the cooked hamburger mixture in a glass baking dish and covering it with plastic wrap and freezing it. Let it thaw and then add the frozen tater tots and bake. You could try freezing with the tater tots, but I’m afraid they might not get as crispy as they do if you add them right before baking.
Mary Kielb says
Hi, Can I leave out the peppers?
Barbara Curry says
Yes, it will still be delicious.