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Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole

This cheeseburger tater tot casserole was my favorite dish when I was growing up — now it is my husband's favorite dinner. With crispy tater tots and gooey cheese, how can you go wrong?
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course lunch/dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 12 people
Calories 7357.8 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Large Nonstick Skillet
  • 1 9x13 inch Casserole Dish
  • 1 Microwave-Safe Bowl
  • 1 Colander For draining beef grease and onions
  • 1 Spatula or wooden spoon For stirring and serving

Ingredients
  

Main

  • 1 large onion chopped
  • butter-flavored cooking spray such as Pam
  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 2 10.5 ounce cans condensed golden mushroom soup
  • 3 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
  • 1 32 ounce package frozen bite-size potato nuggets (such as Tater Tots)

Instructions
 

  • Place onion in a microwave-safe bowl and cover with water. Microwave on high until soft, 7 to 8 minutes. Drain.
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 9x13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
  • Cook and stir ground beef in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and discard grease.
  • Transfer beef to the prepared casserole dish and spread onion pieces evenly over top. Spread soup over onions and sprinkle Cheddar cheese evenly over soup. Layer frozen potato nuggets in rows on cheese.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Lightly spray potato nuggets with cooking spray, and bake until cooked through and crunchy, about 10 minutes more.

Notes

For richer flavor, consider caramelizing the chopped onions in the skillet with a touch of butter before browning the ground beef, instead of microwaving. Season the ground beef generously with salt, pepper, and a dash of Worcestershire sauce during cooking to enhance the 'cheeseburger' profile. Ensure all grease is thoroughly drained from the beef to prevent a soggy casserole. For a creamier, more complex cheese layer, use a blend of sharp Cheddar and a melting cheese like Monterey Jack. Don't skip the final cooking spray on the tater tots; it's key for achieving a truly crispy, golden top.