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Sloppy Joe Tater Tot® Casserole

Sloppy Joes, served family style!
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 10 people

Equipment

  • 1 Large Skillet For browning beef and sautéing vegetables.
  • 1 9x13 inch Baking Dish For assembling and baking the casserole.
  • 1 Spatula or wooden spoon For stirring and breaking up ground beef.
  • 1 Chef's Knife and Cutting Board For dicing onion and bell pepper.
  • 1 Measuring Spoons For garlic, paprika, salt, and pepper.

Ingredients
  

Main

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • ½ onion diced
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 15 ounce can whole kernel corn, drained
  • 1 red bell pepper diced
  • 1 24 ounce jar Sloppy Joe sauce
  • 4 tablespoons cream cheese softened
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • salt and ground black pepper to taste
  • 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese divided
  • 1 32 ounce package frozen bite-size potato nuggets (such as Tater Tots®)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain any fat and set beef aside.
  • Saute onion and garlic in the same skillet until translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Add corn and bell pepper; cook until soft, 5 to 10 minutes. Return beef to the skillet. Stir in Sloppy Joe sauce, cream cheese, paprika, salt, and pepper. Simmer over medium-low heat until sauce is heated through, about 5 minutes.
  • Pour the beef mixture into a 9x13-inch baking dish and spread evenly. Top with 1 cup Cheddar cheese. Arrange potato nuggets over the top. Sprinkle remaining Cheddar cheese on top.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until the potato nuggets are crispy and golden, about 25 minutes. Serve hot.

Notes

Ensure proper browning of ground beef for maximum flavor development; do not overcrowd the pan. Drain any excess fat thoroughly to prevent a greasy casserole. When sautéing vegetables, cook until tender-crisp to maintain some texture, avoiding overcooking to mushiness. Fully soften the cream cheese at room temperature before adding it to the hot mixture to ensure smooth incorporation and prevent lumps, adding a creamy richness to the sauce. For extra crispy Tater Tots, ensure they are arranged in a single layer without overcrowding; a light spray of cooking oil before baking can also enhance browning. Consider adding a dash of Worcestershire sauce or a pinch of smoked chipotle powder to the Sloppy Joe mixture for an extra layer of depth and subtle heat.