Taco Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

This scrumptious taco tater tot casserole recipe includes a layer of tater tots loaded with your favorite taco flavors, like taco seasoning, melted cheese, beef, and the toppings of your choice.

Taco Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

I love tacos in any form but have always had a fondness for taco casserole ever since I first remember Mama making it as a child (see her taco casserole recipe here). This taco tater tot casserole recipe is a more convenient (and a little simpler) spin on Mama’s, involving tater tots as the foundation layer. My husband, Ricky, who used to swear he didn’t like casseroles, can’t get enough of this one. I bet you’ll have plenty of takers in your house, too!

The recipe is below, but let me tell you, it’s quick and easy. You just add a layer of tater tots to the bottom of your casserole and cook your flavored ground beef before adding it on top. Then add a layer of cheese, bake it in the oven, and serve it alongside your favorite taco toppings. It’s filled with the taco flavors we know and love, but with the addition of tater tots (and who doesn’t love them?). It’s hearty, filling, and delicious.

If you want to streamline it even more, make double the taco meat (through step 2) and freeze half of it for a quick to throw together casserole next time.

Recipe Ingredients

  • Frozen tater tots
  • Ground beef
  • Taco seasoning
  • Barbecue sauce
  • Shredded cheddar cheese
  • Taco toppings of your choice

How to Make Taco Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

Place a layer of frozen tater tots in the bottom of an 8×8 casserole dish. Set aside.

In a large skillet, brown the ground beef until it’s no longer pink. Then add the water, taco seasoning mix, and barbecue sauce. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until thickened. It will be very saucy and that is fine.

Spoon the taco beef mixture over the tater tots. Sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese. Cover with foil and bake at 400 for about 30 minutes. Top with your favorite taco toppings and enjoy!

Storage

  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
  • You can freeze the casserole for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight before reheating briefly in the oven.

Recipe Notes

  • Here are some taco toppings you might want to add on top of your taco tater tot casserole: green onions, shredded lettuce, Pico de Gallo, salsa, hot sauce, crushed tortilla chips or tortilla chips, sour cream, olives, cilantro, and guacamole.
  • You can use whatever shredded cheese you prefer or have on hand. Mexican blend, Monterey Jack, and Pepper Jack cheese would all work well.
  • Think it can’t be tacos without corn and beans? Feel free to add a can of black beans or pinto beans, and either a can of corn or a cup of frozen corn kernels to your meat mixture.
  • Add some spice with a can of diced green chiles.
  • Want to add more flavor? Feel free to add 2 cloves of minced garlic, 1 chopped onion, and some bell pepper.
  • Substitute the ground beef for ground pork or ground turkey.

Here are more terrific taco-flavored recipes:

Taco Soup (The World’s Easiest Supper)

Taco Pizza – Fast, Fresh, Delicious!

Fiesta Taco Salad

Greek Chicken Tacos

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos

Taco Tater Tot Casserole

This scrumptious taco tater tot casserole recipe includes a layer of tater tots loaded with your favorite taco flavors, like taco seasoning, melted cheese, beef, and the toppings of your choice.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: casserole, taco
Servings: 4
Calories: 477kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 bag frozen tater tots small bag, you won't need them all
  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 2 packets taco seasoning mix
  • 1.5 cups water
  • 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese I use sharp
  • Taco toppings of your choice

Instructions

  • Place a layer of frozen tater tots in the bottom of an 8x8 casserole dish. Set aside.
    1 bag frozen tater tots
  • In a large skillet, brown the ground beef until it's no longer pink. Then add the water, taco seasoning mix, and barbecue sauce. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until thickened. It will be very saucy and that is fine.
    2 pounds ground beef, 2 packets taco seasoning mix, 1.5 cups water, 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
  • Spoon the ground beef mixture over the tater tots. Sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese. Cover with foil and bake at 400 for about 30 minutes. Top with your favorite taco toppings and enjoy!
    1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, Taco toppings of your choice

Nutrition

Calories: 477kcal
Tried this recipe?Mention @southernplate or tag #southernplate!

If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.

~Maya Angelou

Hearty Taco Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

Question Of The Week: What is something your grandparents did that you could never do? Answer in the comments 🙂 

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159 Comments

  1. Make their own patterns and sew. Both my grandmothers could sew beautifully and do it on an old treadle Singer sewing machine. It only had straight stitch, no button hole maker ! My mother also sewed beautifully but never made her own patterns. ME……….I am 62 years old and still haven’t learned to sew! I can crochet and loom knit, but, put a needle and thread in my hand or set me down at the sewing machine, well let’s just say blood, gore and swear words are the end result.

    The difference between a Southern lady and a Southern woman? A Southern lady extends her pinky when she sips her tea…….a Southern woman extends her pinky when she sips her bourbon.

  2. Wonderful, wonderful memories!! I didn’t really know my grandparents, however, I do miss my mother, she would be 105 this year. She was born and raised in the Indian Territory of Oklahoma in a dug-out. She was also one of 15 children, not all living through childhood. It was a very difficult time for them. The children would work in the fields in good weather and go to school in bad weather. I remember her smile. She would, and did, smile through every situation. She taught us to read from our bible and she always told us, “If you can’t say anything nice then don’t say anything.” That still stays with me till this day. Thank you everyone for sharing your memories with us.

  3. What instantly came to my mind was both my grandma & grandpa after supper would have a big ole glass of buttermilk with crumbled up cornbread in it, they called it cous-cous….nope no way I can put that to my lips, but I can still see them grinning at me while they ate it!

  4. Wow. Thought provoking question. So many answers, but the one that scares me the most – the one thing I just don’t believe I could do – is leave the country where all my family is, my home is, my language is familiar, where my life is and move across the ocean to another country and completely start over again. My grandparents did just that when my Mother was a young girl – left their beloved country of Germany and came across the ocean and made a new life for them and their children. Started completely over. Left their belongings (except for a few treasures – a couple of which I have), left their own families (parents, brothers, sisters, etc), had to learn a new language, new money system, new traditions, everything. All in the hopes of giving their children and themselves a better life. Talk about HARD!!! I just don’t think I could do it. But I am so very thankful my grandparents were pioneers in their own right.

    1. My grandma came over from Sweden when she was about 15 by herself. She stayed with a relative for about a week and then she was on her own to learn a new language and support herself. My biggest regret was that I never knew my grandparents because I was only two when Grandma died and the others died before I was born.

  5. My grandmother was very petite and blind. She did everything and I mean everything. She had several children and was able to attend to them plus do laundry by hand, all 3 daily meals she cooked and raised hogs. She baked bread and sold it to local people for her extra income. So, needless to say, I absolutely couldn’t and wouldn’t want to attempt a day of her yesteryear life.

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