Hello, Tater Tot hotdish! Or as my family calls it: Tom’s casserole. Either way, this Tater Tot hotdish casserole is ultimate comfort food! It’s made with ground beef, tomato sauce, cream cheese, sour cream, shredded cheese, and Tater Tots (of course!). It’s super filling and perfect for feeding a crowd.
The Best Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole {Without Soup}
Yes, I’m from California. But part of my family hails from (you guessed it!) Minnesota, the birthplace of the hotdish circa 1930. The theory is that the casserole, which is made using affordable ingredients, was developed during the depression as a way to cost-effectively feed a family. Tater Tots were invented in 1956 and upped the hotdish game.
We grew up eating this hearty dish at family dinners. My version of our Tater Tot hotdish with sour cream is made with ground beef, onions, tomato sauce, sour cream, cream cheese, shredded cheese, and Tater Tots. Sorry — no canned soup. But it’s so good!!
You can also sub out the Tater Tots and add pre-cooked pasta before baking it. I’ve add the instructions on how to do this in the notes below.
Hamburger Tater Tot Casserole Ingredients
- GROUND BEEF: You could also use ground turkey
- ONION
- BUTTER
- TOMATO SAUCE
- CREAM CHEESE
- SOUR CREAM
- GRATED CHEDDAR CHEESE
- SALT & PEPPER
- TATER TOTS: Or your favorite potato puffs. I used Alexia Potato Puffs in this.
- TOPPINGS: Options include tomatoes, grated cheese, green onions, sour cream, crumbled bacon
Tips on Making Easy Tater Tot Hotdish with Sour Cream
This tater tot hot dish with sour cream recipe is super simple. But here are a few tips.
- DRAIN OFF EXTRA FAT: After you brown the meat, make sure to drain off any excess fat.
- YOU CAN USE FROZEN TATER TOTS: Yes, top your dish with frozen Tater Tots. You don’t need to thaw them.
- WAIT TO ADD CHEESE TOPPING: Also, don’t top the Tater Tots with cheese until you’re sure they’re nice and crispy.
- SUB PASTA FOR TATER TOTS: You can also use pasta in lieu of the Tater Tots. To do this, just cook 8 ounces of noodles of your choice for 7 to 8 minutes. Drain and then add to the meat and cheese mixture. Bake for 20-30 minutes and then top with cheese, if desired.
- STORAGE: This dish will last for a few days covered in the refrigerator. Just reheat before eating. But it’s best served right after making.
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Ultimate Tater Tot Hotdish Casserole
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 8–10 1x
Description
This Tater Tot hotdish casserole is the ultimate comfort food. Plus, it’s super easy to make with only a few ingredients and feeds a crowd.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 16 ounces tomato sauce
- 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 8 ounces grated cheese
- Frozen Tater Tots or brand of your choice. I used 1.5 packages of Alexia Potato Puffs for this.
- 1/3 cup green onions, chopped
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- PREP: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees
- COOK ONIONS: Melt butter in a large oven-proof skillet and add the onions. Sauté the onions until they turn translucent, about 3-5 minutes.
- ADD GROUND BEEF: Then add the ground beef to the pan. Brown the beef in the pan, breaking it apart as it cooks until it is cooked through (no longer pink).Remove from the heat, drain off an excess fat.
- ADD TOMATO SAUCE: Stir in the tomato sauce. Season with salt and pepper.
- MIX IN CREAM CHEESE, SOUR CREAM & CHEESE: Add the cream cheese and sour cream. Add 1/2 of the cheese.
- TOP WITH TATER TOTS: Add the Tater Tots in a single layer.
- BAKE: Bake for 30 minutes, or until the mixture is bubbling and the tater tots are starting to get brown and crispy.
- ADD REMAINING CHEESE: Remove from the oven and add the remaining cheese. Put back in the oven just until the cheese melts, about 1 minute.
- SERVE: Remove and let cool slightly before serving. Garnish with ingredients of your choosing like sour cream, green onions, tomatoes.
Notes
- YOU CAN USE FROZEN TATER TOTS: Yes, top your dish with frozen Tater Tots. You don’t need to thaw them.
- WAIT TO ADD CHEESE TOPPING: Also, don’t top the Tater Tots with cheese until you’re sure they’re nice and crispy.
- SUB PASTA FOR TATER TOTS: You can also use pasta in lieu of the Tater Tots. To do this, just cook 8 ounces of noodles of your choice for 7 to 8 minutes. Drain and then add to the meat and cheese mixture. Bake for 20-30 minutes and then top with cheese, if desired.
- STORAGE: This dish will last for a few days covered in the refrigerator. Just reheat before eating. But it’s best served right after making.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American