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Mexican Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

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This Mexican Tater Tot Casserole is a hearty and flavorful dish combining seasoned ground beef, fresh vegetables, melted cheeses, and crispy tater tots baked to golden perfection. Perfect for a comforting family dinner, it blends classic Tex-Mex spices with the fun texture of tater tots, topped with optional fresh garnishes for added freshness and color.

Ingredients

Meat and Vegetables

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced

Seasonings and Mix-Ins

  • 2 ounces taco seasoning (about 2 packets)
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 1 cup queso (with salsa)
  • 1/2 cup water

Cheese and Toppings

  • 1 1/2 cups freshly grated Colby Jack cheese, divided
  • 4 cups frozen tater tots

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the casserole.
  2. Cook the beef and vegetables: In a large skillet over medium heat, add the ground beef, diced yellow onion, and diced red bell pepper. Brown the ground beef and sauté the vegetables for about 5 minutes until the meat is no longer pink and the onions soften.
  3. Add seasoning and mix-ins: Stir in the taco seasoning, water, frozen corn, and queso with salsa. Combine thoroughly to blend all ingredients.
  4. Simmer mixture: Cook the mixture for about 2 minutes until it becomes bubbly, then add 1 cup of the freshly grated Colby Jack cheese and stir well to incorporate.
  5. Prepare the casserole dish: Lightly grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish. Pour the skillet contents evenly into the dish.
  6. Layer tater tots: Place a single, even layer of frozen tater tots over the ground beef mixture, ensuring full coverage.
  7. Bake the casserole: Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 20 minutes until the edges are bubbly and the tater tots are golden brown.
  8. Add remaining cheese and finish baking: Remove the casserole from the oven, sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of grated cheese on top, and return to the oven. Bake for an additional 5 minutes until cheese melts.
  9. Cool before serving: Remove the casserole from the oven and allow it to cool for 5-10 minutes to set before serving.
  10. Add garnishes: Top with your favorite garnishes such as chopped tomatoes, sour cream, avocado, cilantro, and olives for extra flavor and texture.

Notes

  • For a spicier kick, add jalapeños or hot sauce to the beef mixture.
  • You can substitute Colby Jack cheese with cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese.
  • Make sure to evenly layer the tater tots for uniform cooking and crispiness.
  • Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven for best texture.
  • This dish can be doubled easily for larger gatherings using a bigger casserole dish.

Find it online: https://simpleplatter.com/mexican-tater-tot-casserole-recipe/