Easy Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole

Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole is delicious, cheesy comfort food. The classic flavor is a family favorite and never disappoints. Dinner is on the table in less than an hour with a few simple ingredients like ground beef, burger toppings, cheddar cheese, and tater tots. 

Casseroles are a favorite weeknight dinner around our house! And this easy recipe has it all. Ground beef, gooey cheese, and crispy tots! It's like a cheeseburger and fries all in one!

Of course, we love our incredibly popular Tater Tot Casserole, but this is a yummy way to mix it up. 

Ingredients

This tater tot casserole doesn't use cream of mushroom soup if that's what you're looking for.

ground beef - 85% fat or leaner
onion - diced
ketchup - your favorite brand
yellow mustard
dijon mustard 
Worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper - to taste
shredded cheddar cheese
butter
flour
milk
frozen tater tots

How to Make - Step By Step Directions

STEP 1 - PREP

Place your rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. (204 Celsius). Then, spray your 9 x 13-inch pan with non-stick cooking spray and set it aside. 

STEP 2 - COOK BEEF and ONIONS

Next, In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the beef and onions, breaking up the meat as you cook it. Drain off the fat.

STEP 3 - ADD CONDIMENTS

Add the ketchup, mustard (both kinds), Worcestershire sauce, and relish if using. Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir to combine. Evenly spoon the mixture into the prepared casserole dish. 

STEP 4 - MAKE CHEESE SAUCE

Next, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Slowly whisk in the flour until smooth. Continue whisking until the mixture is golden brown and is a little puffy.

PRO TIP: This process is called a roux in French cooking—the base for a sauce. 

Now, slowly whisk in the milk, making sure to incorporate it with the roux. Keep whisking until the sauce is thick and bubbly, about 5 minutes. Turn off the heat, and whisk in 1 ½ cups shredded cheese until the cheese melts and the sauce is smooth. 

Pour the sauce evenly over the meat mixture. 

STEP 5 - ADD TATER TOTS

Add the tater tots in an even layer over the cheese sauce. 

STEP 6 - BAKE

Bake in your preheated oven for 35 minutes. No need to cover it. Then, remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese over the top of the tater tots.

Place it back in the oven for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted. 

Let cool slightly, serve, and enjoy! 

Bacon Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole

Oh, the glorious combination of ground beef, cheese, and bacon! To make Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole, you can add cooked bacon to the meat mixture (12 slices, cooked) or the top of the finished dish (4 cooked slices, crumbled). 

Topping Ideas

Like a regular burger, delicious toppings make the dish your own. Try any one of these or a combo!

• Diced Tomatoes
• Shredded Lettuce
• Diced Avocado
• Crumbled Bacon 
• Diced Pickles (dill or sweet)

Recipe Tips and Tricks

• For crispier tots, bake them in the oven for 10 minutes per package instructions while cooking your beef mixture. 
• We recommend at least 85% or leaner ground beef. 
• You can use ground bison, ground chicken, or ground turkey in this casserole.
• Substitute your favorite type of cheese in the recipe. Monterey jack, pepper jack, sharp cheddar are all good!
• This cheeseburger casserole recipe easily doubles. Just use a second casserole dish. This is a great way to cook once and eat twice. 

What to Eat with Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole

If you're serving this as the main dish, try serving this tater tot casserole with green beans, roasted veggies, spinach, or fresh green salad.

How to Store

REFRIGERATOR - Store leftover Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole in an airtight container in the fridge for five days. 

To reheat in the oven, place the casserole in an oven-safe dish and cook for 30 minutes at 350 degrees F. Or, place individual servings in the microwave and heat for a minute or so.

FREEZER - Yes, you can freeze your cheeseburger tater tot casserole either before baking it or after. This Tater Tot Casserole Freezer Meal article includes all the details on how to do it easily, plus how to reheat it.

You may also be wondering how to prevent freezer burn when you store recipes in the freezer. 

More Tater Tot Recipes

Classic Tater Tot Casserole
Tater Tot Nachos
Crock Pot Tater Tot Casserole
Tater Tot Casserole Freezer Meal

We Love Hearing From YOU!

If you try our Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole Recipe or any other recipe on Suburban Simplicity, don't forget to rate the recipe and let us know how it went in the comments below. We love hearing from you! Better yet, use the hashtag #suburbansimplicity if you make the recipe.

You can also FOLLOW US on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more delicious food, fun crafts, home tips, + DIYs!