Tater Tot Taco Casserole

This tater tot taco casserole recipe is loaded with flavor. It's made with seasoned ground beef mixed with taco fix-ins covered in enchilada sauce, crispy tater tots, and Mexican cheese. You'll love how easy it is to make, and it's perfect for a busy weeknight dinner!

The Best Tater Tot Taco Casserole

Tater tot casseroles are the best, and I've made my fair share, like this cheeseburger tater tot casserole and chicken tater tot casserole. Although those are both pretty incredible, I think this tater tot taco casserole is my best one yet! 

The perfectly seasoned ground beef is mixed with jalapeños, corn, and black beans, all topped with tater tots, enchilada sauce, and melted shredded cheese. It's loaded with some serious flavor!  

Basically, it's got all the makings of delicious tacos, but instead of being wrapped up in a tortilla, it's layered in a casserole dish with crispy tater tots.

Sounds delicious, right?!

It's the perfect change-up from regular tacos, and everyone will love it, whether you're hosting or serving it for a family dinner.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

One skillet meal. Everything to make this taco tater tot casserole comes together in one skillet, and the entire process is effortless!

Customizable. You can add anything you want to this casserole recipe, leave anything out, or serve the casserole with your favorite taco toppings. You have the final say, just like with tacos!

An instant family favorite. Anyone who likes tacos will be obsessed with this recipe. My family requests it all the time for Taco Tuesday and just loves it, so I guarantee your family will love it too.

A winning combination. From the seasoned ground beef to the flavorful filling, crunchy tater tots, and melty cheese, you just can't beat the flavors and textures of this taco casserole recipe!

Ingredients

Not only is this tater tot taco casserole easy to make, but it also comes together with super simple ingredients!

Check out what you need to make this easy casserole recipe:

• 0.75lb. ground beef
• 2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 3oz. can jalapenos, chopped
• 0.75oz. taco seasoning mix
• 12oz. can black beans
• 10oz. frozen corn, thawed
• 2 ½ cups Mexican blend cheese
• 8oz. green or red enchilada sauce
• 24oz. frozen tater tots
• Sour cream, lettuce, olives to serve with

Oh, and you can use a lot of these same ingredients to make my taco rice casserole. It's another version of a taco casserole that's also a really easy dinner recipe, so give that try sometime!

Or, if you want to make something similar to this recipe, check out my Mexican tater tot casserole.

How To Make Tater Tot Taco Casserole

1. Prep work: Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease a 9-inch baking dish with some cooking oil.

2. Cook the ground beef: In a skillet set over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef, breaking it apart, until it's browned on all sides. Then drain the excess fat from the skillet.

3. Add the seasoning: To the skillet, add taco seasoning, onion powder, and garlic powder. Stir well to combine the seasonings with the ground beef.

4. Add the extras: Add the jalapeños, black beans, and corn to the skillet. Stir to combine, then add 1 ½ cups of the Mexican cheese blend and stir well.

5. Assemble the casserole: Transfer the ground beef mixture to the prepared baking dish. Top the beef mixture evenly with the tater tots and carefully pour the red enchilada sauce on top.

6. Bake: Put the casserole in the oven and bake it for 35 minutes. Add the remaining cheese on top and bake for 2-5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve warm with sour cream, olives, and shredded lettuce. Enjoy!

Tips To Make The Best Recipe

• Arrange tater tots in an even layer across the casserole dish so they get crispy on all sides.
• Use cheddar cheese, pepper jack, or cotija cheese for a different flavor.
• Swap black beans for refried beans for a different texture.
• Broil the casserole for 2-3 minutes after adding the cheese to make extra crispy tater tots and brown the cheese topping.
• Swap the enchilada sauce for any taco sauce that you want.
• Swap ground beef for ground turkey or ground chicken for leaner taco meat.
• Leave the jalapenos out for a less spicy, more kid-friendly casserole.

How To Store Taco Tater Tot Casserole

In the fridge: This taco tater tot casserole can be stored in a casserole dish with a lid on it or in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

In the freezer: Allow the casserole to cool completely, then transfer the tater tot casserole to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. 

Reheating: Put the leftover casserole in a prepared oven safe dish sprayed with cooking spray. Warm it in the oven, covered with aluminum foil, at 350°F for about 10 minutes. Let the frozen casserole thaw in the fridge overnight or add more reheating time.

FAQS About This Taco Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the beef mixture and refrigerate it for a few days. Then just assemble the casserole in just a few minutes and bake for about 5-10 minutes longer since the beef will be cold.

What goes with tater tot taco casserole as a meal?

It's delicious served with some tortilla chips and this Moe's queso, Taco Bell nacho cheese, or Chipotle tomatillo green salsa. For a sweet treat after dinner, you can make this fried ice cream.

Why is my tater tot casserole runny?

If you use fattier ground beef or didn't drain the excess grease before building the casserole then your tater tot casserole might become runny. You can use lean ground beef or add something to the casserole mix, like cream cheese, to thicken it up.

More Casserole Recipes

• Crescent roll taco bake
• Chicken fajita casserole
• Frito taco casserole
• Taco potato casserole
• Taco pasta casserole
• Dorito chicken casserole