Baked and ready in less than 1 hour, this Mexican-style tater tot casserole is dinner done right! It combines taco seasoning with ground beef, black beans, diced tomatoes with chilis, and frozen tater tots. Serve the casserole warm for dinner with a side of sour cream, salsa and fresh guacamole.
Mexican Tater Tot Casserole
If you love taco inspired recipes, you will fall in love with Mexican-style tater tot casserole. Family weeknight dinner prep couldn’t be easier with this dump and cook casserole dish topped with crispy tots and lots of melted cheese.
Similar to Mexican-style chicken casserole and quick walking taco casserole, this ground beef tater tot casserole is customizable for the whole family to enjoy. Serve with taco toppings, such as sour cream, salsa, hot sauce, lettuce, or avocado, and everyone can choose what they love. Easy tater tot casserole makes a great kid-friendly meal because you won’t have to help assemble countless tacos! Win for the cook!
Besides effortless prep, what else makes this Mexican tater tot casserole stand above other recipes? First, the ground beef layer nails all the essential components. It will leave you comforted and satiated with a hearty mixture of ground beef and black beans.
Plus there’s a melodic balance of flavors with a touch of spice from diced chiles, tangy sour cream, and creamy cheddar cheese. Similar to cheesy gluten-free beef and bean enchiladas, using some easy, pantry spices flavors the beef without the need for taco seasoning.
Also, while other ground beef tater tot casseroles suffer from soggy potato puffs, these are golden and crispy! How? Well, I use an easy trick from sloppy joe casserole with tater tots. Lining the tots in rows ensures heat can circulate around them. Also, baking at a higher 400ºF oven blasts extra heat on top for best results.
Ingredient notes
Affordable tater tot dinner ideas use a simple list of ingredients to make one extraordinary meal! Listed below are what I used to assemble this casserole, but scroll down to discover more ingredient modifications or substitutions.
- Lean ground beef – I use ground sirloin to make the dish healthier and eliminate extra step of draining grease. Any type of ground beef may be used, though, such as ground chuck or ground round. To make the dish lighter in calories, use ground turkey or chicken.
- Taco seasoning packet – Read label for gluten-free or make your own homemade taco seasoning.
- Diced tomatoes with chilies – Such as Ro-tel brand, and choose from mild to medium, depending on your spice preference.
- Frozen tater tots – Use Ore Ida brand for gluten-free
- Colby jack cheese – Freshly grated cheese off the block is best. Shredded cheddar or pepper jack are also suitable.
How to Make Mexican Tater Tot Casserole Recipe
(Below shows step-by-step photos and modified instructions. For the complete recipe, along with ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card.)
- In a large skillet brown ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat.
- To the meat mixture add the taco seasoning, undrained tomatoes with green chiles, and vinegar. Cook and simmer until liquid reduces, about 2 minutes.
- Stir in black beans, 1 cup shredded cheese, and sour cream to the ground beef.
- Spread the beef mixture in a greased 9X13 casserole dish. Lay frozen tater tots in a single layer on top. This helps the tots become golden and crispy during baking because hot air can circulate around them.
- Bake in 400ºF oven for 45 minutes. Top the tater tots with remaining cheese and bake for 3 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
Suggested toppings
Just like tacos, this Mexican casserole may be served with a variety of toppings to customize each serving! I serve taco tot casserole with options such as, salsa, red enchilada sauce, sour cream, hot sauce, lettuce, avocado, or cilantro.
Serving suggestions
Another reason to love this easy tater tot casserole? It’s a meal all in one! However, if you would like options to serve alongside it, consider a green salad, steamed corn, rice, chips and guacamole, or an elotes salad (Mexican street corn / Esquites).
Gluten-Free Tater Tot Casserole
As the recipe is written, this tater tot dinner idea is gluten-free, but be sure to read the labels carefully. For instance, some tater tot brands may add wheat flour or gluten containing additives. I use Ore-Ida brand tater tots since they are labeled “gluten-free” on the package.
This recipe also uses a taco seasoning packet. You can mix together your own taco seasoning or make sure to purchase one that doesn’t contain wheat flour. Old El Paso, McCormick, and Ortega brands are generally free of gluten containing additives.
Make-ahead / Freezer instructions
Ground beef tater tot casserole is perfect for meal prep or a make-ahead freezer meal. Either double the recipe and freeze one in a disposable aluminum pan or make ahead to freeze.
Prepare the ground beef mixture and cool meat enough to not thaw the tater tots. Spread meat on the bottom of greased 9X13 baking dish and top with tater tots. Either sprinkle on the shredded cheese or leave off until ready to bake.
Cover the dish with plastic wrap and then foil to prevent freezer burn. Make sure to label the dish with the recipe name and baking instructions. Freeze up to 4 months.
When ready to bake, remove the plastic wrap and foil. Bake from frozen so the tater tots don’t thaw before. Add an additional 20-30 minutes to the baking time for the ground beef to thaw heat through.
For more tips on rewarming frozen casseroles and easy make-ahead tips, see my favorite “how to reheat a casserole” tricks. They are a meal prep game changer!
More Tips and tricks
- Using freshly grated cheese off the block is best gooey melted cheese.
- Substitute any preferred cheese for the colby jack, such as pepper jack, monterey jack, or cheddar.
- For meatless Mexican tater tot casserole, use any additional can of black or pinto beans.
- Additional ingredients may be added to the meat mixture, such as corn, bell peppers, or green chiles.
- Make sure the frozen tater tots are in a single layer so they become crispy rather than soggy. If you like extra crispy tots, finish the baking with 1-2 minutes under the broiler before topping with cheese to melt.
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Mexican Casserole with Tater Tots & Ground Beef
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds lean ground beef
- 1 small onion chopped
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 packet taco seasoning mix* (1 ounce)
- 10 ounce can diced tomatoes with chiles with liquid
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 can black beans (15.5 ounce) drained and rinsed
- 3 cups freshly grated colby jack cheese divided
- 32 ounce bag frozen tater tots*
- optional toppings: sour cream, cilantro, green onions, salsa, tomatoes, avocado, lettuce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease and 9X13 casserole dish and set aside.
- In a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat saute ground beef, onion, and garlic together until beef is cooked and no longer pink. Drain grease, if necessary.1 ½ pounds lean ground beef,1 small onion,1 clove garlic
- Reduce heat to medium low and add taco seasoning and undrained diced tomatoes with chiles. Cook and simmer until liquid reduces, about 2 minutes.1 packet taco seasoning mix* (1 ounce),10 ounce can diced tomatoes with chiles
- Add sour cream, black beans, and 1 cup cheese to the beef mixture. Stir to combine.½ cup sour cream,1 can black beans (15.5 ounce),3 cups freshly grated colby jack cheese
- Pour beef into prepared casserole dish. Top with frozen tater tots in a single layer, so the tots become crisp during baking. If you have a few minutes, line them up in rows to make sure the full package fits on top. Bake for 45 minutes, or until tots are golden and crispy.32 ounce bag frozen tater tots*
- Remove from oven and top with remaining 2 cups shredded cheese. Return to oven for 3 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Serve hot with suggested toppings.optional toppings: sour cream, cilantro, green onions, salsa, tomatoes, avocado, lettuce
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Recipe Notes
*Gluten-Free Ingredients
Some tater tot brands may add wheat flour or gluten containing additives. I use Ore-Ida brand tater tots since they are labeled “gluten-free” on the package. For the taco seasoning packet purchase one that doesn’t contain wheat flour. Old El Paso, McCormick, and Ortega brands are generally free of gluten containing additives.Tips and tricks
- Using freshly grated cheese off the block is best gooey melted cheese.
- Substitute any preferred cheese for the colby jack, such as pepper jack, monterey jack, or cheddar.
- For meatless mexican tater tot casserole, use any additional can of black or pinto beans.
- Additional ingredients may be added to the meat mixture, such as corn, bell peppers, or green chiles.
- Make sure the frozen tater tots are in a single layer so they become crispy rather than soggy. If you like extra crispy tots, finish the baking with 1-2 minutes under the broiler before topping with cheese to melt.
Make Ahead Freezer Meal
Either double the recipe and freeze one in a disposable aluminum pan or make ahead to freeze.- Prepare the ground beef mixture and cool meat enough to not thaw the tater tots. Spread meat on the bottom of greased 9X13 baking dish and top with tater tots. Either sprinkle on the shredded cheese or leave off until ready to bake.
- Cover the dish with plastic wrap and then foil to prevent freezer burn. Make sure to label the dish with the recipe name and baking instructions. Freeze up to 4 months.
- When ready to bake, remove the plastic wrap and foil. Bake from frozen so the tater tots don’t thaw before. Add an additional 20-30 minutes to the baking time for the ground beef to thaw and heat through.
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