Recipe Overview
Why you’ll love it: Cheeseburger tater tot casserole has everything you love about a classic cheeseburger, but it swaps the bun for crispy tater tots. Unlike other versions of this recipe, mine is made with a homemade cheese sauce. No canned soup here!
How long it takes: 1 hour, 20 minutes (including cooling time)
Equipment you’ll need: large skillet, whisk, 9 x 13-inch baking dish
Servings: 8
Tots are Always a Yes!
Cheeseburger. Tater tots. Casserole. If that combination doesn’t immediately have your attention, I don’t know what to tell you.
We tested this one a few times to create something creamy and delicious that didn’t involve canned soup, and I was so happy when we nailed it!
The tots go on top, bake until golden and crispy, and then get a final layer of melted cheddar. Kids lose their minds for this one. Adults do too, honestly.
What makes it special:
- No canned soup: A quick homemade cheese sauce tastes so much better (and it’s lower in sodium, too). I perk up the flavor with ketchup, mustard, and pickle relish to mimic classic cheeseburger toppings.
- Crispy tater tot topping: The tots bake until golden and crisp before getting a final layer of melted cheddar. Who needs the bun?!
- Kid-friendly: Kids who love burgers and fries will be delighted by this casserole, as will fans of classic tater tot casserole.
- Make-ahead option: Assemble it ahead of time and bake it later.
Ingredient Notes
You’ll find the full ingredient list in the recipe card, but here are some notes to keep in mind.
- Cheese sauce: Whole milk makes the richest sauce, but 2% works well too. Butter and flour create the roux that thickens the homemade cheese sauce.
- Ketchup, mustard, and pickle relish: These are the ingredients that give the sauce unmistakable cheeseburger flavor. Sweet or dill relish both work, so use whichever you prefer.
- Ground beef, onion, garlic: I like using lean ground beef (92/8) so there’s very little grease to drain. The beef is browned with yellow onion and garlic which infuse savory flavor into the beef and sauce..
- Sharp cheddar cheese: Shredded cheese is melted into the sauce, while the rest is sprinkled over the tots for a cheesy topper.
- Frozen tater tots: I usually buy a 32 ounce bag of tots. Depending on the size of your baking dish and the brand of tots, you may not need the entire bag.
- Optional toppings: Dress up your tater tot casserole when you serve it with diced pickles, chopped tomatoes, shredded lettuce, or Big Mac sauce.
Recipe Tip
Shred your own cheese! Freshly shredded cheddar melts much more smoothly than pre-shredded cheese which has anti-clumping additives. It’s not an absolute must, but it does make the sauce smoother and creamier.
How to Make Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole
Make the burger sauce base. Preheat your oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. In a measuring cup or small bowl, whisk together the milk, ketchup, mustard, and relish. Set it aside.
Brown the beef. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook the ground beef with the onion, salt, and pepper. Break the beef into crumbles as it cooks, cooking until it’s no longer pink, and the onion is soft.
Start the roux. Reduce the heat slightly, then stir in the butter and garlic. Once the butter has melted, sprinkle in the flour and cook for another minute, stirring constantly to remove the raw flour taste.
Make the cheese sauce. Gradually whisk the milk mixture into the skillet, stirring constantly until the sauce begins to thicken. Lower the heat and gradually stir in 1 cup of the cheddar until the cheese is completely melted.
Assemble the casserole. Spread the beef mixture into the prepared baking dish. Arrange the frozen tater tots over the top in a single layer. (If you have extras, don’t try to jam them in! They’ll steam and get mushy instead of crispy.)
Bake. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove the casserole from the oven, sprinkle the remaining cheddar over the tots, and return it to the oven for another 15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the tater tots are crispy and golden.
Cool and serve. Let the casserole rest for about 5 minutes before serving. Top with diced pickles, shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, burger sauce, or your favorite cheeseburger toppings.
Recipe Variations
- Make it bacon cheeseburger style. Stir cooked crumbled bacon into the beef mixture or sprinkle it over the top before serving.
- Swap the meat. Ground turkey works well if you’d like a lighter version, or use your favorite plant-based ground for a vegetarian version.
- Add spicy heat. Sauté minced jalapeños with the beef and onions, or top the casserole with pickled jalapeños just before serving. Pepper Jack cheese can be swapped in instead of cheddar for even more spice!
Serving Suggestions
- Salad: Toss a bag of greens with a light dressing like honey mustard vinaigrette or healthy ranch dressing.
- Vegetable sides: Keep it simple with something like air fryer green beans or sautéed fresh corn.
- Dessert: Since you have your oven on already, bake a blueberry crumble or peach blueberry crisp to serve for a sweet finish to this homestyle meal. Cake mix blondies or homemade chocolate chip cookies are a sure win, too!
Refrigerator: Store leftover cheeseburger tater tot casserole covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days; smaller portions can be transferred to an airtight container.
Freezer: Freeze tightly wrapped portions for up to 3 months, or freeze the entire casserole in a freezer-safe baking dish. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
To reheat: Warm individual servings in the microwave, or reheat larger portions in a 350°F oven until heated through. (I like using the oven; it’s worth the wait for crispier tots!)
More Ground Beef Recipes
Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk (whole milk or 2% works best)
- ½ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 2 tablespoons sweet or dill pickle relish
- 1 pound lean ground beef (I use 93/7)
- ½ cup diced yellow onion (1 small onion)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
- 1 bag (32 ounces) frozen tater tots
Optional Toppings:
- diced pickles, chopped tomatoes, shredded lettuce, burger sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
- In a measuring cup or bowl, whisk together milk, ketchup, mustard, relish. Set aside.1 cup milk, ½ cup ketchup, 2 tablespoons yellow mustard, 2 tablespoons sweet or dill pickle relish
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, onion, salt and pepper. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, breaking up the beef as it cooks, until it's no longer pink, and onions are softened.1 pound lean ground beef, ½ cup diced yellow onion, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- Reduce heat to medium, and stir in butter and garlic. Cook for 1 minute, or until butter melts. Add flour and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Slowly add milk mixture while stirring. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until slightly thickened.1 tablespoon butter, 2 cloves garlic, minced, 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- Reduce heat to low. Stir in 1 cup shredded cheese until melted. Remove from heat.
- Transfer the beef mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread evenly. Arrange frozen tater tots in an even layer over the top. Bake for 30 minutes.1 bag (32 ounces) frozen tater tots
- Remove from oven, sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese, and bake for 15 more minutes, until cheese is melted and tater tots are golden and crispy.
- Let cool for 5 minutes before serving. Top with diced pickles, chopped tomatoes, shredded lettuce, or Big Mac sauce if desired.
Notes
- Storage & make ahead: Refrigerate leftover tater tot casserole in a covered container for up to 4 days; freeze for up to 3 months. To make ahead, freeze the entire casserole in a freezer-safe baking dish. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Reheating: Warm individual servings in the microwave, or reheat larger portions in a 350°F oven until heated through. (I like using the oven; it’s worth the wait for crispier tots!)
- Variations: Add cooked bacon for bacon cheeseburger vibes. Use ground turkey instead of beef. Make it spicy with pepper jack cheese instead of cheddar.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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