A Cheap & Easy Dinner Recipe For The Family Made With Ground Beef
This simple, comforting casserole combines ground beef, cream of mushroom soup, cheddar cheese, green beans, onion and crispy tater tots for an affordable weeknight meal the whole family will enjoy.
I’m always searching for quick and easy dinner ideas, and casseroles are my go-to when I need something that picky eaters will love. This cheesy tater tot and ground beef casserole checks all the boxes: meat, potatoes, cheese and a vegetable—plus it’s budget friendly and straightforward to make.
You can easily customize the casserole by adding extra vegetables like corn, zucchini, bell pepper or fresh mushrooms. The more vegetables you can tuck in, the better for nutrition and flavor.
Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole With Ground Beef
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 cup diced yellow onion
- 1 (10.75 oz) can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 (14 oz) can green beans, drained
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 (28 oz) bag frozen tater tots
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (optional)
- Salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13 baking dish.
- In a medium skillet, brown the ground beef with the diced onion. Season with salt, black pepper and garlic powder. Drain any excess grease, then stir in the Worcestershire sauce.
- Spread the cooked beef mixture evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Spoon the cream of mushroom soup over the beef, smoothing it into a layer. Top the soup with the drained green beans.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the green beans.
- Arrange as many frozen tater tots as will fit in a single layer over the cheese (you will likely have a few tots left over).
- Bake uncovered on the center rack for 35–40 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown, crispy and cooked through. Let rest a few minutes before serving.
This casserole bakes up into true comfort food: creamy layers of beef and soup, a melty layer of cheddar, and a crispy tater tot topping. The textures and flavors complement each other beautifully.
Leftovers reheat well and often taste even better the next day, making this an excellent recipe for meal prep or packed lunches.
Print Recipe
Easy Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole With Ground Beef
Ingredients
- 1 (28oz) bag frozen tater tots (you will have some leftover)
- 1 (lb) ground beef
- 1/2 diced yellow onion
- 1 (10.75oz) can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 (14oz) can green beans (drained)
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 375° F and grease a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.
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In a medium skillet, cook and brown the ground beef with the diced onion. Remove any excess grease and stir in the Worcestershire sauce.
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Place the ground beef mixture onto the bottom of your prepared dish.
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Spread the cream of mushroom soup over the top of the beef and then top with the drained green beans.
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Evenly sprinkle the cheddar cheese over top.
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Top with as many frozen tater tots as you can fit in the dish (you will most likely have a few left over).
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Bake uncovered in the center rack for 35-40 minutes or until the tater tots are cooked through, crispy, and golden brown.
Notes
- Add other vegetables you have on hand—corn, mushrooms, bell pepper or zucchini all work well layered into this dish.
- Worcestershire sauce is optional but adds extra depth. Alternatively, adjust seasonings with salt, garlic powder and black pepper to taste.
