Description
This hearty tater tot casserole combines crispy tots with savory ground beef, bacon, baby spinach, and gooey cheese. It’s comfort food at its finest — great for family dinners or potluck gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (32-oz.) bag of frozen tater tots
- 4 strips of bacon
- 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 lb. ground sirloin
- 1 (10.75-oz.) can cream of mushroom soup
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 3/4 tsp. ground black pepper, divided
- 3 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 8 oz. shredded cheddar or Colby jack cheese
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- Chopped chives or scallions for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Let the tater tots thaw slightly while you prepare the filling.
- In a large cast-iron skillet, cook bacon until crispy. Remove and set aside to cool, then crumble.
- In the same skillet with the bacon fat, sauté onions for 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more.
- Add ground beef and cook until browned. Drain any excess fat.
- Remove skillet from heat and stir in cream of mushroom soup, milk, salt, and ½ tsp pepper. Mix until smooth.
- Fold in chopped spinach and frozen corn until evenly distributed.
- Sprinkle shredded cheddar or Colby jack cheese evenly over the filling.
- Top with a single layer of thawed tater tots. Sprinkle with grated parmesan and remaining pepper.
- Bake uncovered for 30–35 minutes, or until tater tots are golden and crispy.
- Remove from oven, crumble cooked bacon over the top, and garnish with chopped chives or scallions. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
For a spicier kick, add diced jalapeños or swap Colby jack with pepper jack cheese. This casserole can also be made ahead and baked just before serving.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking, Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 890mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 90mg