Description
Chili Cheese Tater Tot Casserole is a cozy, family-friendly bake featuring savory chili, crispy tater tots, and melty cheddar—perfect for quick weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef or ground turkey
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans or kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes with green chilies
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots
- Optional: sliced green onions or chopped cilantro for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet, add onion and garlic, and sauté until softened.
- Add ground beef or turkey and cook until browned, breaking it apart as it cooks.
- Stir in tomato sauce, beans, diced tomatoes with green chilies, chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Simmer 5 minutes.
- Spread the chili mixture evenly in a baking dish.
- Sprinkle 1 cup of cheddar cheese over the chili.
- Arrange tater tots in an even layer on top.
- Bake 25-30 minutes until tots are golden and crisp.
- Sprinkle remaining cheese on top and return to the oven for 5 minutes to melt.
- Garnish with green onions or cilantro and serve warm.
Notes
- For a lighter version, use lean ground turkey and reduced-fat cheese.
- If tots aren’t crispy enough, broil for 2-3 minutes at the end.
- Leftovers refrigerate well for 3-4 days; reheat before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1 cup)
- Calories: 680 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
Keywords: Chili Cheese Tater Tot Casserole, chili cheese casserole, tater tot casserole, easy weeknight dinner, beef chili bake, comfort food