What are the ingredients for tater tot casserole?

The classic 5-ingredient Tater Tot Casserole includes ground beef, condensed cream of mushroom soup, frozen tater tots, shredded cheddar cheese, and basic seasoning like salt and pepper.

What are 5 components of a casserole?

Most casseroles consist of five key elements: a protein, a starch, a sauce, vegetables, and a topping. The 5-ingredient Tater Tot Casserole checks all those boxes in the simplest form

Why is my tater tot casserole soggy?

Soggy results come from not draining the beef well or covering the dish while baking. Always bake your 5-ingredient Tater Tot Casserole uncovered with frozen—not thawed—tots.

Why is it called John Wayne casserole?

The John Wayne casserole is based on a recipe shared by the actor, but it uses more ingredients. It’s often mistaken for 5-ingredient Tater Tot Casserole, but they are different dishes.

What are the main ingredients in a casserole?

A basic casserole includes protein, starch, sauce, vegetables, and a topping. This 5-ingredient Tater Tot Casserole hits all five, but with minimal effort.

What vegetable goes in tater tot casserole?

Common choices are corn, green beans, or peas. Add them to the meat mixture to keep the 5-ingredient Tater Tot Casserole simple but balanced.

5-Ingredient Tater Tot Casserole – Ultimate Easy Dinner (Cheesy!)

Name: 5-Ingredient Tater Tot Casserole
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 pound ground beef; 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup; Salt and ground black pepper to taste; 1 (16 ounce) package frozen tater tots; 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Description

This 5-Ingredient Tater Tot Casserole is a quick, comforting dish made with pantry staples. It’s cheesy, meaty, and topped with golden tater tots—perfect for weeknights!

Ingredients

Scale

1 pound ground beef

1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup

Salt and ground black pepper to taste

1 (16 ounce) package frozen tater tots

2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground beef until browned and crumbly, about 7–10 minutes.

3. Stir in the condensed soup. Season with salt and black pepper.

4. Transfer beef mixture to a 9×13-inch baking dish.

5. Layer tater tots evenly on top of the beef mixture.

6. Sprinkle shredded Cheddar cheese over the tater tots.

7. Bake uncovered for 30–45 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly and the tater tots are golden brown.

8. Serve hot and enjoy!

Notes

Do not thaw the tater tots before baking—they crisp better when frozen.

For a flavor twist, try using ground turkey or pepper jack cheese.

Optional: add frozen peas, corn, or green beans into the beef mixture before baking.

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 40 mins
Category: Dinner
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 portion
Calories: 480
Sugar: 2g
Sodium: 810mg
Fat: 29g
Saturated Fat: 13g
Unsaturated Fat: 12g
Trans Fat: 1g
Carbohydrates: 30g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 22g
Cholesterol: 75mg

Keywords: 5-ingredient tater tot casserole, easy casserole, beef tater tot bake