Description
Loaded Tater Tot Nacho Casserole is a hearty and flavorful dish layering crispy baked tater tots with seasoned ground beef, sautéed peppers and onions, crispy bacon, and melted cheese. This easy-to-make casserole combines classic nacho ingredients with crispy tots for a fun twist perfect for family dinners or game day snacks.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 bag (2 lbs) frozen tater tots
- 1 pound lean 90/10 ground beef
- 1 medium sweet onion, diced
- 6 mini sweet peppers or 1 large bell pepper, diced
- 6 strips center cut bacon, sliced
- 1/4 cup salsa
- 4 tsp taco seasoning
- 56 g (1/2 cup) shredded cheddar cheese
- 28 g (1/4 cup) shredded mozzarella cheese
- Hot sauce for topping
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt for topping
Instructions
- Bake the Tater Tots: Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Spread the frozen tater tots evenly on a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes until crispy and golden.
- Cook the Bacon: While the tots bake, slice the bacon into smaller pieces to cook faster. Cook over medium heat in a skillet until crispy. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess grease.
- Sauté Peppers and Onions: Carefully wipe down the bacon grease from the skillet, leaving a little for flavor. Add diced peppers and onions, season lightly with salt and pepper, and cook for about 1 minute until slightly softened.
- Brown the Ground Beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet with the peppers and onions. Break it up with a spatula and cook until browned but still slightly pink.
- Season the Beef Mixture: Stir in 4 teaspoons of taco seasoning and 1/4 cup salsa. Mix thoroughly and cook until the beef is fully cooked and flavors meld, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Prepare the Casserole Layers: Spray a 10.5-inch cast-iron skillet with nonstick spray. Add a layer of baked tater tots to the bottom, then spread half of the beef mixture evenly over the tots. Sprinkle 1/4 cup cheddar and 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese on top, optionally adding hot sauce.
- Add Second Layers: Carefully layer the remaining tater tots on top, fitting them like puzzle pieces. Top with the remaining beef mixture, cooked bacon, and the final 1/4 cup cheddar cheese.
- Bake the Casserole: Return the skillet to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes to melt the cheese and combine flavors.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it cool for 5 to 10 minutes. Add toppings like sour cream or Greek yogurt and additional hot sauce if desired. Scoop servings and enjoy.
Notes
- Using a deep cast iron skillet helps with easy layering and even cooking, but you can use a baking sheet, cake pan, or small baking dish as alternatives.
- This recipe is flexible—feel free to add other nacho toppings and ingredients as you like.
- Since most components are pre-cooked, you can also assemble in bowls and serve immediately without baking.
- For an air fryer version of loaded tater tots, check out With the Woodruffs for a detailed recipe.
- This dish is indulgent and flavorful, perfect for casual get-togethers rather than a health-focused meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
