Casseroles
$1.78per plate
Prep
15 min
Casseroles · Tater Tot Casserole
Tater Tot Casserole
Tater tot casserole is the ultimate cozy, budget weeknight dinner: seasoned ground beef and vegetables in a creamy cheddar sauce, all crowned with a crispy golden layer of tater tots. This version skips the can of cream-of-mushroom soup for a quick homemade sauce, so you control what goes in, and it still comes together in one baking dish for pennies. A big 9x13 feeds eight for about a dollar fifty a plate. It joins our other cheap casserole dinners and hearty ground beef recipes; for another potato-topped comfort bake, try our cottage pie, price up front. It is one of the heartiest of our casserole recipes, all costed before you shop.
$1.50per plate
Estimated recipe total
$12.00 · serves 8
Cook
45 min
Total
1 hr 5 min
Serves
8
Recipe from Budget Plates · https://www.budgetplates.com/tater-tot-casserole
Equipment
- 9x13 baking dish
- Large skillet
Variations
- Stir a 10.5 oz can of cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup plus 1/2 cup milk into the beef instead of the roux.
- Swap in ground turkey for the beef; brown it to no pink and drain the same way.
- Use colby-jack, mozzarella, or a Mexican blend instead of cheddar.
- Stir in corn or green beans instead of peas and carrots; thaw and drain very wet vegetables first.
1 How to make it
1
Heat the oven and brown the beef
Heat the oven to 400 F. Cook the ground beef with the diced onion in a large skillet over medium-high, breaking the beef into crumbles, until it is browned with no pink left, about 6 to 8 minutes. Drain off the excess fat well: draining is what keeps the casserole from turning greasy and watery.
2
Make the creamy sauce
In the same skillet (or a saucepan), melt the butter, whisk in the flour, and cook for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the milk and cook, stirring, until it thickens into a smooth, creamy sauce, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. This from-scratch sauce replaces canned cream-of-mushroom soup, and thickening it now is what keeps the filling creamy instead of watery.
3
Combine the filling
Stir the browned beef, frozen mixed vegetables, and half the cheddar into the sauce. Spread the mixture in an even layer in a greased 9x13 baking dish.
4
Top with tater tots
Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single, snug layer over the filling. Keep them in one layer, not piled up: a single layer is what lets them crisp and turn golden instead of steaming into mush.
5
Bake uncovered
Bake uncovered at 400 F for 35 to 40 minutes, until the tots are crisp and golden and the filling is bubbling at the edges. Bake it uncovered the whole time; covering the dish traps steam and the tots go soft and soggy, while the open oven lets them crisp up. The filling should be hot through, at least 165 F in the center. If the tots brown too fast, tent loosely with foil for the last few minutes.
6
Add cheese and rest
Scatter the remaining cheddar over the top and bake another 3 to 5 minutes, just until melted and bubbling. Let the casserole rest 5 minutes before serving so it sets into scoopable squares instead of sliding apart.
2 Cheaper ingredient swaps
- Canned soup shortcut. To skip the homemade sauce, stir one 10.5 oz can of cream of mushroom (or cream of chicken) soup plus 1/2 cup milk into the browned beef instead of making the roux. It is faster, though the from-scratch sauce is cheaper and skips the additives.
- Ground turkey for the beef. A leaner, often cheaper option; brown it to no pink and drain, then continue the same way.
- Any melting cheese. Sharp cheddar is classic, but colby-jack, mozzarella, or a Mexican blend all melt well.
- Add or swap vegetables. Frozen peas and carrots, corn, or green beans all work; stir in about a cup so the casserole does not turn watery. Thaw and drain very wet vegetables first.
3 Budget tips
- Ground beef, a bag of frozen tots, and a little cheese feed eight for about a dollar fifty a plate, one of the cheapest crowd dinners going.
- A homemade butter-and-flour sauce costs pennies and replaces a can of cream-of-mushroom soup with no additives.
- Buy store-brand tater tots and a block of cheese you shred yourself to shave the cost even lower.
- It reheats and freezes well, so a single 9x13 can cover two dinners.
- See more recipes priced per serving in the Budget Plates Index.
4 Storage, freezing & reheating
Fridge
Refrigerate leftovers, covered, for up to 4 days. The tots soften as they sit, so reheat in the oven or air fryer rather than the microwave to crisp them back up.
Freezer
Freeze cooled portions for up to 2 months. The tots lose some crispness after freezing; reheat in a hot oven to bring back as much texture as possible. You can also freeze it unbaked and add about 15 minutes to the bake time from frozen.
Reheating
Reheat in a 375 F oven or an air fryer for 10 to 15 minutes to re-crisp the tots and heat through. The microwave works in a pinch but leaves the tots soft.
5 Nutrition (per serving)
Calories
440
Protein
18g
Fat
27g
Carbs
30g
Estimates per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not a substitute for medical advice.
6 Frequently asked questions
Why do I bake tater tot casserole uncovered?
Baking it uncovered is what lets the tater tots crisp and turn golden. Covering the dish traps steam, which softens the tots into a soggy layer. Leave it open the whole time, and if the tops brown too fast, tent loosely with foil for the last few minutes.
How do I keep the casserole from being watery?
Drain the browned beef well, thicken the sauce on the stove before it goes in the dish, and do not add extra liquid. Thaw and drain very wet frozen vegetables first. A properly thickened sauce sets into a creamy, scoopable filling instead of a soup.
Can I use a can of soup instead of the homemade sauce?
Yes. Stir one 10.5 oz can of cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup with 1/2 cup milk into the browned beef in place of the roux. The homemade version is cheaper and skips the additives, but the canned shortcut is faster.
How is $1.50 a plate figured?
About $12.00 for the whole 9x13, eight servings, so roughly $1.50 each. The beef and cheese are the biggest costs; the tots and pantry sauce are cheap. Served as six larger portions it is still an affordable $2.00 a plate.
Helpful Tools for This Recipe
As an Amazon Associate, Budget Plates may earn from qualifying purchases.
- 9x13 baking dish. A 9x13 dish is the standard size for casseroles and baked pasta, so one dish feeds the whole table. Best for casseroles, baked pasta, stuffed peppers, and baked oatmeal.
- Mixing bowls set. A set of nesting bowls handles prep, mixing, and marinades without dirtying every dish in the house. Best for mixing meatball and patty mixtures, tossing ingredients, and holding prepped components.
- Measuring cups and spoons set. A basic set of measuring cups and spoons keeps amounts consistent, which keeps budget recipes reliable. Best for rice, liquids, and any recipe where the ratio matters.
- Instant-read meat thermometer. An instant-read thermometer takes the guesswork out of doneness, so lean or cheap cuts stay juicy instead of overcooking. Best for chicken, pork, and meatloaf, where a few degrees decides juicy or dry.
Feeding a crowd tonight? This one is also part of our Easy Family Dinner Recipes collection.
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