Super Bowl Tater Tot Beef (Printable version)

Cheesy beef and crispy tater tots combine for a hearty, satisfying main that's perfect for crowd pleasers.

# What you need:

→ Meat & Protein

01 - 1 1/2 lbs ground beef (80/20 recommended)

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 1 cup frozen corn kernels
04 - 1 cup frozen peas (optional)

→ Sauce & Dairy

05 - 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup
06 - 1/2 cup sour cream
07 - 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
08 - 1/2 cup whole milk
09 - 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
10 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Topping

11 - 1 (32 oz) package frozen tater tots
12 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)

# How To:

01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and chopped onion until the beef is browned and the onion is soft, about 6-8 minutes. Drain excess fat.
03 - Stir in the corn, peas (if using), cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, 1 cup of cheddar cheese, milk, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined and heated through.
04 - Spread the beef mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish.
05 - Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single, even layer over the beef mixture.
06 - Bake for 35 minutes, then sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup cheddar cheese over the top. Return to the oven and bake for 10 more minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the tater tots are golden brown and crispy.
07 - Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired. Serve hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything bakes in one pan while you actually watch the game instead of hovering over the stove like a maniac.
  • The tater tots get impossibly crispy on top while staying creamy underneath, which is textural magic nobody expects.
02 -
  • Draining the beef fat is crucial—skip this step and you will end up with an oily layer on top that ruins the crispy tot situation.
  • Do not overcrowd the tater tots or they will steam instead of crisp, and the entire point of this casserole is crispy tots.
03 -
  • Let the beef mixture cool slightly before adding the sour cream to prevent it from curdling or separating.
  • Arrange the tots in neat rows if you care about presentation, or just dump them if you are feeding people who only care about taste.

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