Description
A quick and easy weeknight dinner featuring a savory ground beef and cheese mixture topped with crispy, buttery tater tots. This one-dish comfort food is kid-approved, budget-friendly, and ready in about 45 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 pounds ground beef (80/20 fat ratio recommended)
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup beef broth (low-sodium)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme (or oregano)
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (block grated)
- 4 slices cheddar cheese (optional, for layering)
- 1 bag frozen tater tots (24–32 oz)
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1/2 cup extra shredded cheddar cheese (optional, for topping)
- 1 cup chopped green beans (optional add-in)
- 1–2 teaspoons hot sauce (optional add-in)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and break into small crumbles using a wooden spoon.
- Add diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook for 5-6 minutes until beef is no longer pink and onions are translucent. Drain excess fat if necessary, leaving about 1-2 tablespoons for flavor.
- Reduce heat to medium-low. Pour in beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until sauce reduces slightly.
- Remove skillet from heat. Stir in 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese until melted and creamy.
- Pour the cheesy beef mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly. If using, layer cheese slices on top.
- Arrange frozen tater tots in a single layer over the beef mixture. If using green beans, stir them into the beef before pouring into the dish.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and brush tots with melted butter. If using extra cheese, sprinkle it over the tots now.
- Return to oven and bake for another 10-15 minutes until tots are golden brown and crispy, and edges are bubbling. If tots brown too fast, cover loosely with foil.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Grate your own cheese for better melting. Do not drain all the fat from the beef to maintain moisture. For meal prep, assemble up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerate; add 10 minutes to baking time if baking from cold. To reheat leftovers, use an oven or toaster oven at 350°F to restore crispiness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 32
- Saturated Fat: 14
- Carbohydrates: 42
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 28
Keywords: ground beef casserole, tater tot casserole, easy weeknight dinner, comfort food, cheesy beef, crispy tater tots, family dinner, meal prep