Simply the best Cheesy Hamburger Tater Tot Casserole recipe! With melty cheese, sour cream, green beans, corn, and tater tots, it's like a cheeseburger in casserole form, comfort food at its best. It's naturally gluten-free too!
Begin by preheating the oven to 375° F (190° C) and lightly greasing a 2-quart casserole or 9x9-inch baking dish with spray oil. set a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown the ground beef, drain excess grease.
Scoot the meat to the side of the skillet and add the onions. Sauté them for a little while, then add the beef back into the mix, cooking for 3 to 5 more minutes until golden and translucent. Then, stir in the minced garlic until it's fragrant, about one minute.
Add Worcestershire sauce and season the beef with kosher salt and pepper, sprinkling on ½ teaspoon each, tasting and adjusting spices if needed. Scoop the ground beef mixture into the baking dish, using the back of a spoon to smooth into an even layer.
Mix cream of mushroom soup and sour cream in a medium bowl until they are smooth and thoroughly combined. Spread the sauce over the top of the beef mixture in a single layer.
Next, add the (drained) canned corn and green beans, seasoning the green beans with a bit of sea salt and pepper.
Finish by evenly sprinkling the cheddar cheese over the green bean layer and top with the tater tots, keeping them nice and snug. If desired, reserve ¼ to ½ cup of shredded cheese and sprinkle over the tater tots for the last 5 minutes of baking. You could add some extra cheese rather than take from what's in the casserole.
Bake at 375° F (190° C) hot oven and bake for 35 to 50 minutes until the casserole bubbles and the tater tots turn golden brown.
Notes
Variations & SubstitutionsMore Flavor: Sprinkle up to 1 teaspoon of chili powder or your favorite taco seasoning when browning the ground beef. Bacon Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole: Crisp up 3 to 5 pieces of bacon and break them into bacon bits. Then, add them to the top of the tater tot casserole with a bit of shredded cheese during the last 5 minutes of baking. Use cream of chicken soup or celery soup instead of mushroom soup.How to Make Gluten-Free Tator Tot Casserole
Double-check your spices, Worcestershire sauce, and soup to ensure they are gluten-free. I use Lee & Perrins Worcestershire sauce as it's naturally gluten-free.
Grate your cheese | Pre-shredded or grated cheese is the number one hider of gluten in the additives used to preserve the cheese.
Storage and Reheating Tips
Refrigerate - Tightly cover the baked and cooled casserole with aluminum foil and place it in the refrigerator; it will last 4-6 days.
Freeze - Cool to room temperature. Then, cover the casserole dish tightly with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Label the package with the name and date before placing it in the freezer. Or place in airtight individual meal prep containers.
Reheat - When ready to reheat the casserole, remove the plastic wrap and aluminum foil.
From Frozen | Recover with aluminum foil and bake the casserole in the oven at 350° F (177° C) for 45-60 minutes or until heated through and bubbly. Remove aluminum foil last 10-15 minutes of baking for crisper tater tots.
From Thawed | Thaw the casserole in the refrigerator overnight. Once thawed, reheat the casserole, uncovered in the oven at 375°F (190°C) for 20-30 minutes or until heated.
Microwave - Microwave casserole portions, place a paper towel to prevent splatter, and heat in 30-60 second intervals at 80% power until hot. The tater tots will be mushy; crisp them in an oven-safe dish at 375°F (190°C) for 5-10 minutes.