Best Tater Tot Casserole Recipe - with mushrooms
A classic, the Best Tater Tot Casserole Recipe you will find! A hearty casserole, easy to throw together and satisfying to eat. It can be as cheesy as you want with added veggies and plenty of protein. All the food groups are tied in to make this a complete meal.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs ground beef
- 8 oz mushrooms pureed or chopped
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 22 oz Cream of Mushroom soup
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 16 oz bag frozen peas
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 32 oz frozen tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a casserole dish with spray butter.
- Brown ground beef on medium heat in a large skillet. While the beef is cooking, chop or puree the mushrooms. When the beef has browned, drain in a strainer.
- While the meat is draining, coat the skillet with oil or butter. Saute the mushrooms for 4 to 5 minutes.
- Add the meat back to the skillet with the mushrooms. Stir and warm the meat mixture with the salt & pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce for 2 to 3 minutes. Turn off the burner and set aside.
- In a bowl, mix the canned soup and the milk until lumps are gone.
- Add the soup mixture and the frozen peas to the skillet and stir into the meat mixture.
- Pour the meat and soup mixture into the casserole dish and spread out evenly.
- Sprinkle cheddar cheese evenly on top of the meat. Then lay the frozen tater tots on top.
- Bake uncovered for 30 to 40 minutes or until the soup is bubbling and the tater tots are crispy and golden brown.
Notes
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 to 5 days.
FREEZE: This is a great casserole to freeze ahead of time. Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. I usually add a layer of plastic wrap or aluminum foil under the containers lid for an extra seal.
Bake from frozen, uncovered, at 350 degrees for about 1 hour. Then, if you choose, you can broil on high for 3 to 5 minutes to help the tater tots get even crispier.
ADAPTATIONS: Use canned mushrooms OR fresh, canned peas OR frozen, add half a chopped onion when sauteeing mushrooms. Use canned green beans instead of peas.
Use cream instead of milk. Add extra cheese. Soy sauce instead of Worcestershire sauce. Omit any of the veggies, garlic powder or onion powder. Use lean ground beef or ground turkey.