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Tater tot casserole with ground beef, diced green onions and diced tomatoes in close up shot.

Tex-Mex Tater Tot Casserole

Zesty Tex-Mex flavors and golden tater tots are smothered in two types of melted cheese for a quick and easy weeknight dinner. Pantry staples and ground beef combine for a delicious comfort food that even picky eaters love.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 50 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 436kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 (1-ounce) packet taco seasoning
  • 1 cup chunky salsa
  • 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
  • 1 (32-ounce) bag frozen tater tots
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  • Brown the ground beef in a large cast iron skillet or oven safe pan over medium high heat. Drain any excess grease.
  • Mix in taco seasoning, salsa, black beans, and corn. Stir well and press down into the pan.
  • Top meat mixture with pepper jack cheese. Then layer with tater tots and lastly cheddar cheese.
  • Bake for 30 minutes or until tater tots are golden brown.
  • Serve hot with diced tomato, green onion, and sour cream for garnish.

Notes

  • If you're using my homemade taco seasoning recipe, use 2-3 tablespoons of the mixture instead of one packet from the store. 
  • I prefer to use 96% lean ground beef for this recipe so there isn’t much grease. 
  • Transfer the meat mixture into a casserole dish before layering the cheese and tater tots prior to baking to save a step at clean up. Cover the cooled dish with foil and place in the refrigerator. 
  • You can make this dish ahead of time and freeze it. (In a casserole dish) Just be sure to allow it to thaw out prior to baking or adjust the time in the oven. It would need an additional 20-30 minutes if cooking from frozen.
 
To store: Place covered leftovers in the fridge for 3-4 days.
To reheat: Warm leftovers in the oven at 350 degrees for about 20-30 minutes in an oven-safe dish. You can also heat individual servings in the microwave for about 45 seconds to one minute each, but this method won't crisp the tater tots. 
To freeze: Freeze leftovers in a covered casserole dish or other freezer safe container. Store in the freezer for up to three months.

Nutrition

Calories: 436kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 124mg | Sodium: 880mg | Potassium: 727mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 837IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 441mg | Iron: 4mg
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