Description
Loaded Tater Tot Nacho Casserole is a hearty and flavorful dish featuring layers of crispy baked tater tots, seasoned ground beef with peppers and onions, crispy bacon, and melted cheddar and mozzarella cheeses. Perfect for a comforting meal that combines the irresistible taste of nachos with the satisfying crunch of tater tots.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 Bag (2 lbs) Frozen Tater Tots
- 1 Pound Lean 90/10 Ground Beef
- 1 Medium Sweet Onion
- 6 Mini Sweet Peppers or 1 large bell pepper
- 6 Strips Center Cut Bacon
- 1/4 Cup Salsa
- 4 tsp Taco Seasoning
- 56g (1/2 Cup) Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- 28g (1/4 Cup) Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- Hot Sauce for topping
- Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt for topping
Instructions
- Preheat and Bake Tater Tots: Spread the frozen tater tots out evenly on a baking sheet and bake at 425 degrees F for 30 minutes until crispy and golden.
- Cook Bacon: Slice the 6 strips of bacon and cook them over medium heat in a pan until crispy. Remove bacon and drain on paper towels.
- Sauté Vegetables: Dice the sweet onion and mini sweet peppers. Remove most bacon grease from the pan, leaving a little behind, then add the diced peppers and onions. Season with salt and pepper and cook for about 1 minute until slightly softened.
- Brown Ground Beef: Add the ground beef to the pan with vegetables. Use a spatula to break up the meat and cook until browned but still slightly pink.
- Add Seasoning and Salsa: Stir in 4 teaspoons taco seasoning and 1/4 cup salsa. Continue cooking for about 5 minutes until beef is completely cooked through and flavors meld. Remove from heat.
- Assemble the Casserole: Spray a 10.5-inch cast-iron skillet with nonstick spray. Layer half the tater tots on the bottom, then cover with half the beef mixture. Sprinkle 1/4 cup cheddar and 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese over the beef layer and add hot sauce if desired.
- Top the Layers: Add the remaining tater tots carefully on top, fitting them closely. Add the rest of the beef mixture, chopped crispy bacon, and the last 1/4 cup of cheddar cheese over the top.
- Bake to Melt: Bake the assembled casserole in the oven for an additional 10 minutes to melt the cheese and heat through.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from oven and let cool for 5 to 10 minutes. Add optional toppings like lettuce or sour cream before serving. Scoop out portions and enjoy your loaded tater tot nacho casserole!
Notes
- Using a deep cast iron skillet makes layering easier, but you can assemble in any baking dish or on a sheet pan.
- The recipe is flexible; feel free to add other nacho ingredients like jalapeños or olives if you like.
- Because all ingredients are pre-cooked, you can skip the final bake and serve immediately if preferred.
- For an air fryer alternative to tater tots, check out With the Woodruffs for a quality recipe.
- This dish is indulgent and flavorful, perfect for a comforting meal rather than a low-calorie option.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
