Taco Tater Tot Casserole combines seasoned ground beef, corn, salsa and cheese for an easy Mexican style hot dish dinner the family will love!

If you're wondering what to make for dinner tonight with ground hamburger meat, this delicious Mexican tater tot casserole is for you. It's different from the usual ground beef recipes, and it's also very kid friendly and super easy to make.
It's basically your favorite hot dish with kicked-up flavor and lots of cheesy goodness. If you like ground beef tacos as much as we do, you're going to love this taco tater tot casserole!
This is a very versatile dish that you can easily customize to suit your family's tastes. You can add black beans or refried beans, bell peppers, jalapeño peppers -- pretty much whatever you want!
How to Make Mexican Tater Tot Casserole
Like my Lighter Tater Tot Casserole, this recipe doesn't use a can of cream of anything soup. Just cook your ground beef in a skillet or make the taco meat in your Instant Pot.
I use my recipe for homemade taco seasoning, but you can use a packet if you have one. Then, stir in a little sour cream, and you're ready to layer the casserole.
Start with the taco meat on the bottom. Spread some Mexican blend cheese over the meat, then add a layer of corn.
Top this with some chunky salsa or green chiles if you have some. Then, add your frozen tater tots and a little bit more cheese.
Bake the casserole until it's hot and bubbly, and you're done! You can add a little bit more cheese to the top if you want. You can never have too much cheesy goodness, ya know!
This is pretty much a one dish meal. But, you can serve the casserole with lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream and guac if you want. A simple side salad works well, too!
Freezer Directions
If you want to make the taco tater tot casserole ahead of time and freeze for later, just follow the same steps. Use a dish that goes from freezer to oven.
Instead of baking it right away, cover and wrap it up well with foil. When you're ready to use the dish, just pop it into the oven and bake!
Taco Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds lean ground beef
- taco seasoning homemade or a packet
- ½ cup low sodium beef broth
- ½ cup sour cream
- 11 ounce can shoe peg corn
- 3 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese divided
- ¼ cup chunky salsa add more if you want
- 16 ounces frozen tater tots or enough to cover the dish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees
- Cook ground beef in a medium sauté pan over medium high heat until no longer pink, and add taco seasoning as it cooks. If not using lean beef, drain the fat, then season the meat.
- Stir in beef broth, and cook until bubbling. If mixture seems too dry, add a little more broth
- Remove from heat, stir in the sour cream, and transfer to a greased baking dish
- Top with 2 cups of cheese, then add corn and salsa, and top with tater tots and remaining cheese
- Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until heated throughout and bubbly. Broil for 5 minutes at the end, if desired, and allow to rest for about 5 minutes before serving
Notes
Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.
James says
Made this last night. The kids loved dressing it up with the extras like you would on a taco. A new family favorite!
Dee says
Thank you so much, James! I'm glad your family liked it!
Sara Welch says
Going to try this for dinner tonight; my kids love tater tots and this looks too good to pass up!
Dee says
I hope they like it, Sara. My kids definitely approved!
Allyson Zea says
This is a totally Yum from me! I can't wait to try it!
Dee says
Thanks a bunch, Allyson! I hope you like it!
Beth says
Yummy! This was so delicious and tasty! My family loved it! I will definitely be making this again!
Dee says
I'm so happy to hear this, Beth! Thanks!
Patricia @ Grab a Plate says
I colleague made this once years ago for a pot-luck at work. I have always been obsessed with it! Glad to have this recipe! It's such a good dish!
Dee says
Thanks, Patricia! It would be so good for potlucks!
Toni Dash says
This is really good!! Everyone at my house enjoyed this!
Dee says
Thank you so much, Toni! I'm glad everyone liked it!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says
This Taco Tater Tot Casserole is seriously making me hungry!
Amanda says
This is my kind of dish, I love everything about this!