Tater Tot Casserole is one of our favorite easy dinner recipes. It comes together quickly with just a handful of ingredients, and it's always a dinner the whole family loves.

Loaded with ground beef, creamy mixed veggies, melted cheese, and crispy tater tots, this dish is a complete meal all in one. It's easy to make in advance, it transports well, and the leftovers taste just as good as the original.

If you love comfort food and are looking for an easy, delicious weeknight option....this casserole is sure to become a fast favorite!

I don't know about you, but I'm ALWAYS on the lookout for easy dinner recipes. Now that the kids are back in school, and our weeknights are filled with homework and practices and earlier bedtimes, dinners that involve minimal prep time are a MUST.

And if I can find recipes that are a complete meal all in one? Even better. Especially when they're something the whole family loves.

This Tater Tot Casserole is one of our weeknight favorites, and fits the bill on all accounts. It's easy to make, can be prepped in advance, and it's packed with ingredients that no one will complain about. Which...for anyone who has kids...is always a small miracle.

Our family loves this version of Tater Tot Casserole, and what I love about it is that it's so easy to make adjustments to. Whether you want to swap the ground beef for ground turkey, mix up the vegetables, or use a different kind of seasoning or soup, the possibilities are endless. And the end result is always delicious.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. lean ground beef
• 1 (1 oz.) package dry French onion soup mix
• 1 (10.5 oz.) can cream of onion soup
• 10 oz. frozen mixed veggies
• 2 c. shredded colby jack or cheddar cheese
• 16 oz. frozen tater tots

Instructions:

1. Brown 1 lb. lean ground beef.
2. Stir in French onion soup mix and 1 can cream of onion soup.
3. Spread mixture in a 9x13 inch pan; top with frozen mixed veggies, shredded cheese, and frozen tater tots.
4. Season with salt & pepper.
5. Cover and bake at 350° 45 min - 1 hour.

Recipe variations:

• Use ground turkey instead of ground beef.
• Add chopped onions and garlic to the ground beef mixture.
• Swap the French onion soup mix for Italian or Ranch dressing mix.
• Use frozen green beans instead of frozen mixed veggies.
• Use cream of mushroom soup (or any of your favorites) in place of cream of onion soup.
• Replace the shredded colby jack cheese with any of your favorite shredded cheeses.
• Add chopped onions and garlic to the ground beef mixture.

To make it in advance:

• To make it and bake it later the same day, simply prepare it according to recipe instructions, then cover and refrigerate it until ready to bake. Since the veggies and tater tots will at least partially thaw in the fridge, you can reduce the baking time to 30-45 minutes.
• To make it further ahead, simply prepare it according to recipe instructions, then cover it and freeze it until ready to bake. Since the entire casserole will be frozen solid, you will need to increase the baking time to 60-90 minutes.

How to store leftovers:

You can store leftovers, covered and refrigerated, in the 9x13 inch pan the casserole was baked in. Alternately, you can transfer leftovers to a sealed container and refrigerate until ready to use. Leftovers should be eaten within 3-4 days.

How to reheat leftovers:

You can reheat Tater Tot Casserole in one of two ways:

1. Cover leftovers in pan with foil; reheat in the oven at 350° for 30 minutes.
2. Transfer leftovers on to a microwave safe plate and reheat on high power 1-2 minutes. (Note that the tater tots will lose their crisp in the microwave.)

What to serve with it:

• Creamy Cucumber Salad
• Garlic Roasted Asparagus
• Parmesan Roasted Green Beans
• BLT Caesar Salad
• Apple Brie Salad
• Caprese Crescent Rolls

More easy dinner recipes:

• Chicken Noodle Casserole
• Easy Chicken Pot Pie
• Italian Stuffed Peppers
• Lemon Chicken Rice Casserole
• Low Carb Taco Skillet
• Butternut Squash Lasagna
• Cheesy Pesto Stuffed Chicken
• Spinach Artichoke Tortellini

More Tater Tot Casserole recipes:

• Chorizo Tater Tot Casserole
• Pulled Pork Tater Tot Casserole