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Chili Cheese Tater Tot Casserole is an easy and super delicious casserole! Our family loves it every time we make it. Give it a try!
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Can y’all tell that I’ve switched into full Fall cooking/baking mode? I am so ready for cooler weather – even if I have to dream about it! 🙂 I’ve been on this chili cheese kick lately …. which I’m pretty sure is a sign that the weather should cooperate with me and be more Fall-like!
Most of y’all know that chili is one of my absolutely, positively most favorite things EVER. It seems only natural that I would find ways to eat more of it, right? This Chili Cheese Tater Tot Casserole is like eating, well, chili cheese fries – but in a casserole form.
The chili cooks while the tater tots partially bake …. but if you really wanted to, you could use canned chili instead and save yourself that step – although, I highly recommend making the chili yourself. It just tastes better in my humble opinion. I did not put beans in this … but if you want to, feel free to add a can of drained and rinsed beans.
We like to have this with fruit and a salad for an easy meal. Here’s the recipe:
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Chili Cheese Tater Tot Casserole
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Ingredients
- 1 bag tater tots, 32 oz.
- 1 ½ pounds lean ground beef
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- A few shakes of Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- 8 ounces water, use the empty tomato sauce can to measure
- 2 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded, 8 oz.
- Sour cream, optional
- Green onions, sliced (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Arrange the tater tots in the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook and crumble the beef with the salt, pepper and onion until the beef is no longer pink. Drain if necessary. Return the mixture to the skillet. Add the Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, cumin, tomato sauce and water to the skillet. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until it reaches your desired consistency. (I like ours the consistency of Sloppy Joe’s, but make yours how you like it).
- Top the baked tater tots with the chili. Sprinkle with the cheese. Return to the oven and bake an additional 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the casserole is heated through.
- To serve, top individual portions with sour cream and green onions, if desired.
Notes
- This is also a fun dish to use an oval casserole dish! The tots can be lined up in pretty circles.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Originally published on September 13, 2013. Updated on April 24, 2021.
I made this tonight my son loves it
This is so delicious, i added a can of. of drained black beans, omg it is delicious!!(i used 1 lb of ground beef)
I just made this chili cheese tater tot casserole. Haven’t tasted it yet but I added a can of chili and chili powder.
Can I use canned chili for this recipe?
Sure!
Just wondering can it be premade and frozen and Put in oven at a different time?
A friend sent me this so I looked it up, pic was delicious! I made it, was delicious. I added some smoked paprika and garlic powder to the meat while cooking. Then added cilantro along with the sour cream and green onions. So so delicious!! I used a mix of colby jack and shredded some white cheddar cheese. OMG!!! Thank you so much for such a simple delicious recipe. Just mentioned my additions in case anyone wanted to try. Oh yeah I added a pinch of beef bouillon paste to the sauce. Just a pinch you don’t want it salty.
I just made this. It was amazing. The sour cream on top was a great idea!! Thanks!
This looked like a terrific recipe, but I wanted tomatoes in it, so I added a 15 oz. can of diced tomatoes, and left out the water. I also added a shake of chipotle chili powder. It turned out great, and will be added to our favorites. I also sent the recipe to our daughter and granddaughter. They’re always looking for delicious quick and easy recipes.
Thank you for a great recipe.
I’ve had a standard tatertot casserole for many years using cream of mushroom, ground beef and tots. This was a nice change and definitely a winner! Love chili cheese tots and this turns it into a casserole! btw, I didn’t have an 8 oz tomato sauce but I did have a 15 oz. So instead of using an extra can of water, I used the whole 15oz can plus just enough water to rinse the can. It’s very tomatoey, but still very delish!
I made this chili tater tot casserole tonight. I added a can of rotel in it. My whole family loved it. We will be making it again