This hearty, meaty recipe is so good. It’s based on beef, tater tots, and cheese, and also boasts vegetables, queso con salsa, and taco seasoning which adds a little kick without overpowering the other flavors in the dish. Tater tots are often served as they are, as a side dish, or as a breakfast accompaniment in place of hash browns or bread, but here they combine with other ingredients to make this south-of-the-border-inspired dish.
If you do like your food hot, you’re more than welcome to include sliced jalapenos or, if you like it REALLY hot, throw in some serranos or habaneros! This is a delicious recipe that is perfect for dinner. It’s especially good for the cooler months because of how robust and satisfying it is, but you can enjoy it at any time of the year, and for any occasion where you want to impress.
This Mexican casserole teams beef, cheese, tater tots, and Mexican flavors to make an amazing south-of-the-border dish that the whole family will love. Don’t be surprised when they all ask for a second helping!
Why You’ll Love the Recipe:
This cheesy, meaty dish is so filling and hearty. It’s a mixture of beef, tater tots and south-of-the-border flavors. So if you want to enjoy south-of-the-border dishes without going to a Mexican restaurant, this is the recipe to try.
How to Serve It:
Serve hot with chopped fresh tomatoes, avocado slices, cilantro, and sour cream on top. Offer hot sauce on the table so those that like it hot can add their own.
Ingredients:
- Tater tots
- Ground beef
- Corn
- Shredded Colby Jack cheese
- Queso con salsa
- Red bell pepper
- Taco seasoning
- Water
- Yellow onion
Mexican Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 4 cups frozen tater tots
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1½ cups shredded Colby Jack cheese
- 1 cup queso con salsa
- 1 chopped red bell pepper
- 2 ounces 2 packages taco seasoning
- ½ cup water
- 1 chopped yellow onion
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease a 13x9-inch baking dish.
- Sauté the ground beef, bell pepper and onion in a skillet for 5 minutes, until no pink remains in the beef.
- Mix in the corn, queso, water, and taco seasoning.
- Cook for 2 minutes then add a cup of the cheese.
- Stir well, then transfer the meat mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- Arrange a layer of tater tots on top to cover the beef mixture.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until the edges are bubbling.
- Sprinkle over the rest of the cheese and bake for another 5 or 10 minutes.
- Now ready to serve, enjoy!
Can You Make It Ahead?
Yes, you can prepare the dish ahead and keep it covered and refrigerated before baking.
Storage Instructions
Cover the baking dish with foil and keep it in the refrigerator. You can also freeze individual portions of this meal.
Variations and Substitutions
Use tomato salsa instead of queso con salsa if you want, or add some black olives to the meat mixture. You can also use hash browns in place of the tater tots if you prefer those or if you only have those in the freezer.
