5 Ingredient Tater Tot Casserole – A Classic Midwestern Hot Dish

Whether you call it Tater Tot Casserole, Hot Dish, or even Hashbrown and Green Bean Casserole, the result is the same – a delicious yet simple dish that is easy to make but full of great flavors and textures, and this 5 ingredient version is no different!

Tater tot casserole (as we like to call it) is a comforting dish that is something I grew up enjoying. Now, I like to make it for my own family.

Typically, (and especially if you are from Minnesota), a hot dish contains a protein source, a starch, a vegetable, and a canned soup. So this Tater Tot Casserole recipe definitely fits the bill. But no matter its name, this is a filling dish that uses simple and inexpensive ingredients, is easy to make, and can feed a whole crew. What’s not to love?!

Sure, it might not be the healthiest combination of ingredients, but comforting meals typically aren’t. It also might not be the most appetizing recipe to look at. However, the flavor combinations help to counteract any of the tater tot casserole’s minor shortcomings!

There are so many different variations on a tater tot casserole, and each family tends to put their own spin on things. What’s great about this specific recipe is that you can use it as a starting off point and adjust it as you see fit.

How To Make 5 Ingredient Tater Tot Casserole

*Scroll down to the bottom of this post to see the full recipe, including exact measurements and amounts. You can also print out the instructions. I go into a bit more detail about the recipe here first, just in case you need it.

If you are making this recipe for a smaller group, you can cut the recipe in half easily. Use half of the amount of ingredients listed below, but follow the same instructions and cooking time. Just place the mixture into an 8 x 8 or 9 x 9 baking dish instead of a 9 x 13 dish.

Ingredients  

• Ground Beef – We always buy our beef locally from a nearby farmer, but if you are using store-bought beef, aim for a 90/10 mixture or above for the best flavor profile. The 80/20 stuff has too much fat for our liking, but it will still work if that is all you have.
• Cream of Mushroom Soup – I know that “cream of whatever” soups get a bad rep, but you can also use homemade cream of mushroom soup if you have a good recipe for that.
• Green Beans – This is one of my favorite recipes to make when I want to do something different with my canned green beans, other than cook them with a little bacon and garlic. (Which, by the way, is still an amazing yet simple side dish!). When using our home-canned green beans, we add one whole quart jar with the liquid drained. If using store-bought cans, use two 14.5-ounce cans, also drained.
• Salt – A bit of salt is added to help bring out all of the flavors in the dish. Feel free to increase or reduce the salt as needed or experiment with other spices.
• Tater tots – You can use whatever type of tater tots you prefer. Some of our favorites are the Ore-Ida Mini Tater Tots or the Extra Crispy Tater Tot Crowns.

Optional Ingredient Add-Ins

If you are looking to take the recipe a bit further, you can experiment with adding other ingredients. One of our favorites that we will add from time to time is canned corn. Just be sure to drain the liquid from the jar before adding it to the mixture.

Some other great options to experiment with are cheddar cheese, chopped onions, minced garlic, sour cream, or cooked mushrooms. You can also play around with the seasonings by adding red hot pepper flakes, chili powder, Italian seasonings, etc.

It’s a fairly easy base recipe that you can experiment with and try to find your own preferred flavor profile.

Instructions for 5 Ingredient Tater Tot Casserole

Start by preheating your oven according to the temperature on your tater tot bag. So if your tots say 400º, that’s what you want to set your oven to.

Now, on that note, I tend to set my oven a bit hotter than what the tater tot bag states to get the tots extra crispy. I do this any time I cook tots for the family. So, for example, if the bag states to cook them at 400º Fahrenheit, I’ll usually set it for 425ºF. We prefer to have super crispy tots, so if you aren’t a fan of that texture, just cook them according to the package.

Next, it’s time to brown your ground beef. Cook the beef in a large, 12-inch skillet over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink. Turn off the stove and drain off any extra grease left in the pan. (To make the process of cooking the beef easier, I like to use my meat chopper – Product Link: Meat Chopper.)

Mix & Bake

If you don’t have a large 12-inch skillet, transfer the meat to a large mixing bowl. Otherwise, the next step can be done right in the same pan. (I love using my 12-inch cast iron skillets for this purpose – Product Link: Lodge 12 Inch Cast Iron Skillet.)

To the cooked meat, add the soup, drained green beans, and salt and stir well. You don’t need to heat the mixture at this time; just get everything incorporated together. Pour the mixture into a 9 x 13 casserole dish and smooth out the top so it is nice and level.

Lastly, it’s time to add the tots. Place them in a single layer on top of the meat mixture. You can be fancy and line them up all perfect like, or dump them on top like I do. The key is not to overlap them if possible.

Bake the 5 ingredient tater tot casserole in the preheated oven, following the baking time on the tater tot bag. (Or again, increasing the heat slightly if you like crispy tots.) When the casserole is done, the tots should be lightly browned and nice and crispy (or to your preferred liking). Enjoy!

For other simple weeknight recipes, try my Simple Beef Stir Fry, One Skillet Taco Spaghetti, or Easy Chicken Rice Casserole.

Until next time, thanks for stopping by!
– Chelsea

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