Description
This Easy Weeknight Chili Tater Tot Casserole is a delicious and comforting one-dish meal perfect for busy evenings. Featuring ground beef simmered with chili and spices, topped with melty cheese and crispy tater tots, this casserole is simple to prepare, hearty, and family-friendly.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Chili Mixture
- 1 pound ground beef (93/7)
- 28 ounces canned chili
- 10 ounces Rotel (or canned tomatoes with green chilies)
Spices
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
Other Ingredients
- 2 cups shredded cheese
- 32 ounces tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Brown the beef: In a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef until browned and crumbly. Drain excess fat if necessary.
- Add chili and Rotel: Stir in the canned chili and Rotel tomatoes with green chilies into the cooked beef, mixing well to combine.
- Season the mixture: Add cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir thoroughly to blend all the spices evenly.
- Assemble casserole: Pour the beef and chili mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle 1 ½ cups of shredded cheese evenly on top, then arrange a single layer of frozen tater tots over the cheese.
- Bake the casserole: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 35 minutes until the tater tots begin to brown and crisp.
- Add remaining cheese and finish baking: Remove the casserole from the oven, sprinkle the remaining ½ cup cheese over the tater tots, and return to the oven for an additional 5 minutes or until the cheese melts completely.
- Serve: Take out of the oven and serve warm, optionally topped with your favorite chili toppings such as sour cream, sliced green onions, or jalapeños.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef to reduce grease and calories.
- Rotel can be substituted with diced tomatoes and green chilies if preferred.
- For a spicier casserole, add extra chili powder or hot sauce.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- To make it gluten-free, ensure that the canned chili and any seasoning used are gluten-free certified.
