Description
This Bacon Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole is a hearty and satisfying dish combining the flavors of a classic cheeseburger with crispy tater tots. It features seasoned ground beef mixed with bacon bits, onions, and a tangy mayo-ketchup-mustard sauce, all layered under a blanket of melted mozzarella and cheddar cheese, topped with golden tater tots and more cheese and bacon bits for a crunchy, cheesy finish. Perfect for a family dinner or comfort food craving.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 lbs lean ground beef
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- 1 cup real bacon bits
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup mustard
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese blend
- 24 oz frozen tater tots
Topping
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese blend
- 1/4 cup real bacon bits
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C) to get it ready for baking the casserole later.
- Cook Ground Beef and Onions: Place the ground beef into a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add a dab of margarine or butter to prevent sticking and enhance flavor. Add the diced onions directly to the pan with the beef, stirring occasionally. Crumble the beef well as it cooks until fully browned.
- Drain Excess Grease: Once the ground beef is fully cooked, remove the pan from heat and carefully drain off any excess grease to avoid a greasy casserole.
- Add Seasonings and Sauces: To the cooked beef and onions, add bacon bits, mayo, ketchup, mustard, salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients into a flavorful mixture.
- Assemble in Baking Dish: Transfer the meat mixture to a greased 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Spread it out evenly to form the base layer of the casserole.
- Add Cheese Layer: Sprinkle 2 cups of shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese blend evenly over the meat layer to add creamy, cheesy goodness.
- Top with Tater Tots: Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer on top of the cheese to create a crispy, golden crust.
- Bake Initial Layer: Place the assembled casserole into the preheated oven and bake for 35 minutes, allowing the tater tots to cook through and the cheese to melt.
- Add Final Toppings: Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the remaining 1 cup shredded cheese and 1/4 cup bacon bits evenly on top for extra flavor and crunch.
- Bake Until Golden: Return the casserole to the oven and continue baking for an additional 6-8 minutes, or until the top cheese is completely melted and just starting to brown.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and allow it to rest for a few minutes before scooping servings. This helps the casserole set and makes serving easier. Enjoy your meal!
Notes
- For extra crispiness, you can broil the casserole for 1-2 minutes at the end, watching closely to avoid burning.
- Substitute turkey bacon bits or omit bacon to adjust for dietary preferences.
- Using a mix of mozzarella and cheddar cheese balances meltiness with sharp flavor.
- You can prepare this casserole a day ahead and refrigerate before baking; just add a few extra minutes to the baking time if baking straight from the fridge.
- For a spicier kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or hot sauce to the meat mixture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (1/6th of casserole)
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
