Description
This Easy Weeknight Chili Tater Tot Casserole combines the comforting flavors of hearty ground beef chili with crispy tater tots and melted cheese, making it a perfect, fuss-free dinner for busy evenings. Ready in under an hour, this casserole is a family-friendly meal that’s both satisfying and simple to prepare.
Ingredients
Meat and Beans
- 1 pound ground beef (93% lean, 7% fat)
- 28 ounces canned chili
- 10 ounces Rotel (diced tomatoes with green chilies) or canned tomatoes with green chilies
Spices
- 1 teaspoon ground 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)
Cheese and Topping
- 2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar or a cheddar blend works well)
- 32 ounces frozen tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook the Beef Mixture: In a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef until fully cooked and no longer pink. Drain excess fat if necessary. Add the canned chili and Rotel tomatoes to the pan and stir to combine.
- Season the Mixture: Add cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to the beef mixture. Stir thoroughly to evenly distribute all seasonings throughout the chili.
- Assemble the Casserole: Pour the seasoned meat and chili mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle 1½ cups of shredded cheese over the meat mixture, then arrange a single layer of frozen tater tots on top of the cheese.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the oven and bake for 35 minutes. The tater tots should start to cook and crisp during this time.
- Add Remaining Cheese: Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheese on top of the tater tots.
- Finish Baking and Crisp: Return the dish to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes to melt the cheese. If the tater tots are not crispy enough for your liking, switch the oven to broil and cook for a few minutes until the top is golden brown and crispy. Watch closely to avoid burning.
- Serve: Remove from oven and serve warm. Optionally, garnish with favorite chili toppings such as sour cream, chopped green onions, jalapeños, or avocado slices for added flavor.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option.
- For a spicier casserole, add diced jalapeños or hot sauce to the beef mixture.
- Make sure to keep an eye on the casserole when broiling to prevent burning.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- To make this dish gluten-free, verify that your canned chili and Rotel are gluten-free.
- Feel free to swap shredded cheese types according to preference, such as Monterey Jack or pepper jack for a different flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1/6 of casserole)
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
