Description

A quick, budget-friendly, and kid-approved weeknight dinner featuring ground beef, ketchup sauce, and a crispy tater tot topping.

Ingredients

Scale

1 pound ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
1 medium onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup beef broth (low-sodium)
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
20–24 oz frozen tater tots
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking spray or butter for greasing dish

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef and diced onion until beef is no longer pink and onions are soft (8-10 minutes).
Drain excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan.
Add minced garlic, beef broth, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and half of the shredded cheese to the skillet. Stir to combine.
Pour the beef mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
Layer frozen tater tots on top of the beef mixture in a single layer.
Bake for 15 minutes, then remove from oven and sprinkle remaining cheese over the tots.
Return to oven and bake for another 10-15 minutes until tots are golden brown and cheese is bubbly.
Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Do not thaw tater tots before baking; frozen tots stay crispier. Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the sauce to set. For leftovers, add a splash of water or broth when reheating to maintain moisture.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 450
Sugar: 6
Sodium: 680
Fat: 24
Saturated Fat: 10
Carbohydrates: 35
Fiber: 3
Protein: 22

Keywords: ground beef casserole, tater tot casserole, easy dinner, family meal, weeknight dinner, comfort food, cheesy casserole