Tater tots are a favorite crispy potato which can be added to a casserole to make a dinner meal. The tots are a favorite food among kids and bring back fond memories of school cafeteria days for many adults. Tater tots can be eaten as a side dish to a burger similar to french fries or can be added to a casserole. This page provides information on how to make tater tot casserole, a dinner meal which can be enjoyed for under $5.

The number of recipes for tater tot casserole is unlimited. From a small family meal made using leftovers to reduce the grocery budget to large meals like those served at the Duggar family meal table, tater tot casserole is a crowd pleaser. The casserole can vary depending on what you have available for a meat, and for the soup base. Make the meal even more frugal by shopping for tater tots and soup using grocery coupons. Use these recipes as a starting point to develop your own family favorite tater tot casserole. http://www.duggarfamily.com/recipes.html

Tater tor casserole can be made in the oven, in a crockpot, or over a campfire. Adapt the recipes to suit the cooking environment. If cooking gas is low and toaster oven is the only means of cooking, cut the size of casserole to a manageable amount before attempting to cook it.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 medium green pepper, chopped
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 can tomato soup
• 4 ounces can sliced mushrooms, drained
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 32 ounces bag frozen Tater Tots

Directions:

1. In a skillet, cook beef, pepper and onion until meat is browned; drain.
2. Add soup and mushrooms.
3. Pour into greased 9X13 pan.
4. Top with cheese and potatoes.
5. Bake, uncovered, at 400 for 30-35 minutes or until tater tots are golden brown.

Variation for Hawaiian Pizza Tater Tot Casserole: Omit the mushrooms and green pepper. Once meat and soup are mixed, pour in pan and top with small pieces of cubed ham and chunks of pineapple. Continue with above steps.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1 can enchilada sauce
• 1 can sliced black olives, drained
• salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste
• 1 can Mexicali corn, drained
• 1 pound cheddar cheese, grated
• 1 bag tater tots

Directions:

1. Brown meat and onion; drain.
2. Add sauce, olives, salt, pepper, etc.
3. Heat mixture.
4. Spread in 13x9-inch pan.
5. Add corn over meat.
6. Top with cheese.
7. Add tater tots. Bake until tots are browned.

Variation: Use pepper jack cheese or substitute rotel tomatoes for the enchilada sauce.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 pound lean ground beef
• 4 cups frozen mixed vegetables
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1 large can condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1 bag frozen Tater Tots

Directions:

This casserole begins preparation differently than the previous. It cooks the beef only enough to eliminate the oil before adding to the casserole.

1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. Cook ground beef until just beginning to brown.
3. Drain grease.. (If you use extra lean ground beef, you can omit this step)
4. Coat a 2 quart baking dish with cooking spray.
5. Pour partially cooked meat in the dish and press it into the dish forming a meat crust.
6. Cover with diced onion and then frozen vegetables.
7. Spread soup over the vegetables.
8. Add tater tots to the top and bake for one hour.
9. Depending on the heat of the oven if tots are browning to quickly they may need to be turned over or heat reduced to 350 degrees.