Description
This Mexican Tater Tot Casserole is a delicious and hearty dish combining crispy baked tater tots with a flavorful mixture of seasoned ground beef, black beans, corn, green chiles, and enchilada sauce, topped with melted cheese and served with your favorite fresh toppings. Perfect for a family dinner or casual gathering, it offers a fun twist on traditional casserole flavors with easy preparation.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 32-ounce bag frozen tater tots
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, peeled and diced
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1-ounce package taco seasoning
- ¼ cup water
- 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 12 ounces frozen corn (no need to thaw)
- 4-ounce can diced green chiles
- 10-ounce can red enchilada sauce
- 3 cups shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese, divided
Toppings
- Sour cream
- Sliced avocado
- Chopped tomato
- Cilantro
- Salsa
- Peppers
- Chopped black olives
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven temperature to 400°F (204°C) to prepare for baking the tater tots.
- Bake the tater tots: Spread the frozen tater tots in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Bake at 400°F for 15 minutes until they start to crisp up.
- Sauté the aromatics: While the tater tots bake, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté until softened, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute, taking care not to brown the garlic.
- Cook the ground beef: Crumble the ground beef into the skillet with the onions and garlic. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until the beef is fully browned. Drain off any excess fat from the pan.
- Season the meat: Stir in the taco seasoning and ¼ cup of water with the beef. Simmer for 1 to 2 minutes to allow flavors to meld, then remove the skillet from heat.
- Prepare the filling mixture: In a large mixing bowl, combine the seasoned ground beef, black beans, frozen corn, diced green chiles, and red enchilada sauce. Add 2 cups of shredded cheese and mix thoroughly.
- Assemble the casserole: Lightly grease a 9×13 inch glass baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Pour the beef and vegetable filling evenly into the dish. Arrange the partially baked tater tots in a single layer over the top of the filling. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese evenly over the tater tots.
- Bake the casserole: Reduce oven temperature to 375°F (190°C). Bake the casserole uncovered for 30 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly around the edges.
- Serve: Allow the casserole to cool slightly before serving. Offer your favorite toppings such as sour cream, sliced avocado, chopped tomato, cilantro, salsa, peppers, and black olives for added flavor and freshness.
Notes
- Make sure not to brown the garlic in Step 3 to avoid bitterness.
- You can substitute the ground beef with ground turkey or a plant-based alternative for a different protein option.
- Feel free to customize the toppings to suit your preferences or dietary needs.
- Partially baking the tater tots before assembling ensures a crisp texture in the final dish.
- This casserole can be prepared a day ahead and refrigerated; reheat covered with foil to prevent drying out.
