By Becky Hardin
Updated Jan 22, 2026
This delicious tater tot casserole is filled with ground beef, green beans, cream of chicken soup, and cheese, then topped with tater tots and even more melted cheese. Crunchy, gooey, and hearty, I guarantee everyone will love this easy meal.
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5-Star Review
“Made it, everyone loved it. Easy, filling and versatile. Delicious!!” – Liz
Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole Recipe
When I’m in the mood for a real comfort food meal, this cheesy tater tot casserole is my go-to. Made with green beans, ground beef, cream of chicken soup, lots of cheese, and then blanketed with crispy tater tots , it has layers of flavors and textures. I guarantee everyone at the table will ask for seconds.
Frozen tater tots make this casserole easy and quick to prepare, and when I want to cut down on the prep, I’ll cook the ground beef ahead of time and store it in the fridge.
If I’m in the mood to change things up, I’ll add crumbled bacon for an extra smoky flavor and crispy texture. When I’m feeling like we should eat a little healthier, I’ll stir in sautéed vegetables, and when I’m in the mood for something with a Mexican twist, I’ll prepare this Mexican tater tot casserole . It’s the perfect combination of tacos and a casserole.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1 lb. ground beef
- ▢ 1 tsp garlic powder
- ▢ 1 tsp onion powder
- ▢ 1 tsp kosher salt
- ▢ ½ tsp dried basil
- ▢ ½ tsp ground black pepper
- ▢ 15 oz. canned green beans drained (1 can)
- ▢ 10 oz. cream of chicken soup (1 can)
- ▢ 2½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese divided
- ▢ ½ cup sour cream
- ▢ ½ tbsp ketchup
- ▢ 1 tsp low-sodium soy sauce
- ▢ 16 oz. frozen tater tots do not thaw! (1 bag)
Video
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish and spray it with cooking oil. Set aside.
- In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain grease. 1 lb. ground beef
- Season with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, dried basil, and pepper. Set aside. 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp kosher salt, ½ tsp dried basil, ½ tsp ground black pepper
- In a large bowl, mix together the drained green beans, cream of chicken, 1 cup of the divided cheese, sour cream, ketchup, and soy sauce. Add the ground beef to the bowl and mix together. 15 oz. canned green beans, 10 oz. cream of chicken soup, 2½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, ½ cup sour cream, ½ tbsp ketchup, 1 tsp low-sodium soy sauce
- Spread the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Make sure it’s evenly dispersed.
- Take frozen tater tots and arrange them in a single layer covering the beef mixture. 16 oz. frozen tater tots
- Place the pan in the oven uncovered to cook for 25 minutes.
- Top tater tots with remaining 1½ cups of cheese and return pan to the oven for an additional 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the tater tots are golden brown. The sides should also be bubbly.
Equipment
- 9×13 Baking Pan
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Tater Tot Casserole Step by Step
Cook the beef and preheat the oven : Preheat the oven to 375°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking oil. Set aside. Cook 1 lb. ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat until no pink remains. Drain any grease in the pan.
Season with 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp kosher salt, ½ tsp dried basil, and ½ tsp ground black pepper. Set aside.
Make the filling: Mix a 15 oz. can drained green beans, a 10 oz. can cream of chicken, 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, ½ cup sour cream, ½ tbsp ketchup, and 1 tsp low-sodium soy sauce in a large bowl. Add the ground beef and mix.
Spread the filling: Transfer the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread it out so it is evenly dispersed.
Top with tots: Take 16 oz. frozen tater tots and arrange them in a single layer on top of the beef mixture.
Bake the casserole: Place the pan in the oven uncovered to cook for 25 minutes.
Top with cheese: Top the tater tots with the remaining 1½ cups cheese and return the pan to the oven for an additional 10-15 minutes to cook until the cheese is melted and the tater tots are golden brown. The sides should also be bubbly.
Serve: Serve the casserole and enjoy.
How to Store
Store leftover tater tot casserole tightly covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat covered with aluminum foil in a 350°F oven for about 30 minutes, or until warmed through.
This recipe makes a great freezer meal. If you want to make it ahead of time, prep and assemble the casserole according to instructions. Instead of baking it, let it cool, cover it with aluminum foil, then freeze up to 1 month. You can freeze it the same way after cooking, if you have leftovers.
Serving Suggestions
With all of the ingredients in this casserole (beef, green beans, and tater tots), it’s a full meal on its own. But when I’m looking to add something extra, I’ll serve a kale salad before our meal and make a side of sauteed mushrooms . Given this is a kid-friendly meal, I like to prepare a churro cheesecake for dessert.
more casserole recipes
Ham and Potato Casserole
Chicken Spaghetti
Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole
Frito Pie Casserole Recipe
Tater Tot Casserole Recipe
Equipment
- 9x13 Baking Pan
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp dried basil
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- 15 oz. canned green beans drained (1 can)
- 10 oz. cream of chicken soup (1 can)
- 2½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese divided
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ tbsp ketchup
- 1 tsp low-sodium soy sauce
- 16 oz. frozen tater tots do not thaw! (1 bag)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Prepare a 9x13-inch baking dish and spray it with cooking oil. Set aside.
- In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain grease. 1 lb. ground beef
- Season with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, dried basil, and pepper. Set aside. 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp kosher salt, ½ tsp dried basil, ½ tsp ground black pepper
- In a large bowl, mix together the drained green beans, cream of chicken, 1 cup of the divided cheese, sour cream, ketchup, and soy sauce. Add the ground beef to the bowl and mix together. 15 oz. canned green beans, 10 oz. cream of chicken soup, 2½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, ½ cup sour cream, ½ tbsp ketchup, 1 tsp low-sodium soy sauce
- Spread the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Make sure it’s evenly dispersed.
- Take frozen tater tots and arrange them in a single layer covering the beef mixture. 16 oz. frozen tater tots
- Place the pan in the oven uncovered to cook for 25 minutes.
- Top tater tots with remaining 1½ cups of cheese and return pan to the oven for an additional 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the tater tots are golden brown. The sides should also be bubbly.
Video
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
