Description
Loaded Tater Tot Nacho Casserole is a hearty, flavorful dish featuring crispy baked tater tots layered with seasoned ground beef, sautéed peppers and onions, crispy bacon, and plenty of melted cheddar and mozzarella cheeses. Perfect as a comforting main course for family dinners or casual gatherings, this casserole combines classic nacho flavors with the satisfying crunch of tots in an easy-to-make baked skillet.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 Bag (2 lbs) Frozen Tater Tots
- 1 Pound Lean 90/10 Ground Beef
- 1 Medium Sweet Onion, diced
- 6 Mini Sweet Peppers or 1 large Bell Pepper, diced
- 6 Strips Center Cut Bacon
- 1/4 Cup Salsa
- 4 tsp Taco Seasoning
- 56g (1/2 Cup) Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- 28g (1/4 Cup) Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
Toppings
- Hot Sauce, to taste
- Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt, for serving
Instructions
- Bake Tater Tots: Preheat oven to 425 degrees F and spread the frozen tater tots evenly on a baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes until golden and crispy.
- Cook Bacon: While tots bake, slice the bacon into smaller pieces and cook over medium heat in a skillet until crispy. Remove bacon and drain on paper towels.
- Sauté Vegetables: Wipe excess bacon grease from skillet, leaving a small amount for flavor. Add diced peppers and onions and cook with a pinch of salt and pepper for about 1 minute until slightly softened.
- Brown Ground Beef: Add ground beef to the skillet with vegetables; break it up with a spatula. Cook until the meat is browned but still slightly pink in areas.
- Season Beef: Stir in taco seasoning and salsa. Continue cooking until beef is fully cooked and the mixture has thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Assemble Casserole: Spray a 10.5-inch cast iron skillet with nonstick spray. Layer half of the baked tater tots on the bottom, then cover with half of the beef mixture. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup cheddar and mozzarella cheese and add some hot sauce if desired.
- Add Second Layer: Carefully arrange the remaining tater tots on top, followed by the rest of the beef mixture, crispy bacon pieces, and the last 1/4 cup of cheddar cheese.
- Bake to Melt Cheese: Return skillet to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes to melt the cheese and heat everything through.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from oven and let cool for 5 to 10 minutes. Add desired toppings such as sour cream or Greek yogurt, then scoop portions and enjoy.
Notes
- A deep cast iron skillet is ideal for layering and even cooking, but you can use a baking sheet, cake pan, or small baking dish if needed.
- This recipe is flexible—add or substitute ingredients like jalapeños, black beans, or corn for variety.
- Since ingredients are pre-cooked, you can also serve without the final bake step by assembling in bowls for a quicker option.
- To make loaded tater tots in the air fryer, look for air fryer recipes like the one from With the Woodruffs.
- This dish is best enjoyed fresh but can be refrigerated and reheated carefully.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 410 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
