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Chili tater tot casserole served on a white plate, with the casserole dish of remaining tater tot bake in the background.

Tater Tot Chili Casserole

Chrysti Benner
Flavorful chili, melted cheese, and crispy tater tots combine to make an easy and hearty meal that's perfect for your busy weeknights.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6 Servings
Calories 733 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 small onion (diced)
  • 1 tablespoons minced garlic
  • 15 ounce can of chili beans (drained)
  • 15 ounce can of diced tomatoes
  • 8 ounce can of tomato sauce
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • Salt and pepper (to taste)
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 32 ounce bag of frozen tater tots

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F and spray a 9x13" baking dish with nonstick spray. Set aside.
  • In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and diced onions until the beef is browned and onions are translucent, breaking the beef apart as it cooks. Drain excess grease.
  • Add the minced garlic to the skillet and cook until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
  • Stir in drained chili beans, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir and simmer for 5–7 minutes.
  • Spread the chili mixture evenly into prepared baking dish. Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese over the top of the meat mixture.
  • Arrange tater tots in a single layer over the cheese, then sprinkle the remaining cheese on top of the tots. Bake uncovered in preheated oven for 25–30 minutes, or until tater tots are golden and crispy.
  • Remove baking dish from oven and let the casserole cool for a few minutes before serving.

Notes

  • If desired, you can garnish with sour cream, sliced green onions, or jalapeños for extra flavor.
  • Whenever possible, I prefer to shred my own cheese, as it melts so much better than packaged shredded cheese. But if you're in a time crunch, using a bag of pre-shredded cheese will work just fine!
  • Leftovers can be covered and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 733kcalCarbohydrates: 60gProtein: 30gFat: 43gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 91mgSodium: 1797mgPotassium: 1259mgFiber: 9gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 1121IUVitamin C: 23mgCalcium: 365mgIron: 5mg
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