Slow Cooker Tater Tot Casserole 

This Slow Cooker Tater Tot Casserole is a hearty and comforting dish that’s the perfect meal on busy nights. With crispy tater tots and perfectly browned ground beef smothered in a savory, cheesy sauce, this one dish the entire family will devour! 

 

Crock Pot Tater Tot Casserole Recipe 

Looking for the ultimate comfort food dish that’s easy to make and always hits the spot? This slow cooker tater tot casserole checks those boxes and more! It’s such a fun twist on a classic meat and potatoes dinner. It combines crispy, crunchy tater tots with savory, seasoned ground beef, tender veggies, and best of all a creamy melted cheese sauce. 

You can easily customize this delicious recipe by adding your family’s favorite veggies or spices. It’s truly one of the easiest and most versatile dishes that always gets rave reviews. This easy recipe is similar to this traditional Tater Tot Casserole that you bake in a casserole dish, but this slow cooker version is fuss-free and perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends.

It’s also great for holidays when you’re up late the night before – maybe still wrapping presents?! Just put this in the crockpot before you go to bed and you’ll have a warm breakfast when the kids get up.

Why We Love This Recipe

• Complete meal – With veggies, potatoes, and beef, it makes the perfect comfort food all in one pot. You won’t even need a side dish. 
• Family favorite – Kids and adults alike love tater tots, making dinner time delicious for everyone. 
• Easy recipe – You just brown the beef, add it with the other ingredients to the bottom of the slow cooker and dinner is ready when you get home. 

Ingredients

• Lean ground beef
• Onion, diced
• Frozen corn
• Cream of mushroom soup
• Whole milk
• Sour cream
• Worcestershire sauce
• Garlic powder
• Salt
• Ground black pepper 
• Tater tots
• Shredded sharp cheddar cheese 

How to Make Crockpot Tater Tot Casserole

Step One: Brown Ground Beef

• In a medium or large skillet over medium high heat, brown ground beef and drain. 

Step Two: Assemble the Ingredients in the Crockpot

• To the bottom of a slow cooker add the ground beef, onion, corn.
• In a small mixing bowl add the cream of mushroom soup, milk, sour cream, Worcestershire sauce and seasonings. Stir to combine. Pour over the ground beef mixture in the crockpot.

• Top with a single layer of tater tots.

Step Three: Cook and Serve

• Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
• About 10 minutes before you’re ready to serve it, top with the shredded cheese and cover until the cheese melts. 

Easy Tater Tot Casserole Variations and Add-ins

• Mexican style – Add taco seasoning to the beef as it is browning.  Throw in a can of rinsed and drained black beans and top with diced tomatoes and green onions. 
• Other fresh or frozen vegetables – You can add your favorite veggies like fresh spinach, carrots, peas, or green beans.
• Soup options – You can really use any kind of canned creamy soup you prefer. Cream of chicken soup or cream of celery are popular alternatives. 
• Chicken – An easy way to use up leftover shredded chicken is to make this recipe into a chicken tater tot casserole the whole family will love just as much as the original recipe. You can also use ground chicken or ground turkey. 
• Bacon ranch – Add a zesty kick to the casserole with a packet of Ranch seasoning and some bacon bits or freshly fried and crumbled bacon.

Do I Use Frozen Tater Tots?

You can actually use frozen or thawed. Thawed means that the casserole will take a little less slow cooking time. If you forgot to take them out of the freezer, don’t worry, there’s no need to thaw them beforehand.

Can I Prepare this Casserole Ahead of Time? 

Sure! You can either cook it and reheat it the next day or you can assemble the casserole in the slow cooker insert the night before and refrigerate it. In the morning, simply place the insert in the slow cooker and start cooking.

How Long is Leftover Tater Tot Casserole Good?

Leftover tater tot casserole can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for about 3 to 4 days. If you have more leftovers than you can eat, you can also freeze them for up to 3 months. This is a great way to have a last-minute meal on hand. Just thaw in the fridge and reheat in the microwave. 

Can I Use Hash Browns Instead?

Yes, you can absolutely use hash browns instead of tater tots for this recipe. You can use either freshly grated hash browns or store-bought frozen hash browns. Simply layer the hash browns as you would with tater tots in the slow cooker and proceed to cook it the same way. Keep in mind that because of their size, hash browns may take longer to cook. 

More Tasty Crockpot Recipes

• Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup
• Crockpot Smokies
• Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki
• Crockpot Beef Stew
• Simple Slow Cooker Chili
• Crockpot Meatballs
• Slow Cooker Southwest Chicken
• Crockpot Chicken Cacciatore