Name: Hamburger Tater Tot Casserole Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1 2 lb. tater tots; 1 lb. sirloin ground beef; 10 oz. cream of celery; 1/3 cup milk (2% - you can substitute whole milk); 2 cups frozen broccoli pieces; 1 8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese (- divided); 1 6 oz. Fried Onions ( - divided)

Jump to Recipe

Growing up, casserole nights were pretty common at our house. My mom could take a handful of simple pantry ingredients, layer them into a casserole dish, and somehow make a dinner everyone was excited about. This ground beef tater tot casserole reminds me so much of those dinners. It’s cheesy, hearty, comforting, and now it’s one of those meals my own four kids love, too.

I’ve made this casserole more times than I can count, and there are two things I’ve learned that really make a difference. I like to use lean ground sirloin instead of regular ground beef because it has great flavor without leaving a lot of grease behind. And don’t skip the French fried onions! They aren’t just sprinkled over the top — I mix them right into the beef mixture, and they add so much flavor to this casserole.

Best of all, this is such an easy weeknight dinner. Everything gets layered into one casserole dish, the tater tots get nice and crispy on top, and you end up with a warm, cheesy dinner that the whole family can dig into. If your family loves good old-fashioned comfort food as much as mine does, this tater tot casserole is definitely one to add to the dinner rotation.

Why You’ll Love This Hamburger and Tater Tot Casserole

One dish, one pan — no juggling side dishes to round out dinner.
Family-tested, kid-approved — this is on repeat in our house for a reason.
Simple pantry ingredients — nothing here requires a special trip to the store.
Easy to make ahead — perfect for busy weeknights or feeding a crowd.
Naturally versatile — swap the vegetable or the soup and it’s still just as good.

Ground Beef vs. Hamburger — What’s the Difference?

🥩 Ground Beef	🍔 Hamburger
Just the meat itself — no added fat blended in beyond what’s naturally in the cut.	Ground beef with a bit of extra fat blended in, usually labeled for forming patties that hold together on a grill.
Leaner, so it browns with less grease — my pick for this casserole.	Slightly fattier, which is great for burgers but can leave this casserole greasy.
My pick. I always reach for lean ground sirloin here — it’s technically “ground beef,” and it’s what keeps this casserole from turning greasy under the tots.	—

Ingredients for Hamburger Tater Tot Casserole

Ingredient	Purpose	Easy Substitute
Tater tots (frozen, not thawed)	Crispy topping — frozen holds its shape better while baking	Frozen tater rounds or hash browns
Lean ground sirloin (1 lb.)	Hearty base, less greasy than standard ground beef	Ground turkey or standard ground beef
Cream of celery soup (10.5 oz.)	Creamy binder that holds the filling together	Cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup
2% milk (⅓ cup)	Thins the soup to the right consistency	Whole milk
Frozen broccoli (2 cups)	Adds a vegetable and texture contrast	Frozen mixed vegetables, corn, or peas
Shredded cheddar cheese (8 oz., divided)	Melty, sharp flavor throughout and on top	Colby jack or any good melting cheese
French fried onions (6 oz., divided)	Mixed into the filling and on top for crunch and flavor	Don’t skip — this one’s worth keeping as-is

How to Make Tater Tot Casserole

Step 1: Brown the beef. Cook the ground sirloin in a skillet over medium-high heat until fully browned, then drain any excess grease.

Step 2: Mix the filling. Stir in the cream of celery soup, milk, broccoli, half of the cheddar cheese, and half of the fried onions until well combined.

Step 3: Assemble. Pour the mixture into a greased 9×13 casserole dish and spread it into an even layer.

Step 4: Top it off. Sprinkle on the remaining cheese and fried onions, then arrange the tater tots in a single layer over the top.

ground beef tater tot casserole assembly - adding tater tots

Step 5: Bake. Bake at 400°F for 30 minutes, until the tots are golden and the filling is bubbling at the edges.

Ground Beef and Tater Tot Casserole Variations

Swap the meat: ground turkey or ground chicken both work well in place of sirloin.
Change the cheese: Colby jack, Monterey jack, or a Mexican blend all melt nicely.
Switch the vegetable: corn, peas, green beans, or a frozen mixed-vegetable blend can stand in for broccoli.
Try the soup swap: cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup both work if you want a different flavor base.
Add bacon: a handful of cooked, crumbled bacon mixed into the filling never hurts.

What to Serve with Tater Tot Casserole

This casserole is a full meal on its own, but a simple side rounds it out nicely:

A crisp green salad
Three Bean Salad
Steamed or roasted green beans
Dinner rolls without yeast
A simple fruit salad

Make-Ahead Instructions for Tater Tot Casserole

You can assemble this casserole up to a day in advance. Cover tightly and refrigerate, then bake as directed, adding a few extra minutes if going in cold from the fridge.

Storage & Reheating at a Glance


Refrigerator	Up to 4 days, covered
Freezer	Up to 1 month — freeze before baking
Reheat (best)	Oven or air fryer, to re-crisp the tots
Reheat (fastest)	Microwave — tots will soften

Storage and Reheating Instructions for Tater Tot Casserole

Refrigerator: Store leftovers covered for up to 4 days.

Reheating: For best results, reheat in the oven or air fryer to re-crisp the tots; the microwave works fine if you’re short on time, though the tots will soften.

Freezing: See the FAQ below — freeze before baking for the best texture.

👩‍🍳 Melissa’s Tips for the Best Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

Keep the tots frozen. Don’t thaw them first — they hold their shape and crisp up better straight from the freezer.
Drain the grease well. Even with lean sirloin, draining thoroughly keeps the casserole from turning greasy.
Mix the onions in, don’t just top with them. Half goes into the filling for flavor, half goes on top for crunch.
Bake it uncovered. This is what gives the tots their golden, crispy top.
Let it rest for a few minutes before serving so it holds together when you scoop it.

FAQs about Tater Tot Casserole with Ground Beef

Yes — but freeze it before baking. Potatoes can turn starchy and change texture when baked, frozen, and reheated. Assemble the casserole, wrap tightly, and freeze for up to one month

This casserole is a hearty, comfort-food dish rather than a light one — but it does include a vegetable, protein, and dairy, so it can fit into a balanced meal in moderation.

Yes — this tater tot casserole with broccoli works well with fresh florets too. You may need to cook it a bit longer, since fresh broccoli is firmer than frozen, or steam it briefly first.

Canned green beans, frozen or canned corn, carrots, cauliflower, asparagus, or spinach all work well in place of or alongside the broccoli.

No — keep them frozen. Frozen tots hold their shape better and crisp up more evenly than thawed ones.

At its core, a tater tot casserole layers a seasoned ground meat filling, a creamy binder, a vegetable, and cheese, all topped with tater tots and baked until golden. This version uses lean sirloin, cream of celery soup, broccoli, cheddar, and French fried onions.

A condensed cream soup — like cream of celery, mushroom, or chicken — is the classic binder. It holds the filling together and keeps it from drying out during baking.

Yes — see the Make-Ahead section above for details.

See the Storage and Reheating section above.

Bake uncovered, keep the tots frozen going in, and avoid overcrowding them — a single, even layer crisps up far better than a thick pile.

tater tot casserole with ground beef and cheese

Other Casserole Recipes you might like

Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole

Chicken and Rice Casserole with Potato Chip Topping

Beef Enchilada Casserole Recipe

Here’s the printable recipe

Hamburger Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

My family's favorite comfort food — lean sirloin, melty cheddar, and crispy tater tots baked golden in one easy dish.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 30

Total Time: 40

Servings: -10 servings

Calories: 141cal

Author: Melissa

Ingredients

1 2 lb. tater tots
1 lb. sirloin ground beef
10 oz. cream of celery
⅓ cup milk 2% – you can substitute whole milk
2 cups frozen broccoli pieces
1 8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese – divided
1 6 oz. Fried Onions – divided

Instructions

Brown and drain beef
Add the cream of celery, milk, broccoli, 1/2 of the cheddar cheese and 1/2 of the fried onions
Mix
Pour into a greased casserole dish (9×13 works great)
Top with the rest of the fried onions and cheese
Line tater tots on top of the mixture
Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes

Notes

nutrition is only an estimate

Make-Ahead and Storage:

You can make this casserole in advance. When you are ready to serve it, just cover it with aluminum foil and bake it in the oven for 30 minutes

Storing – store this casserole covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days

Can you Freeze this Casserole?

Yes, but do not bake the casserole first. Potatoes, once baked tend to get too starchy when frozen and reheated. Just prepare the casserole, cover with freezer wrap and freeze for up to one month

Is Tater Tot Casserole Healthy for You?

With hearty ingredients and cheese, this casserole may not be the best choice if you are watching your calorie intake, but with vegetables, beef, potatoes, and cheese, it is packed full of vitamins and nutrients

Can I substitute fresh broccoli for frozen broccoli?

Yes. You may need to cook it longer as the broccoli will be crisper. You could also partially pre-cook the broccoli in a steamer or in a skillet for a few minutes until somewhat tender but not so it’s falling apart

What other Vegetables would be good in this casserole?

green beans (canned)
canned or frozen sweet corn
canned or frozen carrots
frozen cauliflower
asparagus – canned or fresh
fresh or frozen spinach

Nutrition

Helpful Resources for You

USDA FSIS — Ground Beef and Food Safety

USDA FSIS — Leftovers and Food Safety