This delicious and hearty Southwest tater tot casserole is so flavorful and is an easy weeknight dinner the whole family will enjoy. Made with deliciously seasoned ground beef with zesty seasonings, corn, black beans, shredded cheese, and more, topped with potato rounds, and baked to perfection. A one pot meal that can be on the table in no time.
I’ve always loved Mexican and Tex-Mex food. After I became a mom, I also discovered how amazingly easy, one pot meals were, as well. This delicious Mexican-inspired tater tot casserole is a dish that I’ve been making for years because it ticks both boxes for me and for my family. I make this recipe all the time because it is delicious, easy, and hearty, and the leftovers make a great afternoon snack for the kids when they get home from school. It reheats so well too. It’s a delicious meal that explodes with flavor in every bite, and it’s super easy to make. You can’t beat that!
Southwest Tater Tot Casserole
This recipe starts with a mixture of ground beef, onions, and jalapenos that I cook until browned and tender. Then, I season the meat and add corn, black beans, Rotel, green chilies, sour cream, and cheese. I spoon it all into a baking dish, top it with potato rounds or tots, and bake until the tots are golden brown and the filling is hot and melty. It’s a quick and easy meal that’s perfect for dinners or parties!
Why You’ll Love This Southwest Tater Tot Casserole Recipe
- This easy casserole has a combination of flavors that complement each other perfectly and is simply irresistible.
- It’s an easy one-pot meal that is perfect for busy weeknights, and clean-up is a breeze.
- It takes the classic comfort food of tater tot casserole and elevates it to the next level with Tex-Mex flavors the whole family will enjoy.
Southwest Tater Tot Casserole Ingredients
It only takes a few simple ingredients to make this recipe. Everything you need is a kitchen staple, and anything you don’t have is just a quick trip to the grocery store away.
- Ground beef
- Yellow onion
- Jalapeno
- Cloves garlic
- Slap ya mama seasoning
- Garlic powder
- Black pepper
- Paprika
- Red pepper flakes
- Whole kernel corn
- Black beans
- Rotel tomatoes and chiles
- Diced green chilies
- Sour cream
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Tater rounds
How to Make Southwest Tater Tot Casserole
Making this recipe is just as easy as shopping for the ingredients. It only takes a few minutes and a few simple steps to go from ground beef and some cans to a delicious, hearty dinner.
Step 1: Prep
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
Step 2: Cook the Beef
Cook the ground beef, chopped onions, and jalapenos in a large skillet over medium heat until the beef is no longer pink and the onions and peppers are tender. Drain the mixture and return it to the skillet.
Step 3: Add the Remaining Ingredients
Add the garlic and seasonings and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Then, add the corn, black beans, Rotel, green chilies, sour cream, and 1 cup of shredded cheese and stir to combine. Cook until the cheese is melty.
Step 4: Bake
Spoon the mixture into the baking dish and spread it in an even layer. Then, top with the rest of the cheese and potato rounds and bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the tots are golden brown. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Cook the meat and veggies on medium heat. This ensures the veggies are tender by the time the beef is finished cooking.
- Cook the beef until it’s no longer pink and no further. Overcooking the beef will make it rubbery.
- Don’t defrost the tater tots before baking the casserole. They’ll defrost and cook to perfection in the oven.
Variations
- You can make this casserole with tater tots or tater rounds.
- For more Tex-Mex flavor, try using taco or Mexican blend cheese.
- Use ground beef, turkey, pork, or chorizo for this casserole.
- Add bell peppers, black olives, or different seasonings such as cumin and cayenne pepper for additional flavor.
What to Serve with Southwest Tater Tot Casserole
Serve this casserole topped with salsa, taco sauce, or sour cream. You can also pair it with a simple side salad or some garlic bread. If you’re feeding a crowd, try serving it alongside other Mexican or Tex-Mex favorites like tacos, burritos, fajitas, elote, refried beans, and other Mexican staples.
Recipe FAQ
Southwest tater tot casserole is a one pot dish made with ground beef, onion, jalapenos, chilies, cheese, and zesty spices mixed together and topped with tater tots, then baked.
To make tater tots crispier, simply cook them longer. A little extra cooking time causes the tots to shrink and dry out a bit. This creates an extra crispy exterior and dense, creamy interior.
Cooking tater tots at a temperature that’s too low or for too little time are both the main reasons that tots don’t get crispy. In addition, most cooking times on packaged tater tots are the absolute minimum time. It will heat them through, but it usually won’t get them crispy.
Tater tot casserole is freezer-friendly and will last for up to 3 months when stored properly.
How to Store and Reheat Leftover Tater Tot Casserole
Refrigerate this casserole for up to 4 days in an airtight container. For longer storage, freeze it for up to 3 months in an airtight, freezer-safe container.
To reheat the casserole, place it in a baking dish and bake at 350 degrees until heated through.
Try This Delicious Southwest Tater Tot Casserole Recipe Today
This Tex-Mex tater tot casserole recipe is as easy to make as it is delicious, and it’s loaded with beefy, cheesy flavor and a punch of heat in every bite. Give this recipe a try, and I know you’ll make it a permanent part of your recipe rotation. It’s so good for dinner or parties, how could you not love it?
More Delicious Casserole Recipes You’ll Enjoy
Here is a delicious and hearty Breakfast Casserole that is easy-to-make and is a family favorite breakfast recipe. This casserole is made with hash browns, breakfast sausage, eggs, cheese, onions, bell peppers, and more, and is perfect for a causal weekend breakfast or for a special occasion.
Southwest Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds ground beef
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 jalapeno, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon slap ya mama seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 15 ounce can whole kernel corn, drained
- 15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 10 ounce can Rotel tomatoes and green chilies
- 4 ounce can diced green chilies
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, divided
- 30 ounce frozen tater rounds
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, add ground beef, onions, and jalapenos. Stir to combine and cook until meat is no longer pink and onions and peppers are tender. Drain and return to the skillet.
- Add garlic and seasonings to meat, stir to combine, and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Add corn, black beans, rotel, green chillies, sour cream and 1 cup of shredded cheese. Stir to combine and cook until the cheese is melty and heated through.
- Spoon into the prepared baking dish and spread in an even layer. Add the remaining cup of shredded cheese over the top of the meat mixture.
- Top with potato rounds.
- Place in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or until tots are golden brown.
- Remove and serve with your favorite sides.
Video
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Since I cook for only two do you think I could prep this through step 5 and freeze half and finish it up at a later date?
Hi Suzie,
Yes, you definitely can do that. We hope you two enjoy it when you do make it. 🙂