Get ready to transform your ordinary dinner into an extraordinary culinary experience with this mouthwatering Green Chile Tater Tot Casserole! Imagine a perfect blend of crispy golden tater tots, zesty green chiles, and melted cheese creating a flavor symphony that will have your family and friends begging for seconds. This isn't just another casserole - it's a crowd-pleasing, comfort food masterpiece that combines the hearty goodness of ground beef with the irresistible crunch of tater tots and a spicy kick that'll make your taste buds dance!
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 40 mins
Total Time: 50 mins
Cuisine: American
Serves: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 1 bag frozen tater tots
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 can diced green chiles
- 2 cups shredded cheese
- 1 cup sour cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef. Break the meat into small crumbles while cooking and season with salt and pepper.
- Once the ground beef is fully cooked and no longer pink, drain any excess fat from the skillet to reduce greasiness.
- Add the diced green chiles to the cooked ground beef and stir to combine, allowing the flavors to meld for 2-3 minutes.
- In a separate mixing bowl, combine the sour cream with half of the shredded cheese, creating a creamy mixture.
- Spread the beef and green chile mixture evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Pour the sour cream and cheese mixture over the beef layer, spreading it carefully to create an even coating.
- Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer on top of the beef and cheese mixture, covering the entire surface.
- Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese over the top of the tater tots.
- Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy.
- Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow the layers to set.
- Serve hot, optionally garnished with chopped fresh cilantro or green onions for added freshness.
Tips
- For maximum flavor, use fresh ground beef with a slightly higher fat content (80/20 blend) to ensure juiciness.
- Drain the ground beef thoroughly to prevent a soggy casserole bottom.
- Let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes after baking to help the layers set and make serving easier.
- For extra crispiness, arrange tater tots in a single, tight layer without overlapping.
- Experiment with different cheese blends like pepper jack or sharp cheddar for varied flavor profiles.
- If you like extra heat, add a dash of cayenne pepper or use hot green chiles instead of mild.
- Prep ingredients in advance to make this a quick weeknight meal that looks and tastes like you spent hours cooking.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 404kcal
Carbohydrates: g
Protein: g
Fat: g
Saturated Fat: 16g
Cholesterol: mg
