This creamy Mexican tater tot taco casserole recipe is my favorite variation of the classic tater tot casserole! Jalapenos, black beans, corn, taco seasoning, and a Mexican cheese blend elevate this dish. The creamy filling pairs perfectly with the crunchy, golden brown tater tots. This one-pot meal couldn’t be easier and clean up is a breeze, use your favorite oven-safe cast iron or large skillet. Easily substitute different veggies or use ground turkey or chicken, this recipe can be customized to your liking. Perfect for the whole family!
This skillet meal hits all the notes, you have protein from the ground beef, some veggies and beans for fiber, and the tater tots provide carbs and a bit of substance. Kids and adults will love this recipes, serve alongside a simple lettuce salad, cilantro lime rice or cauliflower rice, or a kale salad.
Find all of my other simple dinner recipes and one pot recipes here for more weeknight inspiration!
Why You’ll Love This
- Lean Ground Beef: This casserole is made with lean ground beef, creating a high-protein, savory filling. Ground chicken or ground turkey could also be substituted. Or if desired, use chorizo or spicy ground sausage.
- Creamy Sauce: A rich and creamy sauce made from sour cream, milk, and melty cheese. No canned soup used in this recipe.
- Tater Tot Topping: frozen tater tots line the top of the casserole creating a beautiful golden brown crust and adding a crunchy texture. Store-bought frozen tots are a simple way to finish this casserole, you could use shredded hashbrowns or hashbrown patties if needed.
- One-Dish Wonder: Easy to make in just one casserole dish, this recipe is a simple, no-fuss dinner that’s perfect for busy nights. Use an oven safe skillet so you can sauté on the stove-top and transfer to the oven to finish cooking.
- Customizable: You can add in peppers, chiles, or salsa for a bit of spice. Different kinds of beans or canned tomatoes could also be added in. Use different kinds of cheese or add additional seasoning and spices to amp up flavor. The combination of tater tots and cheese makes this casserole a hit with kids and adults alike!
Mexican Tater Tot Casserole Toppings
The best part about the Mexican inspired tater tot casserole are the topping options! I like to add all of my favorite taco toppings to elevate the dish. Such as:
- Sliced avocados or guacamole
- Extra sour cream or Greek yogurt
- Pico De Gallo, salsa, or salsa verde
- Fresh cilantro, sliced or pickled jalapenos, or black olives
- Shredded lettuce
Key Ingredients
This skillet dish is made of simple ingredients and can easily be customized, if an ingredient can be substituted you will find it below along with any additional notes.
- Extra Virgin Olive oil: I prefer a good olive oil but avocado oil, butter, or vegetable oil can all be substitutes.
- Garlic: add as many fresh garlic cloves as desired, I use upwards of around 4 or 5 cloves. Jarred minced garlic can be a substitute.
- Onion: red onion, white onion, or yellow onion can work in the recipe, omit onion if you prefer.
- Jalapeno: fresh jalapenos add the perfect hint of spice and color, omit if desired. Substitute with green bell peppers, poblano peppers, diced green chilies, or a little salsa verde.
- Ground beef: I prefer a lean, grass-fed ground beef that doesn’t produce much fat. Ground chicken, chorizo, or ground turkey will also work.
- Seasonings: kosher salt. fresh cracked black pepper, garlic powder, ground cumin, chili powder, and onion powder are used in this skillet dish. Use taco seasoning mix instead if desired.
- Black beans: toss in a can of rinsed black beans for easy protein, substitute pinto beans or kidney beans.
- Frozen corn: a bag of frozen sweet corn is an easy way to incorporate veggies and a little color. Canned corn can be used.
- Sour cream: I prefer full fat sour cream for a velvety sauce, Greek yogurt can be used if desired but may change the texture slightly.
- Milk: heavy whipping cream, half & half, whole milk, 2% milk, or a non-dairy milk will all work for this dish.
- Shredded cheese: I like a Mexican cheese blend. Other cheese like cheddar cheese or pepper jack will work.
- Frozen tater tots: a bag of frozen tater tots adds a golden brown crust and some substance to this dish.
How to Make The Tater Tot Casserole
Let’s talk a little about how to make the Creamy Mexican Tater Tot Taco Casserole Recipe (The printable instructions are in the recipe card below.)
Quick Overview:
- Sauté garlic, jalapenos, and onion, add in ground beef and seasonings.
- Brown ground beef. Add in beans, corn, milk, sour cream, and cheese.
- Top with tots and bake. If desired, top with extra cheese and broil.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Heat olive oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Once warm add in onion and jalapeno, sauté until soft, 3-4 minutes. Add in garlic and sauté for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, and onion powder.
- Add in ground beef and cook until brown, 5-6 minutes. To the ground beef mixture, add in black beans, sour cream, milk, shredded cheese, and frozen corn. Mix to combine and spread evenly in the pan. Top with a single layer of frozen tater tots.
3. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes, if desired after baking, broil for 3-4 minutes to brown. Serve immediately.
Recipe Notes:
- If the ground beef produces a lot of liquid or fat after browning, remove with a spoon before continuing.
- To ensure the tots get extra crispy and not soggy, broil the casserole on high after baking for just a few minutes to give the tots a nice crust and a golden brown finish.
- Leftover casserole can be cooled completely and stored in airtight containers in the fridge for 2-3 days. While best enjoyed immediately, this can be reheated in the oven (preferred) or in the microwave until warm.
More Family Favorite Dinner Recipes
Enjoying this tater tot casserole, try these other comfort meals perfect for busy weeknights or Sunday night family dinner:
- Swedish Meatballs – pork and beef meatballs in a creamy beef gravy.
- Mini Chicken Pot Pies – the comfort of a pot pie in an individual serving!
- Skillet Turkey Tater Tot Casserole – the classic version of tater tot casserole.
- Italian Pork Roast – a simple crockpot meal perfect for busy nights.
- One-Pan Tuscan Chicken Thighs – seared chicken thighs with a flavorful cream sauce.
- Chicken Broccoli Fettuccine Alfredo – a classic kids and adults will love.
Tools I Recommend
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- Cheese Grater – this grater is a must if you grate your own cheese! It’s also handy for several other things, like shaving chocolate, shredding vegetables, zesting, or grinding spices.
- Enamel cast iron skillet: this Le Creuset cast iron skillet is my go to. With the enamel coating it is super easy to clean and you can cook both on the stove top and in the oven making it great for recipes like this. It’s the perfect size for family dinners.
- Wooden Spoons – perfect for sautéing and mixing, and great for not scratching your pans. Remember to deep clean your wooden utensils once a month!
This hot dish is a great addition to your weekly taco night rotation! Easily transform a pound of ground beef into a filling meal that can serve the whole family. An easy casserole recipe for the entire family, including picky eaters!
Recipe FAQs
Not baking the casserole long enough can cause the bottom of the dish to become soggy due to too much liquid, similarly adding in too much milk can cause the mixture to become too soupy. Add just enough milk to create a creamy consistency. If the ground beef has a lot of liquid/fat after browning be sure to drain it the best you can so it doesn’t water down the mixture.
Since this casserole has protein, veggies, and carbs – it’s pretty balanced as is. A light and refreshing lettuce salad or cilantro line cauliflower rice goes best with this dish or other simple vegetable sides.
If you do not want to use ground beef you can use ground chicken, Mexican chorizo, spicy Italian sausage, or ground turkey in your tater tot casserole. Or omit the meat completely and add in extra veggies.
To ensure the tots get extra crispy and not soggy, broil the casserole on high after baking for just a few minutes to give the tots a nice crust and a golden brown finish. The tater tots are also best enjoyed immediately, if you are heating these up as leftovers they may get a bit soggy from the filling.
Leftover casserole can be cooled completely and stored in airtight containers in the fridge for 2-3 days. While best enjoyed immediately, this can be reheated in the oven (preferred) or in the microwave until warm.
Cooking Tip
Broil your tater tot casserole once it is done baking for extra crispy tater tots. A sprinkle of extra cheese to finish off the casserole gives a nice crust!
Creamy Mexican Tater Tot Taco Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 medium Yellow onion, finely diced
- 1-2 small Jalapenos , seeded and finely diced
- 2-3 cloves Garlic, minced
- 2 tsp Kosher salt
- Fresh cracked black pepper
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- 1 tsp Onion powder
- 1 tbsp Ground cumin
- 1/4 tsp Chili powder
- 1 lb. Lean ground beef
- 1 15 oz. can Black beans, drained and rinsed
- 12 oz. Frozen sweet corn
- 1 1/2 cups Sour cream
- 1/2 cup Whole milk
- 1 cup Shredded Mexican blend cheese
- 12 oz. Frozen tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Heat olive oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Once warm add in onion and jalapeno, sauté until soft, 3-4 minutes. Add in garlic and sauté for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, and onion powder.2 tbsp Olive oil, 1 medium Yellow onion, 1-2 small Jalapenos , 2-3 cloves Garlic, 2 tsp Kosher salt, Fresh cracked black pepper, 1 tsp Garlic powder, 1 tsp Onion powder, 1 tbsp Ground cumin, 1/4 tsp Chili powder
- Add in ground beef and cook until brown, 5-6 minutes. Mix in black beans, sour cream, milk, shredded cheese, and frozen corn. Mix to combine and spread evenly in the pan. Top with a single layer of frozen tater tots.1 lb. Lean ground beef, 12 oz. Frozen sweet corn, 1 1/2 cups Sour cream, 1/2 cup Whole milk, 1 cup Shredded Mexican blend cheese , 12 oz. Frozen tater tots, 1 15 oz. can Black beans
- Bake at 350 for 25 minutes, if desired after baking, broil for 3-4 minutes to brown. Serve immediately.
Notes
- If the ground beef produces a lot of liquid or fat after browning, remove with a spoon before continuing.
- To ensure the tots get extra crispy and not soggy, broil the casserole on high after baking for just a few minutes to give the tots a nice crust and a golden brown finish.
- Leftover casserole can be cooled completely and stored in airtight containers in the fridge for 2-3 days. While best enjoyed immediately, this can be reheated in the oven (preferred) or in the microwave until warm.
Nutrition
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This was easy to make and very tasty!