Skillet Tater Tot Casserole with Ground Turkey

Highlights Of The Skillet Casserole

• Lean Ground Turkey: The casserole is made with lean ground turkey, offering a healthier alternative to traditional beef, while still being savory and filling as well as high protein. Ground chicken or beef could also be substituted.
• Creamy Sauce: A rich and creamy sauce, typically made from a combination of cream of mushroom soup and sour cream, combined with the shredded cheese binds the ingredients together and stops the turkey from drying out.
• 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.
• 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 frozen mixed vegetables like peas, green beans, and corn, or stick with one kind of veggie for picky eaters. Use different kind 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!

If you’re in need of a quick, balanced, weeknight meal the whole family will love – this is it! Made with some kitchen staples like canned cream of mushrooms soup, frozen mixed veggies, and tater tots this recipe require very little prep.

Keep a bag of tots and a tube of ground turkey in the freezer to take out when you need a quick meal. Many of the ingredients in this recipe can be substituted with what you have in your own kitchen for ease or to accommodate picky eaters.

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. Shallots are also a good option.
• Ground turkey: fresh or frozen ground turkey will here as long as it is thawed, turkey is lean and does not produce much fat when browned. Ground chicken or beef will also work.
• Seasonings: kosher salt. fresh cracked black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder are used in this skillet dish. Paprika, cayenne, or chili powder can add a touch more flavor.
• 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.
• Soup: a can of condensed cream of mushroom soup is used for texture and flavor. Cream of chicken or cream of onion soup will work also.
• Milk: heavy whipping cream, half & half, whole milk, 2% milk, or a non-dairy milk will all work for this dish.
• Shredded cheese: freshly grated cheese is the way to go here, grab a block of mozzarella and use as much as you’d like! Pre-shredded cheese contains an anti caking agent which can give it a weird texture when melted. Other cheese like cheddar or pepper jack will work.
• Mixed Vegetables: frozen veggies make a quick shortcut vs fresh veggies. Tater tot casserole traditionally used a mix of peas, corn, carrots, and green beans but use whatever type of veg you prefer.
• 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 Skillet Tater Tot Casserole with Ground Turkey (The printable instructions are in the recipe card below.)

Quick Overview:

• Sauté garlic and onion, add in turkey and seasonings.
• Brown turkey. Add in soup, sour cream, cheese, and milk.
• Top with tots and bake. If desired, top with extra cheese and broil.

1. 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 sauté until soft, 3-4 minutes. Add in garlic and sauté for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.

2. Add in ground turkey and brown until cooked through, 5-6 minutes. Mix in cream of mushroom, sour cream, milk, shredded cheese, and frozen vegetables. 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 top with a little sprinkle of cheese and broil for 3-4 minutes to brown. Serve immediately.

Tools I Recommend

• 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!
• 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.

Recipe Serving Suggestions

The best way to serve the tater tot casserole is fresh out of the oven while the tater tots are crispy and the inside is still bubbly. But if you’re looking to elevate this dish, try serving your casserole with some of these fresh side salads:

• BLT Salad Recipe – this salad is super light and packed with flavor. Lettuce, tomatoes, chopped bacon, and avocado tossed in a roasted garlic ranch.
• Butter Lettuce Salad – a simple green salad that accompanies the heavy casserole well.
• Fresh Mixed Green Salad – leafy green tossed in a homemade red wine vinaigrette.