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Delicious Mexican Tater Tot Casserole topped with crispy tater tots and cheese.

Mexican Tater Tot Casserole

A quick and easy casserole that combines tater tots, seasoned meat, and cheese for a cozy dinner with a fun taco flair.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Comfort Food, Mexican
Calories: 450

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 bag tater tots Frozen
  • 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey Choose your preferred meat
  • 1 small onion, chopped Optional but adds flavor
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced Alternatively, 1 to 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 packet taco seasoning Or 2 to 3 tablespoons homemade mix
  • 1 can black beans or pinto beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup corn Canned or frozen
  • 1 can diced tomatoes with green chiles Or plain diced tomatoes
  • 1-2 cups shredded cheese, cheddar or Mexican blend To taste
  • Salt and pepper To taste
Optional Toppings
  • sour cream
  • cilantro
  • jalapenos
  • hot sauce
  • avocado
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Instructions
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish.
  2. Brown the ground meat in a skillet over medium heat. If using onion, add it early to soften. Add garlic for the last minute to avoid burning.
  3. Drain the excess grease if necessary. Stir in the taco seasoning and the amount of water specified on the packet (usually 1/4 to 1/2 cup). Let it simmer for a couple of minutes until it thickens.
  4. Mix in the beans, corn, and diced tomatoes. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed with salt or heat.
  5. Spread the meat mixture into the baking dish, layer cheese on top, then arrange the tater tots in a single layer on top.
Cooking
  1. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until the tater tots are crisp and golden. Check at 30 minutes; for extra crispiness, bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes.
  2. After baking, sprinkle any remaining cheese on top and bake for another 5 minutes until melty. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
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Notes

For extra flavor, you can add diced peppers or other veggies into the meat mixture. This casserole can also be made vegetarian by omitting the meat and using extra beans.