Bacon Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole layers seasoned ground beef, onion, cheddar cheese soup, sour cream, and chopped bacon beneath crisp tater tots and melted sharp cheddar. Pre-baking the frozen tots begins their browning before they become the casserole's structured top layer.
The recipe makes one large 9-by-13-inch casserole for 6 servings in 45 minutes, including 15 minutes of preparation and 30 minutes of cooking. The oven stays at 400°F for both baking stages.
Bacon Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole Ingredients
Gather 1 pound 80/20 ground beef, 10.5 ounces cheddar cheese soup, ½ cup sour cream, 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar, 1 cup chopped cooked bacon, ½ diced medium yellow onion, 1 teaspoon Montreal steak seasoning, and one 28-ounce bag frozen tater tots.
The bacon is already cooked, while the beef begins raw and must be browned completely before assembly.
If you enjoy this recipe, you may also like One Pot Dirty Rice.
How to Make Bacon Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole
- Heat the oven to 400°F. Grease a 9-by-13-inch dish, spread frozen tots in one layer, and bake 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, brown beef and onion over medium-high heat for 6–8 minutes until no pink remains. Drain.
- Add steak seasoning, cheddar soup, sour cream, and bacon. Stir over heat for 2–3 minutes.
- Remove the tots, spread the beef mixture in the dish, and arrange the tots evenly back on top.
- Add 1 cup cheddar and bake 15–20 minutes until crisp, melted, and bubbly.
- Rest 5 minutes and serve hot.
For food-safety guidance while cooking, use the USDA safe minimum temperature chart.
Preheat the Oven to Four Hundred Degrees
Pre-Bake the Frozen Tater Tots
Brown Beef and Half an Onion
Drain the Rendered Grease
Add Seasoning, Soup, Sour Cream, and Bacon
Move the Tots Without Crushing Them
Arrange the Tater Tots Back on Top
Top with One Cup Sharp Cheddar
Bake for Fifteen to Twenty Minutes
Rest for Five Minutes
Coordinate the Forty-Five-Minute Recipe
Preserve a Crisp Potato Topping
Conclusion
At 400°F, grease a 9-by-13-inch dish and pre-bake a 28-ounce bag of frozen tater tots in one layer for 10 minutes. Brown 1 pound beef with half an onion for 6–8 minutes and drain. Add steak seasoning, cheddar soup, sour cream, and 1 cup cooked bacon for 2–3 minutes. Spread beef in the dish, return tots on top, add 1 cup cheddar, bake 15–20 minutes, and rest 5 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Why are the tater tots baked before assembly?
The 10-minute pre-bake begins crisping them so they stay distinct over the moist beef layer.
- → What temperature is used for both baking stages?
Keep the oven at exactly 400°F for the initial 10 minutes and the final 15–20 minutes.
- → How many servings does the casserole make?
One large 9-by-13-inch casserole provides 6 generous servings.
- → Where should the tater tots sit in the assembled casserole?
Arrange them evenly over the creamy beef mixture, then sprinkle the shredded cheddar on top.