This tater tot chili casserole is the ultimate comfort food! It takes a classic ground beef chili and gives it a fun, delicious twist by topping it with crispy tater tots and gooey melted cheddar cheese. The result? A bold, hearty, and absolutely irresistible casserole that’s packed with flavor and texture.
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This chili casserole with tater tots is the perfect blend of comfort food and convenience! It features a rich, savory ground beef chili, topped with crispy tater tots and gooey melted cheese, making every bite packed with flavor and texture.
Best of all, this is a one-skillet recipe, meaning less mess and easy cleanup! Whether you’re preparing it for game day, a potluck dinner, or a quick weeknight meal, this chili cheese tater tot casserole is guaranteed to be a family favorite. With simple ingredients and minimal prep, you’ll have a warm, hearty dish on the table in no time—get ready to dig into layers of bold chili, crispy potato tots, and melty cheese!
Why We Love Chili Casserole with Tater Tots
- A one pan meal means there are less dishes to wash.
If you’re like us, the last thing you want to do at the end of a long day is a lot of dish washing. - It’s a main dish tater tot casserole recipe.
The roots of this iconic hotdish go back to the 1930’s, when it was just a simple baked side dish of crispy tots, condensed soup, and cheese.
Over the years, home cooks began to add proteins and veggies, converting the classic into a complete meal! This tater tot chili casserole has lean hamburger, potatoes, and fiber-packed beans, so it’s super hearty and filling! - No condensed soup!
Although it’s a big time-saver, condensed soups have a lot of sodium and chemicals that not everyone wants or needs in their diet.
Instead, we use simple pantry ingredients to make the thick, creamy sauce. Serve it tonight as a “stick to your bones” dinner that’s ready in under an hour. Or, make ahead this dish and freeze it for later!
Looking for other easy and hearty tater tot casseroles?
We have plenty of other versions to make! Our beefy green bean tater tot casserole is fantastic way to use up your Thanksgiving leftovers, as is our turkey tater tot casserole.
For a healthier dinner, make our casserole with tater tots and chicken version.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Meat: We use grass-fed, lean ground beef to keep the hotdish a bit healthier. Our preference is 80% lean ground sirloin, but anything with less than 20% fat works great.
- Tomatoes: Can of diced tomatoes is used as it adds juiciness and flavor to this casserole. But you can use fire-roasted diced tomatoes for more smokiness.
- Cheese: We prefer cheddar, for its good meltability. to amp up the spiciness of your chili casserole a bit, feel free to substitute with pepper jack or even a Mexican cheese like queso fresco, Oaxaca, or Asadero.
- Tomato paste: This helps to thicken the chili and adds a ton of flavor.
- Spices: chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, kosher salt, pepper. You can also add a teaspoon of ground red pepper for a kick of heat.
Recipe Variations
- Spicy kick: Add diced jalapeños, cayenne pepper, or a few dashes of hot sauce to the chili for a bold, spicy flavor.
- Tex-mex twist: Stir in black beans, corn, and taco seasoning, then top with pepper jack cheese for a delicious Tex-Mex spin.
- BBQ chili casserole: Replace some of the chili seasoning with BBQ sauce for a sweet and smoky twist.
- Meat lover’s version: Mix in crumbled bacon or spicy sausage for even more richness and flavor.
- Veggie-packed casserole: Add bell peppers, zucchini, or mushrooms to the chili to sneak in extra veggies.
- Cheese lover’s upgrade: Use a blend of cheddar, Monterey Jack, and mozzarella for an extra cheesy topping.
- Low-carb alternative: Swap the tater tots for cauliflower tots or a layer of roasted cauliflower for a lower-carb version.
How to Make Chili Cheese Tater Tot Casserole
- Drain any excess grease from the meat.
If you’re using ground beef with more than 15 percent fat, you’ll likely have some excess grease in the pan. Either carefully soak it up with paper toweling or drain it from the pan into a grease jar. - Cook the onion until just barely softened.
Raw onion is fantastic as a garnish on top of chili cheese tater tot casserole, but in the chili? Not so much. The hotdish will go into the oven for final baking, so it isn’t necessary to cook the onions completely through – just until they’re soft and translucent.
🎯 TFN Pro Tip
No oven-safe skillet? It’s not a problem! Just transfer the chili to a baking dish and continue with the recipe.
- Sprinkle the chili with cheese, and top with frozen shredded potato tots. Then, just bake it in the same skillet.
- Then, just 30 minutes later it’s ready to top with your favorite chili toppings.
Serving Suggestions
This tater tot chili casserole is hearty and satisfying enough to be served on its own as a one-skillet dinner, but pairing it with the right sides takes it to the next level. For a Tex-Mex-inspired meal, serve it with a side of cornbread recipe with Bisquick or our recipe for jalapeno cheddar biscuits, which perfectly complement the homemade chili flavors. If you want a lighter option, a kale salad with creamy dressing adds a refreshing contrast to the rich and cheesy casserole.
For even more variety, consider customizing the casserole with different proteins—swap ground beef for ground turkey or pork for a twist on the classic recipe. If you love extra cheesy goodness, sprinkle on additional shredded cheese just before serving. And if you have leftovers, try repurposing them into a chili dog topping or using them as a filling for loaded baked potatoes. No matter how you enjoy this chili casserole with tater tots, it’s a comforting dish that everyone will love!
Recipe FAQs
As with most any other frozen baked dish, chili cheese tater tot casserole reheats beautifully in the oven. Cover the pan with foil and reheat in a preheated 350°F. oven for 40-50 minutes, removing the foil after 30 minutes.
Left over beefy chili casserole keeps well for up to 3 to 4 days in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
You can easily prep ahead and keep the chili casserole unbaked in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Just make the recipe as shown in a casserole dish. Then, let cool and cover the dish before putting it in the fridge. When you are ready, bake it at 400° F for about 30 minutes.
Having a ready-made dinner in the freezer is a great idea. First, follow steps 2-4 and prepare the chili in the skillet. Then, add it to an aluminum pan, sprinkle on the cheese, and add the frozen tater tots. Let it cool completely. To store, wrap the casserole in aluminum foil and freeze it for up to 3 months.
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Tater Tot Chili Casserole
Equipment
- 10-inch cast iron skillet - or other medium-sized oven-safe skillet
- Casserole dish - (if you don't have an oven-safe skillet, transfer the casserole to a dish for baking)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1 pound lean ground beef we prefer grass-fed sirloin, with no more than 20% fat
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 6 ounces tomato paste
- 14 ounces canned diced tomatoes undrained
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 30 ounces frozen tater tots
optional (for a bit of heat)
- 1 teaspoon red cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF. If using a casserole dish, spray it with non-stick cooking oil and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onions and sauté, stirring occasionally until they are translucent.
- Add the ground beef, breaking it up with a hamburger chopper or wooden spoon over medium heat until it is no longer pink. Drain any excess fat from the pan.
- Add seasonings, tomato paste, and diced tomatoes, mixing together. If your skillet is oven-safe, continue on to the next step. Otherwise, add the mixture to a round or oblong casserole dish.
- Sprinkle the grated cheese evenly across the top. Then top the casserole with a layer of tater tots.
- Bake at 400ºF uncovered for 25-30 minutes until the tater tots are golden brown and the edges of the casserole are bubbly.
- Remove casserole from the oven and let cool at least 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with sour cream, sliced green onion, or parsley.
Kathleen says
This looks fabulous! I love that everything is cooked in the skillet which makes less to clean up. It’s a perfect weeknight meal.
dana says
This was delicious! Made it for a kid party last weekend and it was a hit! Had a lot of moms asking for the recipe 😉
Harriet Young says
The whole family loved this! So tasty and comforting. Thank you!
TAYLER ROSS says
I made this tater tot casserole for dinner last night and OMG was it delicious! The comfort food I’ve been craving!
Sky says
This was a huge hit with my family! The chili was fantastic, and the crispy tots sealed the deal. Thanks for sharing!