Tater Tot Chili Casserole

4.89 from 9 votes

Skillet tater tot chili casserole is a must-make dish! Packed with cheddar cheese, crispy tots, and hearty chili, this one-pan meal is pure comfort food!

Prep Time10

Cook Time25

cooling time5

Total Time40

Course: Entree

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Casserole, tater tots, tater tot casserole, chili, chili tater tot casserole

Servings:

Calories: 570kcal

Author: Renae Gerhardstein

Equipment

10-inch cast iron skillet or other medium-sized oven-safe skillet
9" 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.

Notes

No oven-safe skillet? It's not a problem! Just transfer the chili to a baking dish and continue with the recipe.

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.

Storing Instructions:

To store, wrap the casserole in aluminum foil and freeze it for up to 3 months.
Leftover beefy chili casserole keeps well for up to 3 to 4 days in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
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.

Make Ahead Instructions:

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.

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