Want a recipe for the BEST tater tot casserole? Try my easy slow cooker version and you will love the hearty layers of this dish.
What’s your favorite comfort food? Mine is definitely tater tot casserole! Another version I have on the blog is my John Wayne Casserole, it’s a southwestern version of this.
How to make Tater Tot Casserole in the slow cooker:
- Brown hamburger and onion in a skillet and drain the fat.
- Add cream of mushroom soup, milk, salt and pepper to the beef. Stir. Set aside.
- Add half a bag of frozen tater tots to the bottom of the slow cooker and then add green beans, then the rest of the tots.
- Pour over the meat mixture and spread out to an even layer.
- Cover and cook on low for 5 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
What are tater tots?
If you are in the United States you are probably familiar with what tater tots are, but other regions have asked me many questions about tater tots.
- Tater tots are a potato product that is crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. They are made from grated potato that is shredded and formed into a cylinder shape and deep fried.
- In the UK tater tots may be called Potato Crunchies or Mini Hashbrowns.
- In Canada, you may find them labeled as Spud puppies or Tasti Taters.
- In Australia or New Zeland, they may be called Potato Gems or Potato Royals.
How can I make this healthier?
One my blog I have a version of this made with hash browns (not fried) and that really lightens up the recipe. You can find that recipe here: Slow Cooker Lightened Up Tater Tot Casserole
Can I use frozen or fresh green beans instead of canned?
- We prefer canned green beans in our house but this recipe is adaptable and fresh or frozen green bean work fine, the slow cooker will cook them perfectly.
- Use 2-3 cups of fresh or frozen in place of the canned in this recipe.
More great tater tot recipes:
- Breakfast Tater Tot Casserole – Recipe by The Country Cook
- Chili Tater Tot Casserole – Recipe by Crazy for Crust
- Tater Tot Nachos – Recipe by Family Fresh Meals
- Cheesy Tater Tot and Steak Breakfast Burritos – Recipe by Kitchen Divas
- Loaded Tater Tot Dip – Recipe by Averie Cooks
The flavors all come together after slow cooking. Try this recipe out this week and leave a comment on what you thought. Enjoy!
Other slow cooker ground beef recipes you’ll love:
- Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce
- Slow Cooker Salisbury Sauce
- Slow Cooker Bacon Cheeseburger Dip
- Slow Cooker Six Layer Dinner
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Slow Cooker Tater Tot Casserole
Equipment Needed:
- Slow Cooker- 6 quart or larger
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 small onion diced
- 21 oz. cream of mushroom soup (two 10.5 oz. cans)
- ½ cup milk
- ¼ tsp. salt
- ¼ tsp. pepper
- 32 oz. bag tater tots
- 29 oz. green beans (two 14.5 oz. cans, drained) or 2-3 cups fresh or frozen
- 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
Instructions:
- In a large skillet set over medium high heat add the ground beef and onion. Cook until the beef is brown. Drain fat. Add the cream of mushroom soup, milk, salt and pepper to the beef. Stir. Set aside.
- Add half of the tater tots to the slow cooker, spread them out to an even layer. Add the green beans next. Then the rest of the tater tots. Pour over the beef mixture. Spinkle over the cheese.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 5 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time. Serve and enjoy!
Can I make this with more hamburger? I usually like to atleast double a recipe since I have a bigger family and we love leftovers. I’m wondering if using 2.60 lbs of meat will alter the cook time.
No, the same amount of cook time should do since the meat will be browned already.
I added green onions & a can of Del Monte Southwest corn. I can imagine you could substitute O’Brien potatoes or standard hash browns as the tater tots break down anyway. Next time I’ll add green chilies also. Very tasty & super easy!!
Love this recipe. I’ve used a mix of soups like cr of mushroom & cr of chicken. Haven’t found a bad mix yet. I add 3 or 4 cans of different types of vegetables. Makes the meal go further and everyone eats their vegetables. Next soup mix to try is cr of bacon & cr of chicken. Cr of chicken & cr of onion are really good together.
Can I use hash brown patties instead of tater tots? Been making so many of your recipes lately btw….LOVE them all!!!
I think they would work fine since they are very similar to tots!
Perfect! Thank You!
Oh yes yummy tater tot CASSEROLE for the slow cooker! Thank you so much! This recipe will be seen frequently on our meal plan! I switch up the meat between turkey, beef, chicken and pork.
Can I use fresh green beans and if so does that change the cook time at all
This looks absolutely delish, what would be the Dutch equivalant of tater tots?
Maybe use shredded hash browns?
Kleine Kartoffelpuffer.
Can I use corn instead of green beans?
Yes! Will be great.
Very simple to make, but so delicious.
Can I use condensed cream of mushroom soup
Yes, that is the same as I used.
Any idea of I can use the frozen shredded hash browns instead of tater tots? Just found your site and have the Crack Chicken in the crockpot right now!!
I have done thawed hashbrowns before in another recipe, works fine. https://www.themagicalslowcooker.com/lightened-up-slow-cooker-tater-casserole/
Do the tater tots get crispy on the bottom?
Around the edges some. But not much.
Love your recepies, so does my famiy. so easy to make
Can I use fresh green beans?
Yes! I did for the video that is posted, worked great. A small bag of frozen.
My boyfriend loves any form of Tater tot casserole. This is my favorite way to do it. I usually end up adding corn as well as green beans (both canned). Gonna make it tonight with a few changes one was by accident though, so I added a can of peas and only one can of cream of mushroom soup (that was the accident) but I’m still so excited for dinner
I have it in the crockpot now. So delicious!
I made this recipe today, and it taste different from the oven method. Both versions are delicious! Thanks
Can I use a 4 quart crock pot that’s all I have?
If it’s fits it should be fine.
Do you thaw the tater tots, or leave them frozen?
I leave them frozen.
Can you cook on high for less time
Yes, I think it would work fine!
I like to add hash browns with cream of cheese soups. I have a family member who doesnt like mushrooms. I dont add the veggies i cook those as a side.