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. Or try my Chicken Tater Tot Casserole.
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 the meat mixture over the tots 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 Hamburger Potato Casserole
- Slow Cooker Salisbury Sauce
- Slow Cooker Bacon Cheeseburger Dip
- Slow Cooker Six Layer Dinner
Want to make more magic in your crockpot? Stay up to date and subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube.
Slow Cooker Tater Tot Casserole
Equipment Needed:
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 small onion diced
- 21 oz. cream of mushroom soup (two 10.5 oz. cans)
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1/4 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 the meat mixture over and spread out. Spinkle over the cheese.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 5 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time. Serve and enjoy!
How to Video:
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
I made this recipe for the first time last Sunday and it was delicious! It even pleased my picky little ones. We’re vegetarians so we used vegetarian ground, vegetarian Worcestershire sauce and added a can of black beans. Thanks!
I used cream of bacon soup and ranch dip instead of milk. Vadellia onion.
All yummy.
I used to make this in the oven all the time. I recently got a slow cooker and found your recipe so I knew this was what I’d make first. It turned out really good, better than the oven way I think!
I did substitute the cream of mushroom for cream of chicken and the diced onion for onion powder, however. Probably tastes close enough either way.
Pour over the beef mixture…. SO pour the beef mixture over it? What i the hell?
Look at the steps before it? Everything goes into the slow cooker. It’s a very simple recipe; you add a layer of tots, the green beans, a layer of tots, then the beef mixture.
Can you use cream of chicken or cream of cheddar instead of cream of mushroom?
Yes, that will work well.
Trying this for the time. Treating all my coworkers tomorrow.Put it all together but not cooking till I get to work tomorrow..
Do you thaw the tater tots before putting in the crockpot?
No, you do not need to thaw.
Try Campbell’s chicken gumbo soup in lue of cream of mushroom. Gives a great flavor.
This looks yummy! Do the tater tots get crispy in the crock pot? Would much rather make it this way than in the oven. 🙂
They do not get crispy. They fall apart into little bits but taste like bits of hash browns. We love it.
I cook the taters in the oven for a few before adding to the crock pot gives it a little bit of a crisp
I Love this and have made it twice already. Hoping to find out if I could use fresh sliced potatoes instead of I don’t have tater tots??
Yes! You’ll have to test it out with the timing though.
I’ve never combined tater tots with green beans so I wasn’t sure about this recipe. Glad I tried it! I made it exactly as written with the exception of adding about 1/4 cup of packaged real bacon pieces on top of the green beans. My husband loves anything with bacon! It is a real family winner! So creamy and delicious. Of course I added extra cheese too! For those on a budget this is keeper. Thanks so much for sharing!
Has anyone tried using cauliflower tots instead of regular tots?