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Home » Dinner » Slow Cooker Tater Tot Casserole

Slow Cooker Tater Tot Casserole

by Sarah Olson on May 17, 2020 75 Comments

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collage of photos of tater tot casserole for pinterest

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.

Cooked tater tot casserole in crockpot

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.
Cooked tater tot casserole in slow cooker with cheese on top.

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

Cooked tater tot casserole in slow cooker, metal spoon inside

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
tater tot casserole on white plate

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

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.

close up of tater tot casserole

Slow Cooker Tater Tot Casserole

4.93 from 26 votes
Tater tots and a hearty meat mixture cooked in the crock pot for a comforting and classic meal.
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: slow cooker tater tot casserole
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 hours
Total Time: 5 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 507kcal
Author: Sarah Olson

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)
  • 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
US Customary – Metric

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!

How to Video:

Recipe Notes:

Can I cook this on the high setting?
I recommend the low setting for thicker, less liquidy dishes like this for they can tend to burn on the high setting.

Nutrition:

Calories: 507kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 1299mg | Potassium: 861mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1017IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 287mg | Iron: 4mg
Made this recipe?I want to see your photos! Tag me on Instagram @themagicalslowcooker
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    Filed Under: Beef, Dinner, Ground Beef Tagged With: comfort food, Crock pot, slow cooker, tater tots

    Comments

    1. Anna M Wilbur says

      June 4, 2020 at 10:02 am

      4 stars
      Very good. I substituted to other veggies and even forward recipe to a friend.

      Reply
    2. Andrea K. Chellberg says

      May 29, 2020 at 12:53 pm

      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.

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        May 29, 2020 at 1:10 pm

        No, the same amount of cook time should do since the meat will be browned already.

        Reply
    3. Marianne says

      May 11, 2020 at 9:40 am

      4 stars
      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!!

      Reply
    4. Snikerdudl says

      May 4, 2020 at 8:15 pm

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
    5. Gina says

      April 26, 2020 at 11:06 pm

      Can I use hash brown patties instead of tater tots? Been making so many of your recipes lately btw….LOVE them all!!!

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        April 27, 2020 at 9:09 am

        I think they would work fine since they are very similar to tots!

        Reply
        • Gina says

          April 27, 2020 at 9:49 pm

          Perfect! Thank You!

          Reply
    6. Shelly in Sunny San Diego says

      December 2, 2019 at 8:57 pm

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
      • Valerie says

        March 13, 2020 at 6:26 am

        Can I use fresh green beans and if so does that change the cook time at all

        Reply
    7. Hanneke says

      December 2, 2019 at 8:34 am

      This looks absolutely delish, what would be the Dutch equivalant of tater tots?

      Reply
      • Janett says

        December 2, 2019 at 9:37 am

        Maybe use shredded hash browns?

        Reply
      • Heidi says

        December 27, 2019 at 11:57 am

        Kleine Kartoffelpuffer.

        Reply
    8. Ari says

      November 12, 2019 at 8:50 pm

      Can I use corn instead of green beans?

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        November 12, 2019 at 9:22 pm

        Yes! Will be great.

        Reply
    9. STUART MORTON says

      November 8, 2019 at 6:49 am

      5 stars
      Very simple to make, but so delicious.

      Reply
    10. Richard says

      October 1, 2019 at 12:45 pm

      Can I use condensed cream of mushroom soup

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        October 1, 2019 at 12:49 pm

        Yes, that is the same as I used.

        Reply
    11. Danielle says

      September 20, 2019 at 5:34 am

      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!!

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        September 20, 2019 at 7:19 pm

        I have done thawed hashbrowns before in another recipe, works fine. https://www.themagicalslowcooker.com/lightened-up-slow-cooker-tater-casserole/

        Reply
    12. Tiffany says

      August 2, 2019 at 8:00 pm

      Do the tater tots get crispy on the bottom?

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        August 2, 2019 at 8:12 pm

        Around the edges some. But not much.

        Reply
    13. Victoria L Roberts says

      July 12, 2019 at 11:21 am

      Love your recepies, so does my famiy. so easy to make

      Reply
    14. JOANNA says

      July 11, 2019 at 12:42 pm

      Can I use fresh green beans?

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        July 11, 2019 at 12:54 pm

        Yes! I did for the video that is posted, worked great. A small bag of frozen.

        Reply
        • Kelli P says

          March 16, 2020 at 11:15 am

          5 stars
          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

          Reply
    15. Lynn says

      April 22, 2019 at 7:22 am

      I have it in the crockpot now. So delicious!

      Reply
    16. Eric Drake says

      March 22, 2019 at 10:18 am

      I made this recipe today, and it taste different from the oven method. Both versions are delicious! Thanks

      Reply
    17. Krissy says

      February 5, 2019 at 8:24 pm

      Can I use a 4 quart crock pot that’s all I have?

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        February 6, 2019 at 6:55 am

        If it’s fits it should be fine.

        Reply
    18. Stacey says

      February 2, 2019 at 2:35 pm

      Do you thaw the tater tots, or leave them frozen?

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        February 2, 2019 at 3:17 pm

        I leave them frozen.

        Reply
    19. QUINN Q MATHIS says

      December 3, 2018 at 2:06 pm

      Can you cook on high for less time

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        December 3, 2018 at 5:19 pm

        Yes, I think it would work fine!

        Reply
    20. Tracie says

      September 3, 2018 at 1:49 pm

      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.

      Reply
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