Slow Cooker Tater Tot Casserole
118 Comments Nov 25, 2022
Updated Jun 27, 2024
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Want a recipe for the BEST tater tot casserole? Try my easy slow cooker tater tot casserole made with green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and cheddar cheese. You will absolutely 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, or Shepherd’s Pie Tater Tot Casserole.
Table of Contents
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 Zealand, they may be called Potato Gems or Potato Royals.
Regardless of where you’re from or what you call them, they are absolutely delicious and the highlight of any tater tot casserole recipe.
Recipe Ingredients
- Ground Beef: Go for a leaner beef if you want less fat content.
- Tater Tots: All you need is a bag of frozen tater tots.
- Green Beans: Adds a hearty touch to the casserole.
- Cheddar Cheese: Shredded and sprinkled on top for a cheesy finish.
- Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup: Provides a creamy and tasty texture to the dish.
- Milk: Added with the mushroom soup to thin out the sauce.
- Seasonings: Salt and pepper add the perfect amount of flavor.
- Onion: A small diced onion is added for enhanced flavor and heartiness.
Step-by-Step Directions
Step One – Brown ground beef and onion in a skillet and drain the fat.
Step Two – Add cream of mushroom soup, milk, salt and pepper to the beef. Stir. Set aside.
Step Three – Add half a bag of frozen tater tots to the bottom of the slow cooker.
Step Four – Then add green beans.
Step Five – Now add the remaining tater tots.
Step Six – Pour the ground beef mixture over the tots and spread out to an even layer. Sprinkle over the cheese. Cover and cook on low for 5 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
How can I make this healthier?
On 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.
How to serve
- This easy tater tot casserole is served perfectly as is. Simply scoop a nice helping into a bowl and enjoy.
- Crock pot tater tot casserole can be topped with extra cheese, chives, and/or sliced green onion. We are guilty of topping ours with ketchup! It’s so good.
- Roasted veggies, green salad, and roasted asparagus also taste amazing with this dish.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, though you will find the texture is great. The potatoes break down into little bits, creating a wonderful texture to the casserole. If you are on the fence about trying this, just try it once; it’s one of the best meals you will make in the slow cooker.
We often use canned green beans in our house, but this recipe is adaptable, and fresh or frozen green beans 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.
Although this recipe calls for cream of mushroom soup, you can also use cream of chicken soup or cream of cheddar soup.
Ground chicken and ground turkey are great substitutions and taste just as delicious.
Any remaining casserole can be stored in an airtight container and kept in the fridge for up to 4 days.
The flavors all come together after slow cooking. Try this recipe out this week and leave a comment on what you thought. Enjoy!
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Slow Cooker Tater Tot Casserole
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 frozen 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
Sarah’s Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
More great tater tot recipes:
- Breakfast Tater Tot Casserole (slow cooker). Or this oven breakfast tater tot casserole.
- Slow Cooker Bacon Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole
- 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
Hi!
Can I omit the milk?
You may want to add some broth so it won’t be too thick.
Can you freeze leftovers?
I don’t see why not!
Can I not brown the beef? Just put raw meat into the slow cooker
Not for this recipe, it would turn out like meatloaf and make the dish watery.
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.
Could you make this recipe in the oven if so what temp and how long?
Hi Liz, you can do it in the oven. You’ll have to find a similar recipe on google for I do not test the times in the oven for my recipes, I apologize.
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.