Fat Boy Casserole

Fat Boy Casserole–an easy, hearty tater tot casserole made with seasoned ground beef, a creamy sauce, and melted cheddar cheese. A classic dish and one satisfying family dinner.

Fat Boy Casserole

This tater tot casserole was a little different than some I’ve tried in the past. The secret is in the pre-cooking of the tater tots, which gives them a head start on crispiness before they meet the moisture of the beef and sour cream mixture. I used my air fryer for that step but you can totally do this step in the oven if you don’t have an air fryer. The mashed tot layer on the bottom creates a stable, almost hash-brown-like foundation, while the whole tots on top stay crispy and golden. It was quickly devoured by Skyler and me on a fast Sunday dinner. I loved a little ketchup on top of my piece. Try adding in some mixed veggies if you want some extra nutrition. (Recipe adapted from Fat Boy Tater Tot® Casserole on www.bestnaturalbbq.com).

Ingredients/Substitution Ideas

• Tater tot crowns–or regular tater tots. I like Ore-Ida brand best. The crispy crowns work well for this casserole.
• Lean ground beef–or ground turkey
• Onion–or shallot
• Worcestershire sauce–or steak sauce
• Steak seasoning–I like Montreal steak seasoning
• Garlic powder
• Black pepper
• Sour cream–or cream of mushroom soup
• Milk–or half and half
• Shredded cheddar cheese–or Colby Jack or a cheddar blend

Steps

Air fry tater tots at 400° F for 8 minutes or bake them in the oven at 425° for 12 minutes. Set aside.

Heat oven to 425°.

Heat a pan over medium high heat. Add in the ground beef and break it up. Add in the onion. Brown for about 5 minutes. Drain off excess grease. Stir in the 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce, steak seasoning, garlic powder and black pepper. Turn off heat and set aside.

Stir sour cream together with milk and 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce. 

In a 9×13 inch pan spread out half of the tots and mash them down with a fork.

Then spread the ground beef over the top.

Drizzle the sour cream mixture over the top of the beef.

Top with remaining tots and sprinkle cheddar over the top. 

Bake for 25 minutes. 

Serve and enjoy!

Notes/Tips

• Serve with steamed green beans or a green salad. I liked a little ketchup on my slice.
• I halved the recipe and made it in a 8×8 inch dish.
• This recipe can be gluten free if you use gluten free Worcestershire sauce and gluten free tater tots.
• For extra cheesy goodness, add 1/2 cup of cheese to the sour cream mixture before drizzling it over the beef.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container* in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. I like this casserole best the first day when the tots are crispy.
• Other recipes you can make with steak seasoning are Instant Pot Marinated Pork Chops and Instant Pot Poor Man’s Dinner.

Did you know you can filter the recipes on my website to search by meat type, IP or Crockpot, low carb, gluten free, etc.? Use the filter to find exactly what you are looking for. 

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More ground beef casseroles…

*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.