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Chili Cheese Tater Tot Casserole

A comforting and hearty casserole combining seasoned ground beef, zesty chili, gooey cheese, and crispy tater tots, perfect for family dinners and gatherings.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Casserole, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Meat and beans
  • 1 lb ground beef (or turkey) Use ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option.
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (15 oz) chili beans in sauce
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
Spices
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
Toppings
  • 1 package (32 oz) frozen tater tots Spread evenly on top of the mixture.
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese Feel free to experiment with different cheese types.
  • Optional: sour cream and chopped green onions for serving

Method
 

Preparation
  1. In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef with the chopped onion and minced garlic until the meat is no longer pink and the onions are translucent. Drain excess fat.
  2. In your Crock Pot, add the cooked beef mixture, kidney beans, chili beans, diced tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir thoroughly.
Cooking
  1. Spread the frozen tater tots evenly on top of the mixture in the Crock Pot.
  2. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over the tater tots.
  3. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, until the tater tots are crispy.
Serving
  1. Serve hot with optional sour cream and chopped green onions for garnish.

Notes

This casserole can be assembled the night before and stored in the refrigerator. For a spicy kick, add jalapeños or hot sauce.