Description
Loaded Tater Tot Nacho Casserole is a deliciously indulgent layered dish featuring crispy baked tater tots, seasoned ground beef, sautéed peppers and onions, crispy bacon, and melty cheddar and mozzarella cheeses. Perfect for a crowd-pleasing appetizer or hearty main course, this casserole brings all the classic nacho components together in an easy cast-iron skillet bake that's sure to satisfy your comfort food cravings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 Bag (2 lbs) Frozen Tater Tots
- 1 Pound Lean 90/10 Ground Beef
- 1 Medium Sweet Onion, diced
- 6 Mini Sweet Peppers or 1 large bell pepper, diced
- 6 Strips Center Cut Bacon, sliced
- 1/4 Cup Salsa
- 4 tsp Taco Seasoning
- 56g (1/2 Cup) Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- 28g (1/4 Cup) Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
Toppings
- Hot Sauce, to taste
- Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat and Bake Tater Tots: Spread the frozen tater tots evenly on a baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes until crispy and golden.
- Cook Bacon: While tots bake, slice bacon into smaller pieces and cook over medium heat in a pan until crispy. Remove bacon and place on paper towels to drain excess grease. Wipe out excess grease from pan leaving a small amount for cooking vegetables.
- Sauté Vegetables: Add diced peppers and onions to the pan with remaining bacon grease. Lightly season with salt and pepper and cook for about 1 minute until slightly softened.
- Cook Ground Beef: Add ground beef to sautéed vegetables. Break up the meat with a spatula and cook until browned with a slight pink remaining.
- Season Beef Mixture: Stir in taco seasoning and salsa. Continue cooking for about 5 minutes until beef is fully cooked through and flavors meld. Remove from heat.
- Assemble Casserole Layers: Spray a 10.5-inch cast iron skillet with nonstick spray. Layer half of the baked tater tots on the bottom. Spread half the beef mixture evenly over the tots, then sprinkle with 1/4 cup shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheeses along with some hot sauce if desired.
- Add Second Layer: Carefully arrange the remaining tater tots on top to form a solid layer. Spread the remaining beef mixture over the tots, top with cooked bacon pieces, then sprinkle the last 1/4 cup of cheddar cheese evenly on top.
- Bake to Melt Cheeses: Place the skillet in the preheated oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes to allow cheeses to fully melt and flavors to combine.
- Cool and Serve: Remove casserole from oven and let cool for 5–10 minutes. Add toppings such as sour cream or Greek yogurt, lettuce, or extra hot sauce. Scoop out portions and enjoy while warm.
Notes
- Use a deep cast iron skillet for easy layering and even cooking. Alternative bakeware such as a baking sheet, cake pan, or small baking dish can also be used.
- This recipe is flexible—add your favorite nacho toppings or ingredients to customize your casserole.
- Since all components are pre-cooked, you can assemble portions in bowls and serve immediately without extra baking if desired.
- For a crispy alternative, try cooking the loaded tater tots in an air fryer as suggested by With the Woodruffs.
- This dish is indulgent and best enjoyed as a treat or party food rather than a health-focused meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg
