Description
Kickin’ Creole Tater Tot Casserole is a flavorful and comforting one-dish meal featuring seasoned ground chuck mixed with onion, Creole spices, mushroom soup, diced tomatoes with green chilies, and topped with crispy tater tots and melted pepper jack cheese. This easy-to-make casserole combines bold Creole flavors with creamy and cheesy textures, baked to golden perfection, making it a perfect family dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Mixture
- 1 pound ground chuck
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Tony Chachere’s Original Creole Seasoning, plus more for topping
Other Ingredients
- 2 (10.5-ounce) cans cream of mushroom soup
- 1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes and green chilies, drained
- 2 cups shredded pepper jack cheese
- 3 to 4 cups frozen onion tater tots
Instructions
- Prepare and brown meat: Preheat your oven to 375°F and lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground chuck and chopped onion together, breaking the meat apart as it cooks. Once browned and the onions are translucent, drain off any excess fat from the skillet.
- Combine seasonings and heat through: Return the drained meat and onions to low heat in the skillet. Add ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, Tony Chachere’s Original Creole Seasoning, cream of mushroom soup, and the drained diced tomatoes and green chilies. Stir thoroughly until all ingredients are well combined and the mixture is heated through. Then spread this mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the shredded pepper jack cheese evenly over the top of the meat mixture.
- Add tater tots and season: Cover the top of the casserole evenly with the frozen onion tater tots. To add an extra kick of Creole flavor, sprinkle a little more Tony Chachere’s Original Creole Seasoning over the top of the tater tots.
- Bake until golden and heated through: Place the casserole uncovered in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until the tater tots are browned, crispy on the edges, and the casserole is heated through. If you prefer crispier tots, you can finish it off with a few minutes under the broiler—just keep a close watch to prevent burning. Remove from oven and let rest briefly before serving.
Notes
- Use ground chuck for the best flavor and fat content, but lean ground beef can be substituted for a lower-fat option.
- If you like more heat, add extra Tony Chachere’s seasoning or include chopped jalapeños.
- The casserole can be assembled in advance and refrigerated before baking; add a few extra minutes to baking time if baking straight from the fridge.
- For a gluten-free version, ensure the cream of mushroom soup is gluten-free and verify that all processed ingredients meet gluten-free standards.
- Leftovers store well in the fridge for up to 3 days and can be reheated in the oven or microwave.
