Description
This Crispy Tot Chili Casserole is a comforting and delicious family-friendly dish featuring a flavorful chili base topped with crispy tater tots and melted cheddar cheese. Easy to prepare and perfect for a hearty weeknight dinner, it combines savory ground meat, beans, and spices baked to perfection for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chili Mixture
- 1 pound ground beef or turkey
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (15-ounce) can chili beans with sauce
- 1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Topping
- 1 (28-ounce) bag frozen tater tots
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- Chopped green onions, for topping (optional)
- Sour cream, for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and cook the chili base: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef or turkey along with the diced onion and minced garlic until the meat is fully browned and the onion softens, about 6 to 8 minutes. Drain off any excess grease to keep the chili from becoming too oily.
- Combine chili ingredients and simmer: Stir in the chili beans with sauce, drained diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, salt, and black pepper into the cooked meat mixture. Allow the chili to simmer gently for 5 to 7 minutes to let the flavors meld together.
- Assemble the casserole: Transfer the prepared chili mixture to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, spreading it evenly. Arrange the frozen tater tots evenly over the top of the chili layer, ensuring full coverage.
- Bake the casserole: Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy on top.
- Add cheese and finish baking: Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the crispy tots. Return the dish to the oven and bake for an additional 5 to 7 minutes, until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
- Rest and serve: Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with optional chopped green onions and a dollop of sour cream if desired. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- You can use leftover chili instead of making chili from scratch to save time.
- For extra heat, add diced jalapeños or a few dashes of hot sauce when simmering the chili.
- To make this dish gluten-free, ensure all canned ingredients are gluten-free and avoid cross-contamination.
- Ground turkey is a great alternative to reduce fat while keeping the dish flavorful.
