Description
A delicious and hearty Taco Tater Tot Casserole combining seasoned ground beef, creamy sour cream, melty Colby Jack cheese, corn, and zesty Rotel tomatoes, all topped with crispy tater tots and finished with tangy Southwest Ranch dressing for a crowd-pleasing comfort meal.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 chopped onion
- 1 can corn, drained
- 1 can Rotel Diced Tomatoes & Green Chiles, not drained
Seasonings and Dairy
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp dried cilantro
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese (divided into 1 cup for mixing and 1 cup for topping)
Other
- Tater Tots or Crispy Crowns (about half a standard bag)
- Buffalo Wild Wing’s Southwest Ranch dressing for topping
Instructions
- Brown the beef: In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook 1 lb ground beef with the chopped onion until the meat is browned and the onion is softened. Drain off any excess grease.
- Season the meat: Add salt, pepper, cumin, dried cilantro, chili powder, and cayenne pepper to the browned beef and onions. Stir well to evenly coat the mixture. Alternatively, you can use a taco seasoning packet instead of the individual spices.
- Add remaining ingredients: Stir in the drained corn, the entire can of Rotel (including its juices), 1 cup of sour cream, and 1 cup of shredded Colby Jack cheese until everything is well combined.
- Assemble casserole: Transfer the beef mixture into a casserole dish. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded Colby Jack cheese evenly over the top.
- Top with tater tots: Arrange tater tots or crispy crowns on top of the cheese layer. Use about half of a standard bag, or arrange to your liking for coverage.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Bake the casserole for 30-35 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown and cooked through.
- Serve: Remove from oven and drizzle with Buffalo Wild Wing’s Southwest Ranch dressing. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
- You can substitute the spice mix with a store-bought taco seasoning packet for convenience.
- Adjust the amount of cayenne pepper for desired heat level.
- Use either tater tots or crispy crowns based on your preference for topping texture.
- If you prefer a crispier topping, broil for an extra 2-3 minutes after baking.
- Buffalo Wild Wing’s Southwest Ranch adds a tangy kick, but feel free to use any ranch or dressing of choice.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat in the oven for best texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of casserole
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
