Description
A delicious and hearty Taco Tater Tot Casserole combining seasoned ground beef, corn, Rotel tomatoes, sour cream, and Colby Jack cheese, all topped with crispy tater tots and finished with a zesty Southwest Ranch dressing. Perfect for an easy weeknight meal with a flavorful Tex-Mex twist.
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
Spices and Seasonings
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp dried cilantro
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
Dairy
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese
Other
- Tater Tots or Crispy Crowns (about one bag, not fully used)
- 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 1 chopped onion until browned. Drain the grease once cooked.
- Season the Meat: Season the browned beef and onion mixture with 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp dried cilantro, 2 tsp chili powder, and 1/4 tsp cayenne. Stir well to incorporate all spices evenly.
You may substitute these spices for a taco seasoning packet if preferred. - Add Vegetables and Dairy: Add 1 can drained corn, 1 can Rotel (not drained), 1 cup sour cream, and about 1 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese to the seasoned meat mixture. Stir thoroughly until well combined.
- Layer with Cheese: Spread the mixture evenly in a casserole dish. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese on top of the mixture.
- Top with Tater Tots: Arrange tater tots or crispy crowns evenly over the cheese layer. Use about one bag but do not necessarily use the whole bag if it’s too much.
- Bake the Casserole: Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C). Bake the assembled casserole for 30-35 minutes or until the tater tots are golden brown and cooked through to your liking.
- Add Southwest Ranch: Remove from oven and top with Buffalo Wild Wing’s Southwest Ranch dressing before serving. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
- You can substitute the spice mix with a pre-made taco seasoning packet for convenience.
- Monitor tater tots during baking to ensure they reach your preferred level of crispiness.
- If you want to add extra veggies, diced bell peppers or jalapeños would complement well.
- This casserole can be prepared ahead of time and baked just before serving.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated in the oven for best texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of casserole
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 820 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
