Taco Tater Tot Casserole

My Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole is one of the most popular recipes on my site…of all time. And I get why. It is super cozy, comforting and delicious. But why only have all of that deliciousness at breakfast when we can make a dinner version too?! And that is where this Taco Tater Tot Casserole was born from. It is such a great weeknight dinner. And I mean, who can say no to tots?

Here’s what you need

Ingredients

• avocado oil
• red bell pepper
• green bell pepper
• yellow onion
• jalapeño
• vegan beef crumbles – see the recipe notes for other options
• taco seasoning
• salsa verde
• vegan cream cheese – I used Kite Hill
• frozen tater tots
• cilantro

Equipment

• cast iron skillet or a regular skillet AND a baking dish.

Steps

Step 1: Make the Filling

The taco filling is really easy. You just need to dice a few veggies and cook them down. We’re talking less than 15 minutes of prep.

Heat the oil in a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add the bell peppers, onion, jalapeño, beef crumbles & taco seasoning and cook down for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.

Add the salsa verde & cream cheese and mix to combine. Give it a taste to see if you want to add any extra salt or taco seasoning.

Step 2: Add the Tots

Take the skillet off the heat and grab your tots – no need to thaw the tots, they can cook from frozen.

Arrange the tots around the skillet so the entire filling is covered. This step is weirdly relaxing…just get in the tot zone.

Pop the whole thing in the oven for 30 minutes. At the end the tots should be crispy and the filling should be bubbly!

Step 3: Serve

I like to let the casserole rest for 10 minutes when it comes out of the oven. This will allow the filling to firm up slightly and make it easier to cut.

Finish off the casserole with another drizzle of salsa verde and a sprinkle of cilantro.

Spoon some of the filling and tots onto plates and dig in! This casserole is the epitome of comfort food! You, your friends, your family, your kids…they’re all going to love this one.

Tips & Tricks

I used vegan beef crumbles from Trader Joe’s. You could also sub a can of beans or use cooked lentils.

If you don’t have a cast iron skillet you can cook the filling in a regular skillet and then transfer it to a greased baking dish before adding the tots.

Feel free to get creative with the toppings! Some other options are avocado, vegan sour cream, hot sauce.