Mexican Tater Tot Casserole Easy Recipe

Mexican Tater Tot Casserole is a delicious and budget-friendly dinner that’s perfect for any day. A baked casserole featuring ground beef, canned soup, and a blend of cheeses, topped with crispy tater tots, is a classic comfort food. If you like Tater Tot casserole, try it in a Mexican style for a perfect way to change things up. Everyone loves tater tots and Mexican food, so why not combine the two? This recipe is ideal for those busy weeknights when you want something quick that satisfies the whole family without spending extra time in the kitchen.

Mexican tater tot casserole on two plates.

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Tater Tot Mexican Casserole

If you like Tater Tot casserole, try it Mexican style – it’s the perfect way to change it up. And, if you are a fan of meals that you can throw together quickly and satisfy the whole family, this casserole is for you.

Moreover, everyone loves tater tots and Mexican food, so why not combine the two? It’s the best tater tot casserole for any time you have a craving for some Mexican comfort food.

Why You Should Try This Recipe for Mexican Tater Tots

This Mexican-style casserole derives much of its flavor from blended Mexican cheeses, creating a dish that hits the spot, perfect for cold days. It’s a budget-friendly recipe that stretches a pound of ground beef to feed your entire family. The combination of cream soups creates a rich, creamy base, while the tater tots provide the perfect crispy topping that makes this dish especially fun for kids. Using ingredients you likely already have on hand makes this a convenient weeknight solution.

Mexican Casserole With Tater Tots – Ingredients You Need

This delicious Tater Tot casserole gets much of its flavor from blended Mexican cheeses. It’s a flavorful, hits-the-spot dish that’s perfect for cold days and uses some ingredients that you most likely already have, namely:

For the Meat Base:

  • Ground beef – Provides hearty protein foundation and classic comfort food flavor
  • Cream of mushroom soup – Creates a rich, creamy base with earthy depth
  • Cream of chicken soup – Adds additional creaminess and savory chicken flavor

For the Cheese Component:

  • Mexican blend cheese – Combination of Monterey Jack, Cheddar, asadero, and queso quesadilla for authentic flavor

For the Crispy Topping:

  • Tater tots – Provides a signature crispy, golden topping that defines this comfort food dish

Note: Mexican blend cheese is a combination of four cheeses – Monterey Jack, Cheddar, asadero, and queso quesadilla.

Mexican tater tot casserole ingredients on a tray.

How to Make Mexican Tater Tot Casserole

There’s nothing complicated about making this Mexican-flavored dish. Here, in brief, is what you do:

  1. Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat. Drain the ground beef. 
browned ground beef in a pan.
  1. Mix the two soups and the cheese and stir in the meat. 
Mexican tater tot cheese and soup mixture in a bowl.
  1. Place the mixture in a casserole dish and layer Tater Tots on top. 
Mexican tater tot casserole before baking.
  1. Bake at 350°F until golden brown.

Tip: Be sure to drain the browned beef well, so the Tots don’t soak up the extra liquid. Also, sticking them under the broiler at the end of the cooking time helps to crisp them up.

Mexican tater tot casserole serving on a plate.

Recipe Variations

This recipe for Mexican Tater Tots is highly customizable, allowing you to use up any odds and ends of leftovers. Here are some ideas for variations:

  • Chicken Tater Tot casserole or turkey Tater Tot casserole: If you’re not a beef fan, you can substitute ground chicken or turkey.
  • Pork Tater Tot casserole: Ground pork would also be a delicious addition.
  • Cook the ground meat with onions and peppers.
  • Add chorizo or bacon.
  • Spice it up. Add taco seasoning or chili powder to the ground beef.
  • Substitute the Mexican blend cheese with cheddar cheese.
  • For a spicier casserole, include some diced jalapeno peppers or a can of green chiles.
  • Add beans. Black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, or even garbanzo beans are great ones to use.
  • Add corn and black beans for an extra boost of protein and fiber.
  • For an extra Mexican cheesy ground beef casserole, swap the cream of mushroom soup for Campbell’s Nacho Cheese Soup.
  • For a vegetarian option, substitute beefless crumbles, or replace the meat with your favorite beans.

What to Serve With Mexican Tater Tot Casserole

Serve this Mexican ground beef casserole with tater tots and a simple salad on the side, and you’ve got a straightforward and delicious weeknight meal.

You can also pair it with a side dish of sautéed, roasted, or grilled vegetables. Roasted potatoes

Top with a generous dollop of sour cream, along with fresh cilantro, olives, and tomato.

Serve it with guacamole and/or corn salsa.

Storage & Reheating Instructions

  • Refrigerator Storage: Store leftovers in a sealed container for up to 2 days. Cover tightly to maintain moisture.
  • Reheating Method: Microwave individual portions for 1-2 minutes until heated through. For larger portions, reheat in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes.
  • Freezing: Freeze tightly covered for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. Add 5-10 minutes to baking time if reheating from frozen.
overhead view of Mexican tater tot casserole on two square plates.

Favorite Main Dish Casserole Recipes

Check out more of my easy casserole recipes and the best Mexican recipes on CopyKat!

Thanks to viewer Wendy Hodge for this tater tots recipe.

Mexican tater tot casserole on two plates.

Mexican Tater Tot Casserole Easy Recipe

Make delicious Mexican Tater Tot Casserole with ground beef, cheese, cream soups, and crispy tots. Perfect budget-friendly family dinner!
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate Add to Collection
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Tater Tot Casserole
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 478kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 can cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 can cream of chicken soup
  • 8 ounces Mexican blend cheese finely grated, not thick sliced
  • 28 ounces tater tots

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat. Drain the meat.
  • In a large bowl, combine the cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, and the cheese. Stir the ground beef into the mixture.
  • Transfer the mixture to a baking pan and top with a single layer of tater tots.
  • Bake until the tater tots are golden brown, about 30 to 45 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 478kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 1197mg | Potassium: 506mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0g | Vitamin A: 255IU | Vitamin C: 7.4mg | Calcium: 217mg | Iron: 2.5mg

About Stephanie Manley

Stephanie Manley is the creator of CopyKat.com. She has been recreating copycat recipes since 1995. Learn more about Stephanie Manley.

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