Description
Hearty Cheesy Tater Tot Meatloaf Casserole delivers comfort food perfection with its golden potato topping and savory ground beef layers. Midwest-style comfort blends crispy tater tots, melted cheese, and rich meat into one irresistible family-favorite dinner you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 pounds (907 grams) lean ground beef
- 2 large eggs
Binders and Seasonings:
- 30 Ritz crackers, crushed
- 2 ounces (57 grams) Lipton onion soup mix
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) real bacon bits
Sauces and Cheese:
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) ketchup
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) Sweet Baby Rays Hickory & Brown Sugar barbecue sauce
- 2 cups (226 grams) shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese blend
Topping:
- 24 ounces (680 grams) frozen tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a baking dish with non-stick spray.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, thoroughly combine ground beef, crushed Ritz crackers, Lipton onion soup mix, and eggs until the ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Transfer the meat mixture into the greased baking dish, pressing firmly to create an even layer across the bottom.
- Create a tangy sauce by blending ketchup and barbecue sauce, then carefully spread the mixture uniformly over the meatloaf base.
- Strategically arrange frozen tater tots in a neat, overlapping pattern to completely cover the sauce layer.
- Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes, allowing the meat to cook through and the tots to begin crisping.
- Remove the dish from the oven and generously scatter shredded cheese and crispy bacon bits across the tater tot surface.
- Return the casserole to the oven for an additional 15 minutes, watching for the cheese to melt completely and develop a golden, bubbly texture.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 5-10 minutes after removing from the oven, which helps the layers set and makes serving easier.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with lean turkey or plant-based alternatives for a healthier, lower-fat version of the casserole.
- Crush crackers finely to ensure even distribution and better binding of the meatloaf mixture.
- Drain excess grease after baking to reduce overall oiliness and improve dish presentation.
- Experiment with different cheese blends like cheddar, mozzarella, or pepper jack to customize flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 33 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 1.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg