This Enchilada Tater Tot Casserole is a delicious and hearty meal. Not too mention, who doesn’t love tater tots? Those bite-sized potatoes are just too fun not to eat!
We love making this simple dinner when we’re running low on time during the week and are just craving comfort and ease. Because when you combine tater tots, meat, and cheese, really good things happen in a short amount of time.
Related: Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

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Enchilada Tater Tot Casserole
I remember eating this tater tot enchilada bake when I was a child and it was one of my favorite meals. And now that we’ve introduced this recipe into our family, my son feels that exact same way.
In fact, adding the tater tots onto the top of the other ingredients can be quite fun. You can let the kids do this part without worry and help them find some if their independence and confidence to cook in the kitchen as well.
Right now is such a great time to find new ways to bond together since everyone is home a lot more and this Mexican tater tot casserole is such a simple way to make that happen. Why not whip up this family-friendly recipe today?
Related: Instant Pot Beef Stew
Where did Tater Tot casserole come from?
This cheesy tater tot bake actually comes from the upper part of the United States is areas where the weather tends to be a bit cooler. States like Minnesota and Wisconsin still quite fond of this recipe and it’s a popular dish there for sure.
Can you freeze Tater Tot casserole after you cook it?
You can. You can actually freeze it before or after you bake it, and it’s a great meal prep recipe to have on hand.
This tater tot bake is also a really good meal to make up and share with someone who has recently had a baby or is recovering from an illness and just might need an extra bit of help.
Related: Fun Halloween Meatballs for the Kids

How To Make This Enchilada Tater Tot Casserole
Just gather up the list of simple and tasty ingredients below to get started!
- 32-ounce bag frozen tater tots
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, peeled and diced
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- 1-pound lean ground beef
- 1-ounce package taco seasoning
- ¼ cup of water
- 15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 12 ounces frozen corn (no need to thaw)
- 4 ounce can diced green chiles
- 10 ounce can red enchilada sauce
- 3 cups shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese, divided
- Toppings: sour cream, sliced avocado, chopped tomato, cilantro, salsa, peppers, chopped black olives, etc.

How to make this Cheesy Tater Tot Bake
Start by preheating the oven to 400 degrees.
While that is preheating, take and spread the tater tots out in a single layer onto a large baking sheet. Then put them in the oven and bake at 400F for 15 minutes.

While the tater tots are cooking in the oven, take and heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once it’s hot, you’re going to add the onions and sauté until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Next, take and add in the garlic and sauté for another minute. Just make certain that you do not allow the garlic to brown.
Once that is cooked, remove from heat. Then, take and crumble the ground beef into the skillet and sauté, and make certain you’re stirring often until the meat is completely browned. Once browned, take and drain off excess fat.
Then, you’re going to add the taco seasoning and water to the meat and stir well. Once stirred, let it simmer over medium heat for 1-2 minutes and then remove the pan from the heat.

Grab a large mixing bowl and combine the ground beef mixture, black beans, corn, green chiles, and enchilada sauce. Once mixed, take and add in 2 cups of the shredded cheese and stir everything really well.

Prep your 9×13 inch glass baking dish by greasing it with a non-stick cooking spray. Then, take and pour the enchilada filling mixture right into the dish. Have fun and put the tater tots over the top in a single layer. Once they’re added, go ahead and top the casserole with the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese.

Drop the temperature in the oven to 375F. Put the casserole in the oven and bake uncovered for 30 minutes or until the cheese is melted. You should also notice that casserole bubbling around the edges.

Let the casserole cool and serve with toppings of your choice.

I’m also a big fan of using this casserole and making a fun tater tot taco salad as well. You literally add this onto a bed of lettuce and viola, it’s a whole new meal!

Tater Tot Casserole
You're going to love the ease and the taste of this Tater Tot Casserole.
Ingredients
- 32-ounce bag frozen tater tots
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, peeled and diced
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- 1-pound lean ground beef
- 1-ounce package taco seasoning
- ¼ cup of water
- 15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 12 ounces frozen corn (no need to thaw)
- 4 ounce can diced green chiles
- 10 ounce can red enchilada sauce
- 3 cups shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese, divided
- Toppings: sour cream, sliced avocado, chopped tomato, cilantro, salsa, peppers, chopped black olives, etc.
Instructions
Start by preheating the oven to 400 degrees.
While that is preheating, take and spread the tater tots out in a single layer onto a large baking sheet. Then put them in the oven and bake at 400F for 15 minutes.
While the tater tots are cooking in the oven, take and heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once it's hot, you're going to add the onions and sauté until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Next, take and add in the garlic and sauté for another minute. Just make certain that you do not allow the garlic to brown.
Once that is cooked, remove from heat. Then, take and crumble the ground beef into the skillet and sauté, and make certain you're stirring often until the meat is completely browned. Once browned, take and drain off excess fat.
Then, you're going to add the taco seasoning and water to the meat and stir well. Once stirred, let it simmer over medium heat for 1-2 minutes and then remove the pan from the heat.
Grab a large mixing bowl and combine the ground beef mixture, black beans, corn, green chiles, and enchilada sauce. Once mixed, take and add in 2 cups of the shredded cheese and stir everything really well.
Prep your 9x13 inch glass baking dish by greasing it with a non-stick cooking spray. Then, take and pour the enchilada filling mixture right into the dish. Have fun and put the tater tots over the top in a single layer. Once they're added, go ahead and top the casserole with the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese.
Drop the temperature in the oven to 375F. Put the casserole in the oven and bake uncovered for 30 minutes or until the cheese is melted. You should also notice that casserole bubbling around the edges.
Nutrition Information
Yield 8 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 746Total Fat 39gSaturated Fat 14gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 21gCholesterol 97mgSodium 1647mgCarbohydrates 66gFiber 12gSugar 7gProtein 37g
Make certain to tell your family and friends about this recipe so that they can enjoy it, too! When it comes to good food, it’s always fun to share!

Like this simple recipe? Check out these other great dishes!
Farah Zeb is a mother of five, including two children with special needs. She shares practical parenting tips and resources to help other families navigate daily challenges and create supportive, nurturing environments.
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