It has been a long time since I made macaroni and cheese. It’s a dish that my mom used to make all the time when I was growing up. She would put it on top of some toast, with a side of garlic potatoes, and we would be in heaven.
I decided to recreate this chili cheese tater tot casserole for my family tonight, but instead of using Kraft macaroni and cheese sauce, I decided to use the Big Mac tater tot casserole recipe.
Now you might be wondering if is this an easy recipe or not. Well, it’s super easy to make and is sure to impress even the pickiest of eaters. And what you are going to get from this blog?
For your comfort in cooking, I will share the recipe and some tips on how to make this irresistible casserole. And there will be more surprising tips to make things easier.
Are tater tots just fries?
Now let me answer an old-age question related to this vegan tater tot casserole recipe. As a self-proclaimed potato connoisseur, I can tell you that this is a topic that is near and dear to my heart.
Let’s break it down: both fries and tots are made from potatoes, but the difference lies in their preparation. Fries are sliced into thin strips, while tots are made from chopped potatoes that are then formed into bite-sized pieces. This might seem like a small distinction, but trust me, it makes all the difference.
Personally, I’m a tots girl all the way. There’s just something about the crispy exterior and fluffy interior that gets me every time. Fries are great and all, but they can be a little one-dimensional in comparison.
But back to the question at hand, are tots just fries? I think not. While they both come from the same humble potato, tots are a unique and special creation that deserves their own category.
So the next time someone tries to tell you that tots are just fries, you can confidently tell them that they are oh-so-wrong.
What is tater tot casserole made of?
Come now talk about the big mac tater tot casserole recipe. It is made of mainly ground beef. This is the base of the pioneer woman tater tot breakfast casserole dish, and it’s what gives it that hearty, filling texture.
Next what? you’ll want to add some seasonings to give it some flavor. I’m talking garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Trust me, these spices will make all the difference.
Now, let’s talk about the star of the show, the tater tots. These crispy little potato nuggets are what make this tater tot vegan casserole so irresistible. They’re the perfect topping for this casserole, and they provide that golden brown crunch that we all crave.
But we can’t forget about the cheese. Oh, the cheese! Lots and lots of cheddar cheese, to be exact. This gooey, melted goodness is what brings everything together and adds that extra layer of flavor that we all know and love.
Fine, let’s dive into the main part of our content that you were waiting for.
- Preparation Time: Only 5 mins
- Cook time: Approximately 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Course: Main
- Cuisine: American
- Calorie: 710 calories total (Approximately)
- Serving: 8
Big mac tater tot casserole recipe ingredients
- 2 pounds fresh ground beef
- 1 cup big mac sauce (any other is also usable)1 tsp onion powder
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt or as per need
- 1 tsp pepper
- 6 slices of chopped American cheese
- 1 cup fully shredded cheddar cheese
- 32-ounce frozen and fresh tater tots
For topping:
- 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
- 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
- 2-3 slices diced American cheese
Our previous published content: Jesse Kelly Burger RecipeBig mac tater tot casserole – Step-by-step process
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
2. In a large skillet, cook ground beef until browned. Drain any excess grease and set aside to cool slightly.
3. In a bowl, combine ground beef, big mac sauce, onion powder, garlic powder salt, and pepper until well blended.
4. Set mixture aside to cool slightly before the assembly of the casserole dish later on.
5. 4-5 tater tot shells will be needed for the casserole recipe which you may find frozen at the grocery store.
6. If not, baking powder can be used to puff tater tot shells up instead.
7. Assembly of casserole dish.
8. Spread 1/2 cup big mac sauce mixture over the bottom of the greased baking dish and top with 8 tater tot shells.
9. Sprinkle shredded cheese on top of tater tot shells then spread onion beef mixture evenly over cheese-topped tater tots.
10. Bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly around the edges.
11. Let cool slightly before serving.
12. For topping, mix shredded lettuce and diced tomatoes together in a bowl and top the casserole dish before serving.
13. Sprinkle sliced American cheese on top of the salad before serving.
One simple meatloaf recipe is the Bomb Meatloaf RecipePro Tips to make the recipe tastier:
1) Adding chopped chicken to the chick salad recipe will give it that extra juicy and tender texture.
2) Using whole grain croutons or crispy bacon bits as toppings instead of bread would also add a layer of flavor and crunch to the dish.
3) I personally like to use a Sriracha sauce as my dressing for this chicken salad recipe. It gives the dish a kick of heat and flavor.
4) If you want to make this meal even faster, pre-cut or prep any ingredients ahead of time so that all you need to do is layer them in the casserole dish and bake.
Health benefits of the tater tot casserole recipe
Let’s be real, when you think of tater tot casserole, health benefits probably aren’t the first thing that comes to mind. But believe it or not, this comfort food classic can actually have some nutritional value.
For starters, if you load it up with veggies like onions, bell peppers, and corn, you’re getting a good dose of fiber and vitamins. And if you opt for lean ground beef or turkey, you’re getting some protein too.
Now, we’re not going to pretend that all that melted cheddar cheese is doing your arteries any favors. But hey, life is all about balance, right? As long as you’re not indulging in tater tot casserole every night, there’s no harm in enjoying a serving or two every once in a while.
What goes well with tater tot casserole?
Well, Tater tot casserole is a complete meal on its own, but you can also serve it with some side dishes to make it even more satisfying. Here are some ideas:
- Salad: A simple green salad with vinaigrette dressing can help cut through the richness of the casserole.
- Bread: Serve some crusty bread on the side to soak up the extra sauce.
- Roasted vegetables: Add some roasted carrots, broccoli, or Brussels sprouts to your plate for extra nutrition and flavor.
Final Thoughts
I hope you loved our Big mac tater tot casserole recipe. If you try it out, let us know in the comments section below what you think. And if you have your own favorite tater tot dish, be sure to share it with us too.
At the end of the day, food is all about enjoying family and friends together. So let’s cook up some delicious dishes to share with everyone.
