If you're looking for a hearty, easy-to-make dinner that the whole family will love, this chili cheese tater tot casserole is it! If you've never combined meaty chili with crispy tater tots, you're in for a real comfort food treat.
This recipe is one of my family's go-to meals on a chilly day.
Hearty, chunky chili is topped with frozen tater tots and shredded cheddar cheese, then baked until golden and bubbly.
For more comfort food recipes, check out our southern homemade chicken and dumplings and southern chicken and dressing recipes next!
Table of Contents
Important Ingredient Notes
- Onion and bell pepper. I use yellow onion and green bell pepper for freshness and flavor. White onion and any other color bell pepper also work well.
- Garlic. I always recommend freshly minced garlic. The jarred stuff doesn't have the same fresh garlic flavor.
- Ground beef. I use lean grass-fed ground beef. 85/15 also works, but you may need skim excess fat.
- Beans. I love a combination of dark red kidney beans and pinto beans but feel free to use your favorite chili beans in this recipe. Bean lovers, check out our Louisiana red beans and rice recipe next!
- Tomatoes. Two diced beefsteak tomatoes and canned tomato paste give the chili the perfect balance of flavor and depth. Canned diced tomatoes work well also.
- Beef broth. I recommend low-sodium broth so you can control the saltiness of your dish.
- Spices. Chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, ground mustard, oregano, thyme, salt, and black pepper ensure this chili is packed with flavor.
- Frozen tater tots. Crispy tater tots add an unexpected crunch and flavor combination to the hearty, chunky chili.
- Shredded cheddar cheese. Shredded cheese is the perfect, melty finishing touch to this comforting casserole.
Variations and Substitutions
- Swap the ground beef for ground turkey, chicken, or bison. You can also eliminate the meat.
- Beans. Try any of your favorite beans in this chili, like black beans, cannellini, or great northern beans.
- No tater tots? Try topping this chili casserole with frozen shredded hashbrowns or diced potatoes.
How to Make This Recipe
Step 1. Cook the chopped onion and bell pepper in olive oil over medium heat until softened. Add the garlic and cook for another minute, then add the ground beef.
Step 2. Season the beef mixture with spices, salt, and pepper, and cook until no longer pink.
Step 3. Add the beans, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and broth, then stir to combine. Simmer the chili for about 15 minutes to allow the flavors to come together.
Step 4. Transfer the chili to a buttered 9 x 13 baking dish and neatly place frozen tots on top of the chili in a single layer. Bake the casserole at 375°F for 25 to 30 minutes until golden and bubbly.
Step 5. Carefully remove the casserole from the oven, sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top, and bake for an additional 5 minutes.
Step 6. Finish the baked casserole with freshly chopped green onions. Cool slightly and enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Save time by using canned chili instead of making your own. Three 15-ounce cans should work great.
Ground turkey, shredded or ground chicken, shredded brisket, or chopped smoked sausage are excellent substitutions.
Yes! This casserole is a great way to use up leftover chili. You may need a smaller baking dish depending on how much chili you have.
Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions
- Make-ahead. Make the chili, assemble the casserole in the baking dish the night before, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to bake.
- Refrigerate. Leftover chili cheese tater tot casserole can be stored in the baking dish covered in plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Perfect Pairings
- Fresh garden salad
- Collard greens
- Garlic green beans
- Hot honey butter skillet corn
- Creamy coleslaw
More Comforting Dinner Recipes You Will Love!
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📖 Recipe
Chili Cheese Tater Tot Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil - extra virgin
- 1 medium yellow onion - chopped
- 1 medium green bell pepper - seeded and chopped
- 3 garlic cloves - minced
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 - 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- Salt - to taste
- Cracked black pepper - to taste
- 1 can dark red kidney beans
- 1 can pinto beans
- 2 medium beefsteak tomatoes - diced
- 1 6-ounce can tomato paste
- 2 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 1, 32 ounce bag frozen tater tots - also called potato puffs
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Freshly chopped green onions - for garnish
Instructions
- In a Dutch oven or large deep skillet, cook the chopped onion and bell pepper in 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat until softened. Add the garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Add the ground beef and break it apart with a wooden spoon. Season with chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, ground mustard, dried oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper, and stir to combine. Cook the beef until no longer pink.
- Add the beans, tomatoes, tomato paste, and broth, and stir the chili to combine. Season with more salt and pepper to taste. Simmer the chili for about 15 minutes to let the flavors develop. Preheat your oven to 375°F while the chili simmers.
- Transfer the chili to a buttered 9 x 13-inch baking dish and neatly place frozen tots on top in a single layer. Bake the casserole uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes, until golden brown and bubbly.
- Carefully sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top of the casserole and bake for an additional five minutes until the cheese is melted. Garnish the casserole with chopped green onions, cool slightly, and enjoy.
Notes
- Save time by using canned chili instead of making your own. Three 15-ounce cans should work great.
- Ground turkey, shredded or ground chicken, shredded brisket, or chopped smoked sausage are great substitutions for ground beef.
- Make the chili, assemble the casserole in the baking dish the night before, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and store it in the fridge until ready to bake.
- Leftover chili cheese tater tot casserole can be stored in the baking dish covered in plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nic
So good!