My kids were two kinds of crazy... crazy for tater tots and Mexican food nuts! So when their dad was hunting for a fun dinner idea one night, he did the obvious (and, frankly, genius) thing... he mashed their two favorite foods together into one big, bubbly casserole. The result? A recipe for HAPPY KIDS! And happy kids at the dinner table is a win in any decade.

This Mexican Tater Tot Casserole takes everything you love about taco night (seasoned ground beef, black beans, corn, zesty Rotel and enchilada sauce) and tucks it under a crispy blanket of golden tater tots and melty colby jack cheese. It's part classic tater tot casserole with ground beef, part taco casserole, and 100% comfort food.

And the best part? It comes together with just 10 minutes of prep and a handful of pantry staples. No fancy ingredients, no "elevated" anything. Just a hearty, cheesy dinner that feeds the whole crew without busting the grocery budget. Sparkle Without the Splurge, taco night edition!

Why You'll Love This Mexican Tater Tot Casserole

• It's a family favorite. Crispy tots plus taco flavors? Picky eaters don't stand a chance.
• It's easy. Only 10 minutes of hands-on prep. The oven does the heavy lifting.
• It's budget-friendly. A pound of ground beef, a few cans from the pantry and a bag of frozen tots feed 4 to 6 people.
• It's one skillet, one dish. Fewer dishes = happier cook.
• It's customizable. Pile on the toppings, make it spicier or keep it mild for the kiddos.
• It's great for potlucks. This 9x13 Tex-Mex casserole travels well and disappears fast.

Ingredients

Servings: 4-6
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes total

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 (15.25 oz) can corn, drained
• 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (10 oz) can enchilada sauce
• 1 (10 oz) can Rotel
• 1 (1 oz) packet taco seasoning
• 1 (32 oz) bag tater tots
• 2 cups colby jack cheese, shredded
• 1 roma tomato, diced
• ¼ cup sliced black olives
• 2 green onions, diced

What You'll Need

• Measuring cups and spoons
• Cutting board
• Sharp knife
• Large skillet
• Spatula
• 9x13 inch casserole dish

How to Make Mexican Tater Tot Casserole

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Chop the onion and tomato.

Cook the ground beef and onion in a large skillet, breaking the meat up as it cooks, until no longer pink. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes.

Drain any grease. Then stir the corn, black beans, enchilada sauce, Rotel and taco seasoning into the beef mixture, and simmer on low for 5 minutes.

Pour the mixture into a greased 9x13 inch casserole dish and spread evenly. Top with a single layer of tater tots.

Bake for 35 minutes.

Remove from the oven, sprinkle with cheese and bake for an additional 8-10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Top with diced tomatoes, black olives and green onions to serve.

Tara's Tips

• Line up those tots. A single, snug layer of tater tots gets you the crispiest topping. Depending on your dish, you may have a few tots left over. (Cook's snack? I won't tell.) I love my 9x13 casserole dish because it goes straight from oven to table.
• Skip the packet if you like. Swap the store-bought taco seasoning for a homemade blend. My DIY Steak Taco Seasoning works great here!
• Turn up the heat. Grab the "Hot" Rotel, or add a diced jalapeño with the onion. For the kiddos, the "Mild" version keeps things friendly.
• Shred your own cheese. A block of colby jack melts smoother than the bagged stuff. A good box grater makes quick work of it.
• Drain well. Draining the grease, corn and beans keeps your casserole saucy, not soupy, so the tots stay crispy.
• Use a meat chopper. A ground meat chopper breaks up the beef in no time.

Serving Suggestions

This Mexican tater tot casserole is a full meal on its own, but it's even better with a "build your own plate" toppings bar: sour cream, salsa, diced avocado or guacamole, shredded lettuce and extra cheese (because why not?)

For a full-on fiesta, serve it alongside:

• The Ultimate 7 Layer Taco Dip with tortilla chips
• A simple side salad or Mexican street corn
• Refried beans or Spanish rice

Love a good casserole? You'll also want to try my Old-Fashioned Chicken Fajita Casserole and Old Fashioned Hamburger Potato Casserole. And if you're stretching your grocery dollars, check out Cooking from Scratch with Canned Goods and Cheap Yummy Meals for more budget-friendly dinner ideas.

Storage Notes

• Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
• Reheating: Reheat in the oven at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes to keep the tots crispy. The microwave works in a pinch, but the tots will soften.
• Freezer: Freeze leftovers (without the fresh toppings) for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat in the oven.
• Toppings: Add the tomatoes, olives and green onions fresh right before serving.

Yield: 6

Mexican Tater Tot Casserole with Ground Beef

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Mexican Tater Tot Casserole is a hearty, cheesy Tex-Mex dinner the whole family will love! 

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 - 15.25 oz can corn, drained
• 1 - 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 - 10 oz can Enchilada sauce
• 1 - 10 oz can Rotel
• 1 oz packet taco seasoning
• 32 oz bag Tater tots
• 2 cups colby jack Cheese, shredded
• 1 roma tomato, diced
• ¼ cup sliced black olives
• 2 green onions, diced

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. 
2. Chop the onions and tomato.
3. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef and onion, breaking the meat up as it cooks, until no longer pink. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes.
4. Drain any grease. Then stir the corn, black beans, enchilada sauce, Rotel and taco seasoning into the beef mixture, and simmer on low for 5 minutes.
5. Pour the mixture into a greased 9x13 inch casserole dish and spread evenly. Top with a single layer of tater tots.
6. Transfer the casserole dish to the oven and bake for 35 minutes.
7. Remove from the oven, top with cheese and bake for an additional 8-10 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
8. Top with diced tomatoes, black olives and green onions to serve.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 927Total Fat: 54gSaturated Fat: 24gUnsaturated Fat: 30gCholesterol: 144mgSodium: 2057mgCarbohydrates: 62gFiber: 8gSugar: 4gProtein: 49g

A Tot-ally Delicious Family Favorite

Some dinners are just about getting food on the table. Others become the ones your kids still talk about years later. This Mexican Tater Tot Casserole is squarely in the second camp. It's cheesy, crispy, a little bit spicy, and made with love (and a few cans from the pantry). Proof that you don't need anything fancy to make dinner feel like a celebration!

So grab a bag of tots, fire up that skillet and give taco night a crispy, cheesy twist. Your crew will thank you. Probably with their mouths full.

Happy cooking!