Is there anything more comforting than a casserole? This particular hot dish, as they call it in the Midwest, takes all the elements of your favorite cheeseburger meal and combines them into one hearty and easy dish. There are a lot of ways to customize this casserole, like using ground turkey, chicken, or buffalo instead of beef. You could even leave off the tater tots entirely and transfer the mixture to a toasted bun and eat it like a sloppy joe with sweet potato or shoestring fries on the side. If you’re looking for a less carb-heavy meal, wrap the mixture in large lettuce leaves and garnish with a pickle spear.
Cheeseburger casserole is one of the easiest ways to feed a large family during the colder months. You can double this recipe and store one of the dishes for reheating later. Just bake the casserole in a throwaway foil baking dish and allow it to cool completely. Once cooled, wrap tightly in plastic and then place in a freezer bag. When ready to serve, reheat the casserole in a 400 F oven until warmed through, about 20 minutes. The frozen casserole will last in the freezer for up to three months.
“The cheeseburger casserole had plenty of flavors with cheese and tomatoes, and kids love tater tots. Because cheese, beef broth, and Worcestershire sauce can make the dish saltier, I recommend holding off on adding salt and pepper until after tasting it with the cheese.” —Diana Rattray
A Note From Our Recipe Tester
Ingredients
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1 tablespoon olive oil
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1 pound ground beef, 80% lean
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1 medium yellow onion, diced
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1 tablespoon tomato paste
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2 teaspoons garlic powder
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1 teaspoon onion powder
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1 teaspoons sea salt, more to taste
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1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
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2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
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1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
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1 cup beef broth
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1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
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8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese, divided
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4 cups frozen tater tots, about 16 ounces
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2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
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1/2 cup favorite mustard, for serving
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn
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Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 400 F.
Heat the oil in a large cast-iron skillet or other large heavy-duty oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers.
The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn
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Add the ground beef and onion, and cook, stirring frequently and breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon until it is crumbled, no longer pink, and the onion is translucent, about 8 minutes.
The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn
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Drain all fat from the skillet.
The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn
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Lower the heat to medium. Add tomato paste, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper and stir to combine.
The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn
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Add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens, about 3 minutes.
The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn
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Add the Worcestershire, beef broth, and tomatoes. Stir until the mixture is well combined, about 2 minutes.
The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn
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Add half the shredded cheese, stirring until it melts into the mixture, about 2 minutes. Adjust the seasoning to taste.
The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn
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Top the mixture with a single layer of tater tots.
The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn
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Transfer to the oven and bake until the tater tots are golden brown and the mixture is bubbling around the edges, about 30 minutes.
The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn
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Sprinkle with remaining cheese and continue baking until the cheese is golden and bubbling, about 5 minutes more.
The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn
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Garnish with fresh parsley and sea salt to taste. Pass the mustard at the table for drizzling onto the casserole.
The Spruce Eats / Abbey Littlejohn
Recipe Variations
- Substitute ground turkey, chicken, or buffalo for the ground beef.
- Make it like a sloppy joe by serving on a toasted bun. The tater tots are a fun addition to a sandwich.
Make Ahead and Freeze
Plan ahead and double this recipe to store one of the casseroles for later use.
The casserole you're going to freeze for later should be made in a foil baking dish, then cooled completely. Once cooled, wrap tightly in plastic and then place in a freezer bag.
When ready to serve, reheat the casserole in a preheated 400 F oven until warmed through, about 20 minutes. The frozen casserole will last in the freezer for up to three months.
