Description
Packed with comfort and flavor, this cheesy tater tot meatloaf casserole delivers irresistible warmth from classic American kitchens. Crispy potato tots crown juicy seasoned beef, melting cheese creating a hearty meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 lbs lean ground beef
- 24 oz frozen tater tots
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese blend
- 30 Ritz crackers, crushed
Seasoning and Binding:
- 2 large eggs
- 2 oz Lipton onion soup mix
- 1/4 cup real bacon bits
Sauce:
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 cup Sweet Baby Rays Hickory & Brown Sugar barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Thoroughly blend ground beef with crumbled Ritz crackers, onion soup mix, eggs, ketchup, and barbecue sauce in a spacious mixing bowl until ingredients are fully incorporated.
- Transfer the meat mixture into a 9×13-inch baking dish, carefully pressing and spreading it evenly across the bottom to create a uniform layer.
- Arrange frozen tater tots in a neat, consistent pattern directly on top of the meat mixture, ensuring complete surface coverage.
- Place the casserole in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) and cook for approximately 45 minutes, allowing the meat to cook through and the tater tots to become golden and crispy.
- Remove the casserole from the oven and generously scatter shredded cheese blend and crispy bacon bits across the entire surface.
- Return the dish to the oven for an additional 15 minutes, monitoring until the cheese melts completely and develops a bubbly, appetizing texture.
- Once finished, remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for a few minutes to allow the ingredients to settle and make serving easier.
- Slice and serve the casserole while still warm, enjoying the delightful combination of savory meat, crispy tater tots, and melted cheese.
Notes
- Crush crackers finely to ensure even distribution and better binding in the meat mixture.
- Pat ground beef dry before mixing to prevent excess moisture and help the meatloaf hold its shape.
- Swap Ritz crackers with gluten-free alternatives for a celiac-friendly version, using gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed rice crackers.
- Use ground turkey or lean ground beef to reduce overall fat content while maintaining a juicy meatloaf texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 488
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 1050 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 109 mg