BBQ Tater Tot Casserole

When you make this BBQ tater tot casserole you will fall in love with all of the flavors found in this seasoned ground beef meat mixture, fresh veggies, cheese, and of course crispy tater tots! 

This is such an easy dinner to mix up and throw in the oven for those busy weeknights. All you’ll need to do is pick your favorite side dishes and toppings for this easy tater tot casserole and you are good to go!

When making this dinner recipe you will be making your own barbecue sauce with the Manwich sauce, peppers, onions, and other seasonings. Plus if you love this tater tot casserole recipe, then you will love our slow cooker cowboy casserole too!

Recipe Ingredient Notes

To make our BBQ tater tot casserole, you need the following ingredients:

• Ground beef: 80/20 Ground beef is great for this recipe and provides a lot of great flavor.
• Salt: Use your standard kosher salt. 
• Pepper: Ground black pepper to taste.
• Onion: Either a yellow or white onion diced.
• Red Pepper: Use a fresh red bell pepper diced, an orange pepper could work as well. 
• Green Pepper: A fresh green bell pepper diced.
• Corn: Use canned corn drained or thawed frozen corn. 
• Sauce: We love using bold Manwich sauce for great flavor.
• Cheese: Shredded Monterey Jack cheese, Colby jack cheese, and cheddar cheese works great.
• Tater tots: You can leave the tater tots frozen for this casserole and still get crispy tater tots.

Equipment Needed

For this recipe, you only need a few simple kitchen tools. We recommend using the following equipment:

• Skillet
• Spoon (Wooden)
• Baking Dish (9 x 13)
• Cutting Board
• Chef Knife

How to Our Make This BBQ Tater Tot Casserole

1. Brown ground beef, salt & pepper, onion, red pepper, & green pepper together until the hamburger is cooked through. Drain grease well. Add in the drained corn and Manwich sauce and mix until combined. Heat through.
2. Pour into a lightly greased 9 x 13 inch pan.
3. Sprinkle 1 cup of grated cheese over the top of the hamburger mixture.
4. Place tater tots over all and then cover with the remaining 1 cup of cheese.
5. Bake for 25 minutes in oven heated to 400℉.

Storage Suggestions

• Fridge: Store any leftover casserole in an airtight container or the baking dish, covered, once it has reached room temperature, and store it in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.
• Freezer: Once the casserole has cooled down to room temperature, store in a freezer-safe dish and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. 

Recipe Notes and Tips

• Recommended toppings for this casserole include the following: green onion, sour cream, hot sauce, black beans (rinsed and dried), or salsa.
• If you cannot find the Manwich sauce, use your favorite barbecue sauce in its place.
• If your family enjoys spicy food, add in diced green chilies, chili powder, or cayenne pepper depending on the flavor profiles you want and how much heat you want to add to the casserole.

Enjoy More Delicious Beef Main Dishes

The possibilities for delicious beef main dishes are endless, from cuts of meat like steak or roast, to family-friendly ground beef dishes, explore our comprehensive collection of beef recipes.

• Bob Clark Casserole
• Cheeseburger Casserole
• Cheesy Beef Enchilada Casserole
• Cornbread Sloppy Joe Casserole
• Cowboy Casserole
• Ground Beef Firecracker Casserole
• John Wayne Casserole
• Mexican Casserole
• Mexican Tater Tot Casserole
• Shepherd’s Pie Casserole
• Stuffed Pepper Casserole