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Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole Bake

This cheeseburger tater tot casserole bake is pure comfort in a dish, combining seasoned ground beef, tangy pickles, creamy dressing, melty cheddar, and crisp Tater Tots for a fulfilling meal.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Casserole, Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 600
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 2 lb ground beef Use lean ground beef like 85/15 for best flavor.
  • 3/4 cup sliced sweet pickles, chopped Plus extra for garnish.
  • 1 small onion, chopped You may use yellow or white onion.
  • 1 clove garlic, minced Adds flavor to the beef mixture.
  • 1 1/2 cups Thousand Island dressing, divided Save half for drizzling on top.
  • 1 tsp fine sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 (32 oz) package frozen Tater Tots Can substitute with frozen hash brown patties.
  • 2 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided Can substitute with Colby Jack or a cheese blend.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  2. In a large Dutch oven or deep skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat, adding the pickles, onion, and garlic. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes until the meat is no longer pink and the onion is soft. Drain excess fat.
  3. Remove pan from heat and stir in 1 cup of the Thousand Island dressing, salt, and pepper.
  4. Fold in the frozen Tater Tots and 2 cups of cheddar cheese until just combined.
Baking
  1. Spread the mixture into the prepared baking dish and bake for 35 to 40 minutes until hot and the Tater Tots are crisp.
  2. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese on top and bake for an additional 5 minutes until melted.
  3. Drizzle the remaining 1/2 cup of Thousand Island dressing over the casserole and garnish with extra pickles.

Notes

For best texture, let the casserole rest for a few minutes before serving. This allows the cheese to settle and makes serving easier. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.