One of my favorite healthy casserole recipes, this cheeseburger casserole is everything I crave in a comforting, family-friendly dinner. I like to think of this recipe as a combination of this tater tot casserole and this hamburger helper. Plus, everything comes together in a single skillet, making prep and cleanup fast and easy.
Recipe Highlights
Easy one-skillet meal: Everything combines and cooks in a single oven-safe skillet, keeping prep simple and cleanup to a minimum. With just 10 minutes of prep time, it’s a great option for busy weeknights.
Made with familiar ingredients: Ground beef, cheddar cheese, tater tots, and pantry staples come together to create a satisfying meal without a long grocery list. Similar to this ground beef and potatoes recipe and this slow cooker cheeseburger soup, this casserole has all the flavors of a classic cheeseburger, so even my kids clean their plates.
Great for meal prep: A great make-ahead recipe, this casserole can be assembled in advance and stored in the fridge until it’s time to bake. Leftovers also reheat well, and individual portions can be frozen for easy meals later on.
Main Ingredients And Substitutions
Like many of my favorite ground beef recipes, this cheeseburger casserole comes together with simple, easy-to-find items. Here are my notes about the main ingredients:
- Avocado oil: This is used to sauté the ground beef and onion. Olive oil also works.
- Ground beef: I use lean ground beef for a classic cheeseburger flavor without making this casserole greasy. Feel free to substitute the beef with ground venison, ground turkey, or even ground chicken.
- Yellow onion: I prefer yellow onion for a slightly sweet taste, but white onion works, too.
- Tomato paste: This adds rich tomato flavor and depth to the filling.
- Spices: I use a simple mixture of garlic powder, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper to give the beef a delicious savory flavor without overpowering the other ingredients.
- All-purpose flour: I use this to help thicken the beef mixture. A 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend can be substituted, if needed.
- Beef broth: This adds moisture and savory flavor to the filling. I always use low-sodium broth to reign in the salt content.
- Canned diced tomatoes: These add extra flavor, moisture, and a little texture to the beef mixture.
- Shredded cheddar cheese: I prefer sharp cheddar cheese for a bolder flavor, but mild cheddar also tastes great. Sprinkled over the casserole, this creates a melty, savory topping, replicating the flavor of a classic cheeseburger. I always shred cheese from a block for the best melt.
- Frozen tater tots: These form the crispy, golden topping that makes this casserole so satisfying. Frozen crispy crowns also work, or use gluten-free tater tots if needed.
- Optional garnishes: Chopped fresh parsley adds a pop of color, while chopped pickles give the casserole even more classic cheeseburger flavor.
Find the ingredient list with exact measurements in the recipe card below.
How To Make This One-Skillet Casserole
A one-pot meal (or in this case, a single-skillet meal), this cheeseburger casserole is a fuss-free, high-protein dinner that’s foolproof to prepare. Here’s an overview of the process:
- Brown the beef: Heat oil in a large oven-safe skillet. I like to swirl it around, ensuring it coats the entire pan to prevent sticking. Then, add the ground beef and onion, and cook until the meat is no longer pink, breaking it into small pieces.
- Combine and thicken: Add the tomato paste and seasonings, stirring to combine and flavor the meat. Then, sprinkle the flour on top and let the mixture thicken.
- Layer: Stir in the mustard, broth, tomatoes, and part of the cheese, letting the cheese melt completely. Then, spread the beef mixture evenly in the skillet, and arrange the tater tots in a single layer on top.
- Bake: Transfer the skillet to the oven, and bake until the tater tots are golden brown and the filling is bubbling around the edges.
- Add cheese: Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top, and continue to bake until it is melted. Keep a close eye on the oven to prevent burning.
- Serve: Add toppings of choice. I always include fresh parsley and chopped pickles, but green onions, sour cream, a drizzle of ketchup, and shredded lettuce are delicious options, too. Enjoy warm.
For serving size and the complete directions and ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card below. All of our recipes include the nutrition analysis, listing calories (kcals), protein, carbohydrates/carb, fiber, sugar, sodium, cholesterol, and more per serving.
Get The Tater Tots Nice And Crispy
For the best texture, I recommend arranging the frozen tater tots in a single, even layer over the beef mixture rather than mixing them into the filling. This allows the tops to crisp up in the oven while the filling heats through underneath. Bake until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy on the outside, and the filling is bubbling around the edges. Then, sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese on top and return the skillet to the oven just until the cheese melts. Adding the cheese at the end helps prevent the tater tots from becoming soggy.
No Oven-Proof Skillet? No Worries
If making this recipe without an oven-safe skillet, simply brown the beef and soften the veggies in a large skillet. Then, transfer the mixture to a baking dish, arrange the tater tots on top, and bake as usual.
What To Serve With It
This cheeseburger casserole is a hearty, satisfying meal on its own, with plenty of protein, carbs, and flavor in every bite. I like to pair it with a lighter vegetable side for a little extra nutrition. A simple green salad with balsamic vinaigrette or red wine vinaigrette, sautéed green beans, or sautéed broccolini are some of my favorite options.
Make-Ahead, Storage, And Freezing Tips
This cheeseburger casserole is one of my go-to freezer-friendly recipes for meal prep. It’s great to make ahead, and leftovers reheat well for easy lunches and dinners throughout the week. Here are my tips for keeping it fresh and getting the best texture:
- Make ahead: Prepare the beef mixture and assemble the casserole as directed, but don’t bake it. Cover tightly and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When ready to serve, bake as directed, adding a few extra minutes as needed since the filling will be cold. For the crispiest topping, I recommend adding the frozen tater tots just before baking.
- Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freeze: Divide the cooled casserole into individual portions and transfer them to freezer-safe airtight containers. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Reheat: For the best results, reheat leftovers in an oven-safe dish at 350°F until heated through. Cover loosely with foil if the cheese starts browning too quickly, then uncover for the last few minutes to help the tater tots crisp up. An air fryer also works well for reheating individual portions. The microwave is convenient, but the tater tots will be softer.
More Family-Friendly Casserole Recipes
Cheeseburger Casserole Recipe
This easy cheeseburger casserole combines savory ground beef, melty cheddar cheese, and crispy golden tater tots in one skillet. It’s a hearty, family-friendly dinner that’s easy to customize and perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons avocado oil
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion, diced (~1 ½ cups)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon fine salt, more to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 cup low-sodium beef broth
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 4 cups (16 ounces) frozen tater tots
- Optional garnish: chopped parsley or ¼ cup chopped pickles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400℉.
- Place a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. When the skillet is hot, add the oil and swirl to coat.
- Add the ground beef and onion to the skillet, breaking the meat into small pieces using a spatula or large spoon. Cook for 7-9 minutes or until no longer pink.
- Add the tomato paste, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to the skillet and stir to combine.
- Sprinkle the flour over the meat mixture and cook until the mixture thickens, about 2-3 minutes, stirring continuously.
- Once the beef mixture has thickened, add the mustard, broth, tomatoes, and 1 ¼ cups of cheese.
- Add the tater tots in a single layer over the meat mixture.
- Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the tater tots are golden brown and the meat mixture is bubbling around the edges.
- Sprinkle with the remaining cheese (about ¾ cup) and bake for an additional 3-5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
- Garnish with desired toppings and serve immediately.
- Leftovers may be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or frozen for longer storage.
Last Step! Please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive so we can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
Notes
Ground turkey, chicken, or venison can be substituted for the ground beef.
For a gluten-free casserole, substitute a 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour blend for the regular flour. Also, use gluten-free tater tots and ensure the beef broth is gluten free.
Nutrition Information
- Serving Size: ⅙ of the recipe or ~1 ½ cups
- Calories: 452
- Fat: 25 g
- (Sat Fat: 9 g)
- Sodium: 1218 mg
- Carbohydrate: 26 g
- (Fiber: 3 g
- Sugar: 4 g)
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
Dietary
The photos in this post were taken by Kaitlin of Creating Kaitlin.
For ultimate success, we highly recommend reading the tips in the full blog post above. All photos and content are copyright protected. Please do not use our photos without prior written permission. If you wish to republish a recipe, please rewrite the recipe in your own unique words. Link back to the source recipe here on The Real Food Dietitians. Thank you!
