Updated on August 26th, 2025
If you like casseroles that are both easy and filling, this taco tater tot bake is a great one to try. It takes classic taco flavors and layers them together with tater tots, enchilada sauce, and plenty of cheese to make a dinner that everyone will dig into. The mix of taco meat, corn, beans, and green chilies gives the dish lots of flavor and texture, while the tater tots on top bake up golden and crispy. It’s one of those meals that doesn’t take much effort but feels like a complete dinner when it comes out of the oven.
Why this recipe works
- Comfort food with a twist: The combination of taco flavors with crispy tater tots makes this casserole fun and different while still feeling familiar and comforting.
- Layers of flavor: Taco seasoning, enchilada sauce, chilies, and cheese all come together to give the dish a bold taste in every bite.
- Easy to prepare: Most of the work is just browning the beef and mixing the ingredients, so it’s a recipe you can put together quickly on busy nights.
- Hearty and filling: With ground beef, beans, corn, and potatoes, this casserole makes a full meal that doesn’t need much else to go with it.
- Family-friendly: The flavors are ones that both kids and adults enjoy, so it’s the kind of dish you can count on to please a crowd.
Serving suggestions
- Classic taco toppings: Add sour cream, salsa, or sliced jalapeños on top after baking to give each serving a fresh and customizable touch.
- Round out the meal: Serve with a simple side salad, Mexican rice, or chips and guacamole to make dinner feel complete.
- Great for gatherings: Make it in a large dish and set it out at family dinners or potlucks since it reheats well and feeds several people.
- Leftovers the next day: This casserole tastes just as good reheated, so it’s worth making a full pan even if you don’t plan to finish it all at once.
- Serve straight from the dish: Bring the casserole to the table warm from the oven and let everyone scoop out their own portion, which makes it relaxed and fun for weeknight dinners.
Adapted from Cullys Kitchen
PrintTaco Tater Tot Bake Recipe
Taco tater tot bake is a flavorful, cheesy, and comforting casserole perfect for busy weeknights. Easy, delicious, and always a family favorite.
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1lb ground beef
- 1 small onion (diced)
- 1 garlic clove (minced)
- 1 small can black olives (sliced)
- 1 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
- 1 (16 ounces) bag frozen corn
- 1 (4 ounces) can green chilies (diced and drained)
- 1 (12 ounces) can black beans (drained and rinsed)
- 1 (16 ounces) bag shredded Mexican cheese blend
- 1 (16 ounces) package frozen tater tots
- 1 (10.5-ounce fluid ounce) can enchilada sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Heat a skillet to medium-high heat. Add ground beef, garlic, and onion and cook while breaking the meat apart with a spoon or spatula until the ground beef is completely browned. Drain off any excess fat. Add taco seasoning mix, green chilies, frozen corn, and black beans to the ground beef. Cook until heated through.
- In a large bowl combine the ground beef mixture, ¾ of the Mexican cheese blend, and all of the tater tots. Stir well to combine.
- Pour about 1/3 of the enchilada sauce into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Add the tater tot mixture to the baking dish and lightly pat the mixture down into a solid, even layer. Pour the remaining enchilada sauce over the tater tots.
- Place into the oven and bake at 375 degrees for 40 minutes. During the last few minutes of baking, top the casserole with the remaining Mexican cheese blend and the sliced black olives. Return to the oven and bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 222
- Sugar: 5.1 g
- Sodium: 787.6 mg
- Fat: 4.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 22.2 g
- Protein: 23.7 g
- Cholesterol: 48.1 mg