Fries on the side are out, and my Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole is in! This easy dinner recipe combines all the components of the iconic McDonald’s Big Mac burger, tops it with its crispy tater tots and melty cheese, and bakes it with all your favorite fixings.
With thousands of dinner recipes, it’s easy to get overwhelmed deciding what to cook. But let me tell you why my Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole stands out from the crowd. This isn’t just another basic casserole—it’s a mashup of two fast-food favorites in one ridiculously easy recipe that the whole family will love (even the picky eaters).
What sets this recipe apart is how it nails that classic Big Mac taste without the hassle of grilling burgers or making a mess in the kitchen. I’ve broken down each step to be as simple as possible so you can go from prep to plate without any fuss. There are no fancy techniques or hard-to-find ingredients, just layers of deliciousness that make this a family favorite.
Plus, unlike other recipes that may skimp on flavor or feel like a compromise, this casserole gives you the full Big Mac experience (minus the bun)—juicy beef, melty cheese, zesty pickles, onions, and that iconic special sauce—all baked together and topped with crispy tater tots that bring the perfect crunch. It’s a one-pan wonder that’s impossible to mess up, making it ideal for busy weeknights or even game-day gatherings.
A delicious one dish dinner when you can’t decide between my Tater Tot Casserole, Big Mac Salad, Big Mac Sliders, Big Mac Sloppy Joes, and Big Mac Pizza recipes.
Ingredients Notes
- Frozen tater tots: Most tater tots are naturally gluten free. Make sure to check your label if you have dietary restrictions and require a gf casserole recipe.
- Ground beef: I used ground beef for this recipe to make my meat mixture. However, you can use extra lean ground beef, ground turkey, or ground chicken for a healthier option. For a vegetarian version, feel free to use your favorite meat alternative.
- Sweet yellow onions: Finely diced red onions will also work well.
- Thousand Island dressing: You can make your own Big Mac Sauce (for those true classic flavors) instead of using the salad dressing.
- Ketchup: A classic burger and french fry condiment!
- Pickle relish: Feel free to substitute diced dill pickles for the pickle relish for a different flavor.
- Yellow mustard: A classic burger condiment!
- Onion powder
- Kosher salt
- Shredded cheddar cheese: You can substitute the mild cheddar cheese with a cheddar-jack blend or Colby jack cheese. Any of these wonderful melting cheeses pair well with the other ingredients.
- Velveeta: Substitute chopped American cheese for the Velveeta if preferred.
- Fresh cracked black pepper
- Lettuce: Shredded iceberg lettuce is classic, but you can use a darker leafy green instead. Some darker leafy greens include romaine, red leaf or green leaf, butter lettuce, or even spinach. A combination of lettuce types works too.
- Roma tomatoes: You can substitute quartered grape tomatoes for Roma tomatoes.
- Deluxe American cheese: Although American cheese is the classic choice, you can substitute American cheese for cheddar cheese, Colby jack, Monterrey Jack, Pepper Jack, Swiss, or Kraft Singles slices if needed.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole
- Prepare The Potatoes: Bake the tater tots at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes.
- Make The Meat Mixture: In a large skillet, cook the ground beef and diced onions until the beef is no longer pink. Drain any excess grease and return to the pan. Stir in the Thousand Island dressing, ketchup, pickle relish, mustard, onion powder, kosher salt, and pepper.
- Melt Cheese In The Meat: Stir the shredded cheddar and cubed Velveeta into the ground beef mixture until the cheeses are melted. Remove from the heat.
- Top With Tots: Spread the ground beef and cheese mixture into the bottom of the baking dish. Sprinkle the top with the remaining shredded cheese and a single layer of tater tots.
- Bake: Bake the casserole, uncovered, at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 50-55 minutes or until the meat mixture is bubbling and the tater tots are golden brown.
- Serve: Top the casserole with lettuce, tomatoes, and American cheese. Drizzle with Thousand island salad dressing and serve while hot. Enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
This cheesy, meaty casserole is a hearty meal on its own. However, you can serve it with a side of garlic green beans, a garden salad, or a broccoli salad.
Tips & Variations
Customize your Big Mac casserole recipe with your favorite burger or loaded potato toppings. Try jalapenos, avocado slices, sour cream, or scallions. You can even add toasted sesame seeds to copy the flavor of the sesame seed buns.
How To Make Homemade Big Mac Sauce
You can easily replace the Thousand Island dressing with my Big Mac Sauce. It’s a simple combination of mayonnaise, ketchup, pickle juice, mustard, vinegar, paprika, and onion powder. For a lower-carb sauce, try a mixture of mustard, garlic powder, paprika, and sweet pickle relish.
Proper Storage
- To Store: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
More Twists on Classic Recipes
If you tried this Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!!!
Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 pounds (1 package) frozen tater tots (I used Great Value brand)
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 cup finely diced sweet yellow onions
- 1¼ cup Thousand Island salad dressing Divided: 1 cup and ¼ cup
- ½ cup ketchup
- ½ cup pickle relish
- ¼ cup yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 cups freshly shredded mild cheddar cheese Divide: 1 cup and 1 cup
- 4 ounces Velveeta cubed
- 1 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
- 1¼ cups shredded lettuce
- ½ cup diced Roma tomatoes
- 3 slices deluxe american cheese chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400*F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or heavy duty aluminum foil. Spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- Spread the package of frozen tater tots on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes.2 pounds (1 package) frozen tater tots
- While the tater tots are baking, spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
- In a 2.5-3 quart saucepan over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef and diced onions, stirring often until the beef is no longer pink. Drain any excess oil and return to the pan.2 pounds ground beef, 1 cup finely diced sweet yellow onions
- Lower the stove top heat to medium-low and stir in 1 cup of Thousand Island salad dressing, ketchup, pickle relish, mustard, onion powder, kosher salt and pepper until well combined.1¼ cup Thousand Island salad dressing, ½ cup ketchup, ½ cup pickle relish, ¼ cup yellow mustard, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
- Add 1 cup of shredded cheddar and cubed Velveeta. Continue stirring until the cheeses are melted and well incorporated. Remove from the heat.2 cups freshly shredded mild cheddar cheese, 4 ounces Velveeta
- Evenly spread the ground beef and cheese mixture into the bottom of the prepared 9×13 baking dish.
- Top with the remaining shredded cheddar.
- Arrange the partially baked tater tots in a single layer on top of the shredded cheddar layer.
- Bake the casserole, uncovered, for 50-55 minutes or until the meat mixture is bubbling and the tater tots are golden brown.
- Top the casserole with shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes and the chopped American cheese.1¼ cups shredded lettuce, ½ cup diced Roma tomatoes, 3 slices deluxe american cheese
- Drizzle the remaining ¼ cup of Thousand island salad dressing over the casserole. Serve while hot.
Jenn’s Notes
- To Store: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Customize Your Casserole: Customize your Big Mac casserole recipe with your favorite burger or loaded potato toppings. Try jalapenos, avocado slices, sour cream, or scallions. You can even add toasted sesame seeds to copy the flavor of the sesame seed buns.
