Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole

5 from 1 vote

Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole bakes all the flavors of the classic burger and side of French fries into one easy, cheesy dinner. Topped with golden, crispy tater tots, it’s a family-friendly comfort food meal.

Prep Time15

Cook Time40

Total Time55

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Servings: (1 cup each)

Calories: 689kcal

Author: Jennifer Fishkind

Ingredients

2 pounds lean ground beef
1 cup finely chopped yellow onion
1¼ cups Thousand Island dressing (Divide 1 cup for filling and ¼ cup for topping)
¾ cup chopped dill pickles
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 tablespoons ketchup
2 teaspoons mustard
2 teaspoons onion powder
1½ teaspoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups freshly shredded mild cheddar cheese
32 ounce package frozen tater tots (I used the Ore Ida Crispy tots)
1½ cups thinly shredded lettuce (I use the prepackaged lettuce)
2 teaspoons sesame seeds (optional garnish)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish.
In a 4 to 5 quart skillet or saucepan over medium high heat, brown the ground beef and onion until the beef is no longer pink. (This should take about 6 to 8 minutes) Drain any excess oil.
2 pounds lean ground beef, 1 cup finely chopped yellow onion
Add in the 1 cup of thousand island dressing, chopped pickles, mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, onion powder, paprika, kosher salt and pepper. Stir until completely combined.
1¼ cups Thousand Island dressing, ¾ cup chopped dill pickles, 3 tablespoons mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons ketchup, 2 teaspoons mustard, 2 teaspoons onion powder, 1½ teaspoons smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper
Spread the meat mixture into the prepared baking dish.
Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the meat.
2 cups freshly shredded mild cheddar cheese
Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer on top of the cheese. (To avoid soggy tots, do not over crowd, to allow air to circulate while baking) Bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown.
32 ounce package frozen tater tots
Allow the casserole to rest for a few minutes before spreading the shredded lettuce over the top of the tater tot layer.
1½ cups thinly shredded lettuce
Drizzle the remaining ¼ cup of thousand island dressing and sprinkle the sesame seeds on top. Serve while hot.
2 teaspoons sesame seeds

Notes

Storage:

Make Ahead: Assemble the casserole up to 24 hours in advance. Cover tightly and refrigerate until ready to bake. When baking from cold, add an extra 5–10 minutes to the cook time.
Store: Cover and refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days.
Reheat: Warm individual portions in the microwave or the whole dish in the oven at 350°F until heated through.
Freeze: Assemble unbaked casserole, cover tightly, and freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight, then bake as directed, adding 10–15 minutes to the cook time

Tips:

Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes after baking so the layers hold together when serving.
If the tots start browning too quickly, loosely cover the dish with foil and continue baking.
Shred your own cheese instead of bagged for the best melt.
To keep the tater tots from getting soggy, bake them in a single layer without overcrowding. For extra crunch, prebake the tots for 10 minutes before adding to the casserole.

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