Air Fryer Tater Tot Casserole
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This air fryer tater tot casserole recipe is an easy weeknight meal that comes together in less than 1 hour. Packed with hearty ground beef, a creamy sauce, crispy tater tots and lots of melty cheese, it’s the perfect comfort food dish.
Casseroles are an easy way to feed your family because they’re usually made with simple ingredients and cooked in a single dish. But the cooking time can be problematic during the week.
So I set out to transform the classic Midwest hot dish recipe into an easy air fryer version, which drastically reduces the cook time. Because no one wants to spend hours in the kitchen on busy weeknights.
We’re sharing tips to help you get the best results with this recipe. If you don’t need the tips, scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and a printable recipe card.
I love this hearty casserole because it can be a stand-alone meal. Or if you’re feeding hungry teenagers you can pair it with a couple of simple sides for a delicious dinner. And my whole family enjoys the flavors, making it a great choice if you’ve got picky eaters.
If you’ve never made air fryer tots as a side item, you’ve got to give it a try. It’s super easy and so much quicker than baking them in the oven. We’ve also made onion rings and homemade chips that turned out delicious.
New to air frying? Get the low down on maximizing your usage of this amazing small appliance, including easy clean up tips, with our best air fryer tips for beginners.
Tater Tot Casserole Ingredients
- ground beef – we like using lean ground beef because it’s healthier & there is less grease to drain.
- spices: paprika, salt, black pepper.
- condensed cream of mushroom soup – adds creaminess to the casserole.
- frozen tater tots – the crispy outside of the tots adds texture to the dish.
- shredded cheddar cheese – freshly shredded melts easier than store bought.
- chopped parsley – as a garnish, but it’s optional.
Get the complete ingredients & directions in the recipe card below.
How to Make Tater Tot Casserole in the Air Fryer
Add the ground beef to a large skillet and brown over medium heat until it’s light pink. Season with the salt, pepper, and paprika.
Stir in the condensed soup, then set aside.
Grease a baking dish with cooking spray or oil.
Stand up the tater tots, filling the pan in a single layer.
Add the pan to the air fryer basket and cook at 400 degrees F for 7 minutes, or until the tops start to crisp and are golden brown.
Pour the meat mixture over top and spread to the edges so all of the tots are covered. Cook for another 3 minutes.
Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top of the casserole and air fry for 3 more minutes.
Remove the casserole from the air fryer. Allow it to cool slightly and serve with additional cheese and toppings like your favorite dipping sauce or sour cream if desired.
Get the low down on our 12 must-have accessories for air fryer cooking.
Tips for Making Hamburger Potato Casserole
- Before starting, check to make sure your pan fits in your air fryer. We used a 9-inch round pan.
- If you have a smaller air fryer and are using a smaller pan, you may need to reduce the cooking time or cook in batches.
- I use a chop stir to break up the ground beef
- Don’t worry about the beef being pink after frying it because it will finish cooking in the air fryer.
Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- Meat: swap the beef for ground turkey or chicken if preferred.
- Veggies: bulk up the casserole with sautéed onions, green peppers, and veggies if you would like.
- If you don’t have cream of mushroom, you can use cream of chicken soup in its place.
- French Fries: swap out the tots for fries.
- Cheese: I use cheddar but feel free to swap with colby jack or monterey jack or any melty cheese.
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What to Serve With Crispy Tater Tot Bake
Cheesy tater tot casserole is a complete meal by itself, but is extra tasty when served with roasted green beans or an easy veggie salad or fruit salad. I like to keep the side dishes fairly simple since this is such a hearty dish.
How to Store Leftover Potato Ground Beef Casserole
The leftover casserole will stay fresh for 2-3 days when stored in an airtight container in the fridge, but the tots may not be as crispy as when freshly made. Reheat the leftovers in the air fryer at 350 degrees F or microwave until heated through.
This easy air fryer dinner recipe is a weeknight hero. It’s quick to make and deliciously hearty, making it perfect for busy moms and hungry families. So give this family favorite a try and let me know what you think!
More Delicious Casserole Recipes:
- Walking Taco Casserole
- Air Fryer Green Bean Casserole
- Cornflake Hash Brown Casserole
- Katie’s Cornbread Casserole
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Air Fryer Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef, I used 93% lean
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 20 ounce can condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 76 frozen tater tots, (amount may vary based on pan size)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- chopped parsley, optional for garnish
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef in a large skillet, cooking until it's rare (the meat will continue cooking the air fryer). Season with paprika, salt and pepper.1 pound ground beef, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Add the mushroom soup to the cooked meat and stir to combine. Set aside.20 ounce can condensed cream of mushroom soup
- Lightly grease a baking pan with oil or nonstick spray.
- Fill the pan with tater tots, standing them up.76 frozen tater tots
- Place the pan in the air fryer basket and cook at 400°F for 7 minutes or until the top of the tots start to crisp.
- Top with the meat mixture and carefully spread it out to the edges to evenly cover the tater tots. Cook for 3 more minutes.
- Add the cheese, sprinkling it evenly across the casserole. Cook for 3 minutes.1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Remove the pan from the air fryer and allow it to cool for a few minutes before serving and adding the optional garnish if using.chopped parsley
Notes
- Make sure your pan fits your air fryer basket before starting.
- I used cheddar cheese but you can use your favorite melty cheese or whatever you have on hand. Keep in mind that freshly shredded cheese will melt better than pre-shredded from the grocery store.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave or in the air fryer at 375 degrees F until warmed through.
- This recipe makes 6 normal-sized servings but if you’re feeding hungry teens feel free to cut it down to 4 servings.
Nutritional Estimate
Nutritional information is provided as a reference, using an online calculator. We recommend verifying the information independently for accuracy.
