Philly Cheesesteak Tater Tot Casserole

Philly Cheesesteak Tater Tot Casserole

If you love the bold, savory flavors of a classic Philly cheesesteak, you're going to love this Philly Cheesesteak Tater Tot Casserole - all the flavors of the classic sandwich in a family-friendly casserole. Tender ground beef, sautéed peppers and onions, gooey melted cheese, all under a layer of crispy golden brown tater tots.

Course Casserole, Dinner

Cuisine American

Keyword philly cheesesteak recipes, philly cheesesteak tater tot casserole

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 50

Total Time 1

Servings

Calories 408kcal

Author Jessica - Together as Family

Equipment

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound lean ground beef (I use 93/7)
1 yellow onion finely diced
1 green bell pepper finely diced
3/4 cup beef broth
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons cold water
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (or shredded muenster or provolone)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
In a large skillet, over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and ground beef. Cook and crumble the ground beef until it's no longer pink.
1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 pound lean ground beef
Add the finely diced onion and green bell pepper into the ground beef. Continue cooking, while stirring often, until the ground beef is browned and the vegetables are softened. Drain any excess grease from the skillet if needed.
1 yellow onion, 1 green bell pepper
Stir in the Worcestershire sauce and beef broth, stirring well and scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet.
3/4 cup beef broth, 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
Add the garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper. Cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
2 teaspoons garlic powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
In a small bowl, whisk together the cold water and cornstarch. Pour the mixture into the skillet and simmer everything together for 3-5 minutes, stirring often, until the beef mixture thickens and looks glossy and saucy.
2 tablespoons cold water, 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Spread the ground beef mixture into the prepared pan in an even layer. Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single, even layer on top of the beef and then sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the tots.
^{*If you don't want the cheese to be golden brown, and prefer the tots crispier and browned, then layer the cheese on top of the ground beef layer and then add the tater tots on top (this is usually how I do it).}
1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots, 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes until the tater tots are browned and the cheese is melted and bubbling.
Let the casserole rest for about 5 minutes so it sets slightly, then scoop hot, and enjoy!

Notes

For extra crispy tots, bake the casserole for 20 minutes first, and then add the shredded cheese on top. This will not only make the tots crispier but it will also prevent the cheese from getting browned if that's something you don't want. Another option is to put the shredded cheese on top of the beef layer and then layer the frozen tater tots on top of the cheese. This way, they are on top and will get super crispy throughout the entire bake time.
It's important to let the casserole rest for at least 5-8 minutes after it comes out of the oven; this will help it set, thick slightly, and help it hold together when cutting or scooping for serving.
Once the diced onion and green bell pepper have been added, I like to let the ground beef cook until there are little browned bits on some of the ground beef. This not only cooks up all the oil in the pan (hardly any need to drain if you do this) but it also gives some texture and extra flavor to the ground beef with the browned bits.

Nutrition