This Cheesy Ground Turkey Tater Tot Casserole is a Midwestern comfort classic! Packed with veggies and topped with crispy tots, it’s a kid-friendly dinner.
Easy Ground Turkey Tater Tot Casserole
My kids absolutely love tater tots, so this recipe is always a huge hit in our house. It is classic Midwestern-style comfort food at its finest—creamy, cheesy, and topped with that perfect crunch. While we usually make this kind of baked casserole with beef, I started using ground turkey recently and honestly, nobody even noticed the switch!
This turkey tater tot casserole is the ultimate weeknight meal. It is loaded with mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn) so it’s a complete dinner in one baking dish. If you are looking for easy ground turkey dinner ideas that will actually get eaten by picky eaters, this cheesy tater tot bake is it. It comes out of the oven bubbly, golden, and pure comfort!
Key Ingredient Notes
- Ground Turkey: You need 1 pound. This is a great way to use turkey, but you can easily substitute ground beef or even ground chicken if that’s what you have on hand.
- Cream of Mushroom Soup: The classic binder for this casserole! If you aren’t a fan of mushroom, you can swap this for cream of chicken or cream of celery soup. Tip: I use this all the time so I started buying them in bulk because the individual prices have really went up at our local grocery store!
- Milk: Just a half cup helps thin the soup out to make a creamy sauce. Any percentage works.
- Frozen Vegetables: A 12-ounce bag of mixed veggies (usually peas, carrots, corn) is perfect. Tip: You do not need to thaw them first; just toss them in frozen!
- Cheddar Cheese: You need 2 cups total—one for the filling and one for the melty top. I prefer sharp cheddar for more flavor.
- Tater Tots: Grab a standard family-size bag (around 30 oz). You will use about 3/4 of the bag to cover the top – keep the rest in the freezer for hot dog night. Keep them frozen until you are ready to assemble.
How to Make Turkey Tater Tot Casserole
Start by cooking the ground turkey and onions in a skillet until the meat is browned. Stir in the garlic right at the end so it doesn’t burn.
Stir in the cream of mushroom soup, milk, spices, and the frozen veggies. You want to mix it well until everything is creamy and combined.
Pour the turkey mixture into your baking dish and sprinkle half of the cheese on top.
Then, arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer over the cheese so they get crispy.
Pop it in the oven until the tater tots are nice and golden brown.
Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the crispy tots and bake for just a few more minutes until it gets bubbly and gooey.
Storing Leftovers
You can store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days. When you are ready to eat, you can reheat individual servings in the microwave, but keep in mind the tater tots will lose a bit of their crunch. If you want them crispy again, I recommend reheating the casserole in the oven or an air fryer at 350 degrees until it is warm. This meal also freezes great for up to 3 months; just let it thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
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Cheesy Ground Turkey Tater Tot Casserole
PrintIngredients
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 (10.5 ounce can) condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 (12 ounce bag) frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn)
- 1 (28-32 ounce bag) frozen tater tots (you’ll use about 3/4 of the bag to cover the top)
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F and spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Add the ground turkey and chopped onion to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook for 5–7 minutes, breaking the meat apart with a spoon, until the turkey is fully browned and the onions are soft. Add in the minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds. Drain any excess grease.
- Add the cream of mushroom soup, milk, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper and frozen mixed vegetables to the skillet. Mix well until everything is combined and creamy.
- Pour the turkey mixture into your prepared baking dish and spread it out evenly. Sprinkle 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese directly over the meat mixture.
- Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer over the cheese. (You want them side-by-side, not piled up, so they get crispy. Put any extras back in the freezer!)
- Bake uncovered for 30-35 minutes, until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy.
- Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese over the top of the crispy tots. Return to the oven for 5 minutes just to melt the cheese until it’s bubbly.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
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