Description
A comforting and delicious Cheesy Meatball Tater Tot Casserole that combines juicy meatballs, crispy tater tots, and a creamy cheese sauce baked to perfection. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner or freezer meal, this casserole offers a hearty and satisfying dish that the whole family will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatball Mixture
- 1 (26 oz) bag frozen meatballs, thawed if preferred
- 1 (10.5 oz) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Casserole Topping
- 1 (32 oz) bag frozen tater tots
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
Garnish
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the oven and the creamy sauce: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper until you achieve a smooth and creamy consistency.
- Coat the meatballs: Add the thawed meatballs to the soup mixture, gently tossing to ensure every meatball is evenly coated with the creamy sauce.
- Assemble the casserole: Spread the coated meatball mixture evenly onto the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese and 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the meatball layer.
- Add tater tots and cheese topping: Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer evenly over the cheese-topped meatballs. Then, sprinkle the remaining 1 cup cheddar and 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese evenly over the tater tots.
- Bake the casserole: Place the baking dish uncovered into the preheated oven. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly and the tater tots are golden brown and crispy.
- Rest and garnish: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes to set. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired before serving.
Notes
- You can substitute turkey or plant-based meatballs if desired for a different protein option.
- For extra flavor, consider mixing in sautéed onions or bell peppers into the creamy sauce before combining with meatballs.
- If using frozen meatballs directly without thawing, add an additional 5 to 10 minutes to the baking time to ensure they are heated through.
