Tater Tot Casserole Freezer Meal

Freshly baked tater tot casserole in a casserole dish.

This Tater Tot Casserole Freezer Meal is classic comfort food you can make ahead and freeze.

Course dinner, main

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

cooling time 30

Total Time 1

Servings

Calories 454kcal

Equipment

9x13 inch baking pan
Aluminum Foil

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef or turkey
1 small onion diced
1 10.75 ounce can Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup
½ cup milk low-fat or full-fat
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese mild or sharp
3 cups frozen Tater Tots
salt and pepper to taste

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

In a large skillet, brown the meat and onion. Work in batches if you need to—season with salt and pepper. Pour off any fat.
Stir in the Cream of Mushroom Soup, milk, and Worcestershire sauce. (Add green beans if using.)
Lightly grease however many baking pans you are using with a paper towel dipped in olive oil or use cooking spray.
Fill each dish with meat mixture, then half of the cheese, then tater tots, and the rest of the cheese on top of the casserole.
Bake at 400º F for 20 minutes until the top is almost golden brown.
Remove from the oven. Let cool slightly. Cover with airtight lids or foil to seal.
Place the partially baked casseroles in the refrigerator to cool the rest of the way. When it is no longer hot, place them in the freezer. Once they are frozen solid, you can pop them out of their pans, so you can use the pan while the casserole is in the freezer. Wrap in foil or plastic wrap, or use a large zipper freezer bag. Don't forget to label it.
TO COOK AFTER FREEZING: Remove the wrap from one of the casseroles, replace it in its original baking pan, and place the frozen casserole in the fridge to thaw overnight. Turn the oven on to 400º F and bake for 15 - 20 minutes.
TO COOK FROM FROZEN: 1 hour before you wish to serve it, place the casserole in a cold oven and turn it on to 300º F. Bake for 1 hour. Then turn the oven to broil setting and cook for a few more minutes to get a nice crisp on top. Check to make sure the center is hot before serving.

Notes

How to Store casserole UNASSEMBLED in Freezer
1. In a large skillet, brown the meat and onion. Work in batches if you need to—season with salt and pepper.
2. Stir in the Cream of Mushroom Soup, milk, and Worcestershire sauce.
3. Divide proportionally into bags (for instance, divide into four bags if you make four batches).
4. Now, divide the cheese into four other bags.
5. Divide the tater tots into four more bags.
6. Label and date all bags.
7. Rubberband one ground beef mixture with one cheese bag and tater tot bag together and freeze.
To Cook:
1. The day before you want to serve, take out one bag of meat and one bag of cheese and thaw them in the fridge.
2. Lightly grease a casserole dish with a paper towel dipped in olive oil or cooking spray.
3. Pour in the meat/soup mixture, and top with half of the cheese.
4. Top with the frozen tater tots and remaining cheese.
5. Bake uncovered at 425º F for 25 minutes.

Nutritional information is approximate and was calculated using a recipe nutrition label generator and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Nutrition