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This chili cheese tater tot casserole recipe is what dreams are made of! My whole family loves when I serve this for dinner and I love how simple it is to toss together on busy weeknights. 
You guys ready to hear my deepest and darkest secret? The one that I never share with anyone ever, unless they ask nicely?
It’s my super secret chili recipe. I’m not sure you guys can handle it, but I put that super secret chili in this over the top chili cheese tater tot casserole, so brace yourselves.
I mean, let’s talk about the casserole for a minute before I tell you abut the chili. This is like chili cheese fries that you get to call dinner. It’s like that casserole your mom used to make for you in the 80s, but about a million times better. You’re going to fall head over heels in love with this one!
Alright, so anyway. The chili recipe. I’ve stalled long enough.
Every time I make chili, I get tons and tons of compliments on it. People are always asking for the recipe.
Aaaaaand that’s when I’m forced to tell them that I just follow the directions on the little packet of chili seasoning mix. <—- That’s it. That’s the recipe.
Of course I also have a steak chili recipe on the site and my slow cooker pork chili is pretty divine too. They don’t come from a packet. Promise.
Anyway, go grab your tater tots. Your whole family is going to flip for this dinner.
Chili Cheese Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 onion diced
- 1/2 bell pepper diced
- 1 packet chili seasoning
- 8 ounces tomato sauce 1 can
- 14 ounces diced tomatoes 1 can
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 cup grated cheddar
- 28 ounces frozen tater tots 1 bag
- 2 tablespoons cilantro
Instructions
- 1. Brown the beef, onions, and pepper in a large, deep skillet over medium heat, breaking it up as it cooks. When the meat is cooked through, drain and return to pan.
- 2. Stir in the seasoning packet, tomato sauce, and the can of diced tomatoes (do not drain). Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. While chili is cooking, preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- 3. Stir in the sour cream and remove from the heat.
- 4. Pour chili into a 13x9 baking dish and top with the cheddar cheese.
- 5. Place tater tots in an even layer over the chili and sprinkle with chopped cilantro.
- 6. Bake for 25 minutes or until tots are as crisp as you'd like. Remove from oven and serve immediately.
Linda says
Not really a chili cassarole. It has no beans! Other than that it was ok
Karly says
We don’t usually put beans in our chili, but as it states, you’re welcome to add them if you like.
Ann says
Oops ! Sorry didn’t see it, my bad!
Ann says
Got to have cheese?
Adam Gambill says
LAZY DAD FIX NUMBER 1. Wolf brand no beans chili. Literally 5 min of prep time.
Karly says
Brilliance.
d. tran says
how does this recipe freeze?
Karly says
I haven’t tried freezing it myself.
Jon Gary Larson says
Cheesy tator tots w/ground beef
Angie W. says
I made this last night and it was DELICIOUS!! I actually doubled the chili ingredients since i had several to feed. i will be making again real soon!!
Karly says
Glad to hear that! 🙂
Katy Blevins says
Oh my gosh! I absolutely love tater tots and this looks so good. Thank you for sharing your recipe! Might try it out one night for dinner.
Rahul @samosastreet.com says
This is awesome, Karly ! I am so hungry now, fortunately on my way to start my lunch, but now this looks so much better than what I have in my lunch box
Jan says
I think it might be Williams chili seasoning.
cookbook queen says
Sounds like we have the same chili recipe ;). I use the silver packet of chili seasoning (can’t remember the brand) and everyone LOOOOVES it! So hilarious.
This is DEFINITELY happening here. We already love your other tater tot casserole SO much!
Karly says
Yay! Hope this one is a hit, too.
(And we use McCormick chili packets – I’ll have to hunt down the silver packet and give your recipe a try. Hahaha.)