Crockpot Tex Mex Tater Tot Casserole
Easy Slow Cooker Meal Idea
Switch up dinner tonight and make some tex mex tater tot casserole in the slow cooker! It’s bursting with flavor and cheesy goodness. We normally make the traditional tater tot casserole using cream of mushroom/peas/carrots but I wanted a little spice to switch it up! My whole family ate seconds and asked if we could have it again next week, I call that a win!
To start, cook some chopped onion in a skillet until it’s soft and fragrant, then add in your ground beef and breakfast sausage. Cook until the meat is browned, breaking it up into tiny pieces as it cooks. Add in some diced tomatoes and green chilies, along with a can of whole kernel corn, and stir everything together.
Now it’s time to build your casserole. Start by spraying your slow cooker liner with some non-stick cooking spray, then add a layer of frozen tater tots to the bottom. Next, add a layer of your meat mixture, spreading it out evenly to cover the tots. Repeat the layers, adding the remaining tater tots and meat mixture. Cover it all up and cook on high for a few hours, until the tots are crispy and the filling is hot and bubbly.
The Final Touches: Cheese, Please! When your casserole is almost done, sprinkle a generous layer of shredded cheese over the top. Cover it up and cook for a bit longer, until the cheese is melted and bubbly. When you’re ready to serve, top it all off with a sprinkle of salt and pepper, a dollop of sour cream, and a spoonful of salsa. Dig in and enjoy the ooey-gooey, cheesy goodness!
Substitution Ideas
Get Creative with Your Ingredients! Hey, we get it – sometimes you just want to mix things up and try something new. Want to give your breakfast sausage a little Italian flair? Swap it out for some ground Italian sausage instead! And if you’re feeling extra spicy, ditch the regular Rotel tomatoes with green chilies for some Rotel with jalapeno or even a can of diced tomatoes with a squeeze of fresh jalapeno juice (just be careful not to add too much heat)!
Cheesy Goodness: The More, the Merrier! Now, let’s talk cheese – because, let’s be real, you can never have too much cheese! Feel free to substitute with your favorite cheddar, mozzarella, or whatever cheesy delight you’re craving. And if you want the ultimate melty, stringy cheese experience, shred that block of cheese yourself – trust us, it makes all the difference!
Finally, if you’re looking to add a little extra flavor to your dish, why not try adding a packet of taco seasoning to your ground beef? It’s an easy way to give your meal a boost of flavor without adding a ton of extra ingredients. So go ahead, get creative, and make this recipe your own!
Watch me make it…
Crockpot Tex Mex Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 1- pound ground beef
- 1- pound 16 oz breakfast sausage (Jimmy Dean)
- ¼ cup chopped onion
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 can 10 oz. Rotel diced tomatoes & green chilies, drained
- 1 can 15.25 oz whole kernel corn including the liquid
- 1 bag 32 oz frozen tater tots
- 3 cups shredded Colby cheese
Instructions
- In a skillet over medium heat, warm the onion. (cook for 2 minutes)
- Add ground beef, breakfast sausage and seasoning. Cook until the meat has no more pink (4-6 minutes).
- Add the Rotel tomatoes can and corn. Mix well. Cook for 2 minutes
- Spray your slow cooker liner with nonstick cooking spray.
- Pour half of the frozen tater totes in bottom of the slow cooker
- Add half of meat mixture, spread evenly.
- Add last half of the frozen tater tots
- Add the last half of the meat mixture
- Set the slow cooker on High
- Cook for 2 ½ hours
- Cover with cheese in an even layer
- Cook for more 30 minutes
- When serving, top with salt/pepper, salsa and a dallop of sour cream! Enjoy!
Notes
- Breakfast Sausage can be substituted with ground Italian sausage
- Rotel tomatoes with green chilies can be replaced by Rotel tomatoes with Jalapeno or a can of diced tomatoes and the juice of a jalapeno (Cut ½ inch piece of Jalapeno, slice in half, put in a garlic press and add the juice of the Jalapeno to the tomatoes.
- Cheese can be substitute with any cheese you like, cheddar, mozzarella. I personally prefer the cheese in block that I shred myself. It melts better and is more “string”.
- If you want more flavor you can add a packet of taco seasoning to your ground beef.
