Skillet Tater Tot Casserole is an updated childhood classic made in one skillet and without condensed soup! This gluten free dinner recipe is always a smash hit.
“This was so delicious! Much better than the version I grew up with – can’t wait for my lunch leftovers!”
Tater Tot Casserole (or “hotdish” as my neighbors to the north in Minnesota like to call it!) has been officially updated – make that UPGRADED – to skillet meal status!
Oh yes, what you see here is saucy, seasoned ground beef and vegetables topped with the king of the frozen foods aisle, tater tots of course, all prepared in one skillet.
Comfort food does not get easier than Skillet Tater Tot Casserole!
Midwestern Classic Made Easy
Tater Tot Casserole is a Midwestern classic. Each satisfying and comforting bite is like a food hug. The dish usually calls for condensed soup to be mixed with browned ground beef and frozen vegetables which are poured into a casserole dish then topped with tater tots and baked. I’m ditching canned soup because it’s usually not gluten-free, is full of unnecessary ingredients, and my homemade version tastes way better.
I’ve also updated the dish to be cooked entirely using just one skillet. From browning the ground beef, simmering the flavorful sauce, and crisping up the tots in the oven, all you need is an 10-12″ oven-safe skillet. I use my enameled cast iron skillet, though here’s a more budget-friendly option.
Skillet Tater Tot Casserole is a meat and potatoes dish that’ll stick to your ribs but since it’s made with mostly homemade ingredients you can feel good about feeding it to your whole family. We scrape the skillet clean anytime I make it for dinner!
Serve with Air Fryer Asparagus
How to Make This Recipe
Start by browning lean ground beef, seasoning with salt and pepper, then drain and set aside.
Next, melt butter in the skillet over medium heat then add sliced mushrooms and chopped shallots or onions. Saute until the mushrooms are tender and golden brown then add minced garlic and saute for 1 more minute.
Sprinkle in gluten-free flour (or AP flour if not GF) then whisk while cooking for 1 more minute.
Now slowly stream in chicken or beef broth and milk while whisking constantly to avoid lumps.
Add gluten-free tamari (or soy sauce if not GF), ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, plus smoked paprika then turn the heat up slightly to bring the mixture to a simmer.
Turn the heat back down to medium then simmer for a few minutes until the sauce has slightly thickened. Resist the urge to let the sauce reduce down too much as it will reduce in the oven. It will feel watery but trust me – it’s just right!
Stir the ground beef back into the sauce then remove the skillet from the heat and layer frozen tater tots on top. The precise amount will depend on how deep and wide your skillet is. You’ll want at least a 10″ skillet, but I also make this in our big 12″ cast iron and it works great too. Like I said, since the sauce is thin the tots will sink down a little bit but it’s fine!
Recipe Tip
If you don’t have an oven-safe skillet you could pour the mixture into a baking dish at this point, top with the tots, and then bake.
Pop the skillet into the oven then bake according to the time/temp indicated on the bag of tater tots. Let the dish sit and cool for about 5 minutes before serving up hot.
This dish will be a smash hit with the whole family. Kids (and kids at heart) adore the crispy tater tots, while the rich and flavor-packed sauce is unbelievably satisfying. Enjoy!
More Cozy Skillet Dinners
- Ground Beef Stroganoff
- Creamy Summer Veggie Gnocchi Skillet
- Cheesy Chicken Burrito Skillet
- Skillet Shepherd’s Pie
- Cheesy Gnocchi Florentine
- Beef & Veggie Enchilada Skillet
- Homemade Crunchy Taco Hamburger Helper
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- salt and pepper
- 3 Tablespoons butter
- 1 cup sliced or chopped mushrooms, any kind, I recommend button or baby bellas
- 1 large shallot or small yellow onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, pressed minced
- 3 Tablespoons gluten free flour, or AP flour if not GF
- 1-1/2 cups chicken or beef broth
- 1 cup milk, any kind
- 2 Tablespoons gluten free REDUCED SODIUM Tamari, or soy sauce if not GF
- 2 Tablespoons ketchup
- 1 Tablespoon worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 lb bag tater tots, Ore Ida recommended
Directions
- Preheat oven according to tater tot bag instructions. Brown ground beef in a large, 10-12" oven-proof skillet (cast iron works great) over medium-high heat, seasoning with salt and pepper. Drain then set aside.
- Turn the heat down to medium, melt butter in skillet, then add mushrooms and shallots. Season with salt and pepper then saute until mushrooms start to soften, 3-5 minutes. Add garlic then saute for 1 more minute. Sprinkle in flour then whisk to combine and cook for 1 minute. Slowly stream in broth and milk a splash at a time, whisking to avoid lumps. Add Tamari, ketchup, worcestershire sauce, and smoked paprika then turn heat up slightly to bring mixture to a simmer. Turn heat back down to medium then simmer until just slightly thickened, 2-3 minutes.
- Remove skillet from heat then stir in ground beef and arrange tater tots on top in a circular pattern. Place skillet on top of a baking sheet (or place one on the rack below) then bake according to tater tot bag instructions. Let sit and thicken for 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
Best tater tot casserole ever. This is my go-to recipe! The flavors are amazing. Such a comfort dish. Making it again tonight and realized I haven’t made a comment. FIVE STAR recipe! Yummm!
Made it tonight, substituted coconut almond milk for milk, added peas & corn for the hubby. I only used 1 tbsp ketchup and it was a hit! Thank you for a great recipe!!!
Love the peas and corn additions, Denise! So glad it was a hit!!
I have made a cheeseburger casserole. Instead of soup, I use ketchup and minced onion with the meat. Squirt some mustard and diced dill pickles on top. Then a layer of shredded cheese. Top everything with tatertots.
Sounds amazing – love the cheeseburger spin!
I was able to purchase La Choy soy sauce that is labeled gluten free.
Yes, soy sauce that is labeled gluten free is fine (I always double check the ingredients list if there’s no GFCO certification logo on it!)
This is a STAPLE in our house! We make this pretty frequently and my husband requests it all the time. We add extra veggies before throwing in the oven
Awesome!! I have taken to adding LOADS of frozen cauliflower rice to ours too!
California checking in – love this hot dish! I’ve got one in the oven right now. The recipe is so forgiving, I’ve scaled up both times for left overs which are absolutely great. So glad I found this!
Looks delicious! Probably worth noting that not all brands of Worcestershire sauce are not gluten free. Something that Celiac/allergy folks probably know, but for those avoiding gluten it’s one of those sneaky things!
Is there any way I can make this low Fodmap?
Yes! We skip the mushrooms and use green onions instead of shallots. Fody makes a low fodmap ketchup (can be found online although some grocery stores now carry it) and Trader Joe’s tator tots are low fodmap as well! If you want some garlic flavor (I always do!) you can use a little garlic infused olive oil (also from Trader Joe’s) while browning the ground beef.
Good luck! Low fodmap can be tricky, but this recipe is delicious and with a few tweaks, my husband can enjoy it without feeling sick!
Oops! I also forgot a broth suggestion. Massel 7’s stock cubes are low fodmap and can be found on Amazon. Most broth in the grocery store contains onion and garlic.
Made this tonight…VERY flavorful and my family loved it. I added frozen corn and pees just before putting the tators on top and it made it colorful and tasty. This will be in our rotation for sure! Great easy and fast recipe!
This was delicious and so easy! My toddler has been a bit picky lately but ate every bite of this. It reheated really well in the oven too.
Thrilled to hear that, Maggie! My kids all happily gobble this up, too!
My daughter requested tater tot hotdish-and said this was the best dinner ever. I used less milk, tomato paste instead of ketchup and skipped the soy sauce. Great for the whole family and more flavorful that typical Midwestern hotdish.
I’m so glad you all loved it, Mackenzie! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
what is a good side dish to go with this
This is delicious! I love the flavor! It’s definitely a “make again recipe!” I might add some mixed veggies to it next time.
This looks delicious! I don’t have a cast iron skillet- could I use my Dutch oven instead?
Hi Amanda! I would actually transfer the meat mixture to a baking dish then top with the tots!