Description
This Cheesy Tater Tot Meatloaf Casserole is a comforting and easy-to-make dish combining savory ground beef meatloaf, crispy tater tots, and a melty blend of mozzarella and cheddar cheeses. Enhanced with a flavorful mix of ketchup, barbecue sauce, and onion soup mix, it’s a perfect family-friendly meal that bakes to golden, cheesy perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 cup Sweet Baby Ray’s Hickory & Brown Sugar barbecue sauce
Meatloaf
- 2 lbs lean ground beef
- 30 Ritz crackers, crushed
- 2 oz Lipton onion soup mix
- 2 large eggs
Topping
- 24 oz frozen tater tots
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese blend
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it’s at the right temperature for baking the casserole evenly.
- Mix Meatloaf Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, crushed Ritz crackers, Lipton onion soup mix, and eggs. Mix until all ingredients are well incorporated, but avoid overmixing to keep the meatloaf tender.
- Spread Meat Mixture: Transfer the meat mixture into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish and press it down evenly to form a uniform layer across the bottom.
- Prepare Sauce Layer: In a separate bowl, mix together the ketchup and Sweet Baby Ray’s Hickory & Brown Sugar barbecue sauce. Spread this sauce mixture evenly over the meatloaf layer to add moisture and flavor.
- Add Tater Tots and Cheese: Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer over the sauce. Then sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese blend generously on top of the tater tots.
- Bake the Casserole: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the meatloaf is cooked through and the tater tots are golden and crispy and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Notes
- For a crispier topping, you can broil the casserole for an additional 2-3 minutes at the end, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- You can substitute the shredded cheese blend with your preferred cheeses such as cheddar alone or a Mexican cheese mix for a different flavor profile.
- Using lean ground beef helps reduce excess fat but maintain juiciness.
- Let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes after baking to make serving easier.
- Feel free to add diced onions or bell peppers to the meatloaf mixture for added texture and flavor.
