Loaded Tater Tot Casserole

This loaded tater tot casserole layers a sour cream and Cheddar sauce with tater tots and bacon. With more bacon on top, a dill cream topping, and a final sprinkle of green onions, it’s incredibly tasty.

Preparation Details

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 55 mins

Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 4 slices thick-cut bacon
• 1 cup chopped yellow onion
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
• 2 cups milk
• 8 ounces shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, divided
• 1 (32-ounce) package frozen bite-sized potato nuggets (Tater Tots® ), thawed
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 bunch green onions , white and pale green parts chopped, divided

Steps

1. Gather all ingredients.
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (230 degrees C). Grease a 2-quart square baking dish.
3. Cook bacon in a large skillet until crisp, about 8 minutes. Drain on paper towels. When cool enough to handle, crumble bacon. Drain all but 2 tablespoons bacon drippings from the skillet.
4. Add onion to the skillet. Cook and stir until tender, about 5 minutes.
5. Add flour and cayenne pepper to skillet; cook and stir 1 minute.
6. Add 2 cups milk to the skillet. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly, about 3 minutes.
7. Gradually add 1 cup cheese to skillet, stirring until melted. Stir in half of green onions.
8. Place 1/2 cup sour cream in a small bowl. Gradually whisk in about 1/2 cup of hot sauce mixture. Return mixture to the skillet. Return to a simmer.
9. Add half of tots to the prepared baking dish. Top with half of sauce and half of bacon. Top with remaining tots, remaining sauce, remaining bacon, and remaining cheese.
10. Bake until bubbly and cheese on top is lightly browned, 35 minutes.
11. For dill cream, whisk together 1/4 cup sour cream, 1 tablespoon milk, and dill.
12. Drizzle over the casserole and top with remaining green onions.