Bacon Cheeseburger Crock Pot Tater Tot Casserole + VIDEO
73 Comments
Posted: 09/17/18
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Bacon Cheeseburger Crock Pot Tater Tot Casserole ~ Easy Slow Cooker Twist on a Classic Tater Tot Casserole! It’s creamy, cheesy and comfort food made easy!
I can’t believe August is already here!!! That means school time is around the corner for some of you and that means busy nights. When I am going to be having a busy night I like to use the help from my crock pot. And when life gets crazy I tend to crave comfort food.
Enter this Bacon Cheeseburger Crock Pot Tater Tot Casserole!
It’s super easy to make and made completely from scratch with no canned soups! Don’t worry though you can still substitute in a can of cream soup of your choice if you prefer. You could also bake this in the oven like a traditional tater tot casserole and I will give instructions for that as well. Don’t worry, I got ya covered. If you are looking for some more comfort food made in your crock pot check out this Slow Cooker Pot Roast, Slow Cooker Spaghetti and Meatball Soup, or this Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches.
I used my traditional tater tot casserole recipe and added in a hefty dose of bacon and cheddar cheese. Because bacon and cheese makes everything better, right?! And as I mentioned earlier I didn’t use canned soups in this tater tot casserole. It really isn’t that much harder to make a homemade gravy. Plus, I can pronounce everything that goes into it. Don’t worry it won’t be lumpy either.
I chose to put tater tots on both the top and bottom of the casserole. There weren’t enough leftover tater tots to make another batch so in the bottom they went. I also really didn’t want to store a bag with just a handful of tater tots left in it either. But if you are making this in the oven with a 9×13 baking dish you won’t be using them all.
This recipe makes a pretty large amount but it can easily be cut in half. I just make a large amount and have some for leftovers. Leftovers + kids + a busy day = one happy mama! You can serve this dish as is or serve with a simple tossed salad, or steamed vegetables and some crusty bread. YUM!
Watch the video below to see how easy it is to make this Crock Pot Tater Tot Casserole Recipe!
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Crock Pot Bacon Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole
Easy Slow Cooker Twist on a Classic Tater Tot Casserole! It's creamy, cheesy and comfort food made easy!
Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 10 strips bacon diced
- 1 small onion diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1/3 cup all purpose flour
- 3 cups milk
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- dash of hot sauce optional
- 3 cups cheddar cheese plus a little extra for topping if desired
- 12-16 oz bag frozen mixed vegetables
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- salt and pepper to taste
- 32 oz bag frozen tater tots
Instructions
- In a large skillet brown ground beef, bacon, onion and garlic over medium heat until beef is no longer pink. Sprinkle the flour over the ground beef and stir well to combine. Stir in the milk, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in the cheddar, frozen vegetables and sour cream.
- Spray the crock pot with non-stick spray. Place some tater tots in the bottom of the crock pot. Pour meat gravy over tater tots. Arrange remaining tater tots on top. Cover and cook on LOW for 3-3 1/2 hours. In the last 10 minutes of cooking sprinkle with extra cheddar if desired. Cover and finish cooking.
Tips
If you would like to substitute in your favorite cream soup just omit the flour, milk, Worcestershire, and sour cream. If you are making the full amount add in 2 cans.
If you would like to downsize this recipe just cut the ingredient amounts in half except for the tater tots.
If you would like to make this recipe in the oven, spread meat gravy in a 9x13 casserole dish and top with tater tots. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until the tater tots are to your liking.
Video
Nutrition Information
Serving: 1, Calories: 613kcal (31%), Carbohydrates: 36g (12%), Protein: 36g (72%), Fat: 35g (54%), Saturated Fat: 15g (94%), Cholesterol: 116mg (39%), Sodium: 873mg (38%), Potassium: 846mg (24%), Fiber: 3g (13%), Sugar: 4g (4%), Vitamin A: 2230IU (45%), Vitamin C: 11.7mg (14%), Calcium: 370mg (37%), Iron: 3.6mg (20%)
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Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches
Slow Cooker Spaghetti and Meatball Soup
Sharon Marie says
Oh I just loved this Bacon Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole in the crock pot !!! I cut it in half and used a 2 quart crock pot. It was so nice not to have to use the canned soups with all the extra salt they contain. AND it was even better the next day. Thank you so much for this recipe :):)
I also have tried the Hamburger Wild Rice Casserole in the crock pot. And again it turned out GREAT !!!
Julie Evink says
Awesome to hear Sharon!
Keith says
The recipe left the top center tator tots very mushy. I was not happy with this. Probably could be solved by cooking in the oven instead but I personally don’t think this should be cooked in the crock pot due to this.
Michelle Sperr says
I haven’t had that complaint at our house yet! Sorry that you didn’t care for the texture on the tater tots when cooking this in the crock pot!
Linda says
I’m planning on trying this recipe later in the week. Can I freeze the leftovers for another tome?
Julie says
I haven’t tried freezing this one, I don’t know that the tater tots will hold up well being frozen after they’ve been cooked.
Mary Hanson says
Made this for dinner tonite ~~~it turned out great.!! I baked it instead of doing it in the crockpot. I cannot understand how the one gal said the meat, etc was “undercooked:”. My question is did she follow the actually cooking instructions after she mixed it all together.??? Also, what “grade”” of ground meat did she use ?? Leaner grade of ground meat would do away with any greasy-ness ?? I also “precooked” the bacon a little beforehand. I will be making this again sometime !!
Julie says
Thanks Mary! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe, thanks for sharing!
Michele says
Seriously disappointed. The tater tots on the top are so undercooked! This is a disaster, and a huge waste of food. I have been left scrambling to take the layers apart and into separate pans in the oven to salvage what I can and feed my family.
The bacon has to be cooked separately, as it can not possibly be cooked/crisp properly with the hamburger. It would be like eating chunks of fat. The should not be done in a crockpot.
Julie says
I’m really sorry this didn’t work out for you!
Valerie says
I want to use up some left over ground beef and bacon that I have already cooked… What do you suggest adding so I don’t lose the “beef gravy” you mentioned? Is it less savory? Planned on making this tonight!
Julie says
You can follow the recipe with flour, Worcestershire and sour cream. Otherwise if you would like to substitute in your favorite cream soup just omit the flour, milk, Worcestershire, and sour cream. If you are making the full amount add in 2 cans.
Chichi says
So we don’t drain the meat??
Julie says
If you want to drain the grease you can, but you don’t need to as it helps to create the meat gravy.
Kate says
Gross. You can’t taste any cheese at all – it is lost in all that sauce. The bacon should be fried up before hand… the way it is you have soggy undercooked pieces of bacon in a bland sauce that is the color of vomit. Highly do not recommend.
Julie says
In Step 1 it says to fry the bacon with the hamburger so there shouldn’t have been soggy under-cooked pieces of bacon. As for the sauce, I’m sorry it wasn’t to your liking. You’ll have to try a different recipe next time.
Kate says
Yes you fry up the bacon with the meat … so you end up with all this undercooked bacon. All of the grease from the meat and the bacon overpowers any seasonings and the cheese. It isnt sauce – it is undercooked meat in a bowl of grease. Obviously you are new to writing recipes. I suggest you find a new hobby.
Anna says
You are rude. Maybe you should research what gravy is and how it’s made homemade. It’s literally pan drippings FROM YOUR MEAT mixed with flour to make the roux. She also said you could substitute the gravy mixture for your favorite cream of soup, therefore you would need to drain the meat since you aren’t adding the flour to soak it up. It’s not rocket science. And as for the bacon not being crispy to your liking, you can literally cook it a little longer and it’ll be crispy. Tweak recipes to your liking. Just because she does hers this way doesn’t mean you have to do yours the exact same way. I mean you should know what you like. If you can’t cook just say that. 🙃
Kare says
Anna , I agree that this lady should just admit she cant cook. I know what gravy is – a whole crock pot of under cooked ground beef and un cooked bacon in meat juice is not delicious and not gravy.
Julie says
Thanks Anna, I appreciate the comment!
Kate says
Julie thats great that you appreciate annas comment that you should just admit you cant cook! If you want some tips I am happy to help you out!
Julie says
Hi Kate – I think Anna was referring to your cooking. I’m aware you are not a fan of this recipe, I apologize that it didn’t work out for you.
Shelbie says
If I wanted to cook it on high instead, would that be possible?
Julie says
Cooking on high might burn the tater tots on the bottom, I would recommend cooking on low.
Christina says
Is there a way to half this recipe there is only two of us??
Julie says
Yep just cut all the ingredients in half and you’ll be good to go!
Mary says
Looks yummy, can’t wait to try it. I think someone answered my question but just in case, have you ever made it without the veggies? My son is super picky and won’t eat them. Thanks!
Julie says
I haven’t tried it without the veggies but I think it would be fine! Otherwise replace it with a veggie he will eat, someone else made it with just corn and it turned out great!
Michele says
Don’t make this recipe. It’s not going to be well received.
Melisa says
My bacon was soggy when I served this, was I supposed to crisp the bacon before mixing in the ground beef?
Julie says
The bacon should crisp up while it’s cooking with the ground beef. If that didn’t work for you, then yes crisp it ahead of time and add it in.
Zane Blane says
Made this today without the veggies..in the crock pot now..even though this is a crockpot meal, it does require prep before it is one..I suggest dicing your onions and making the meat sauce ahead and refrigerate..then dump and go.
Julie says
Hope you enjoy it!
Jane says
Can you make the meat gravy ahead of time, then put into the crock pot the next day with the tots?
Julie Evink says
Yup I think that would work great!
Naomi says
It came out so good! This is the second time that I made it. My daughter is very picky but this is her ultimate favorite. Very good recipe and I have no complaints.
Michelle Sperr says
Awesome Naomi! I’m so glad to hear that this is your daughters favorite!!
Linda Matlock says
Getting ready to make this but can’t tell which size crockpot you’re using. Is this a 4-qt, 6-qt or larger?
Julie says
This was in a 6-quart.