Tater Tot Casserole

If you’re someone who loves cozy comfort food, then you must try this tater tot casserole. Loaded with bacon, cheese, homemade ranch dressing, and fresh herbs, it’s an explosion of flavor and a guaranteed hit with family and friends.

Here’s how to make this delicious tater tot casserole step-by-step.

Ingredients and Basic Preparations

Prepping the Vegetables and Cheese

Before we start cooking, let’s get our ingredients prepped:

1. Yellow Onion: Chop one cup of yellow onion. The chop doesn’t have to be fancy; a rough chop will do.
2. Green Onions: Cut one cup of scallions or green onions, removing the withered parts if necessary. Set these aside in a bowl.
3. Cheddar Cheese: Shred three cups of cheddar cheese, which equals about 12 oz. You can add a little more or less without any issues. Feel free to substitute cheddar with other semi-hard cheeses like Jack if desired.
4. Herbs: Prepare about a tablespoon each of fresh chives and fresh dill, ensuring you remove the stalks from the dill. Set these aside for later.
5. Bacon: Roughly chop eight slices of bacon into 1-inch pieces. We’ll cook these in a large Dutch oven or a big pot over medium heat.

Cooking the Bacon

First, place the bacon pieces in the Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook the bacon, stirring occasionally, until it is close to crispy, which should take about 10 minutes. Keep an eye on it to ensure the pieces don’t clump together.

Once ready, transfer the bacon to paper towels on a cooling rack to drain off excess grease. If you’re a snacker, feel free to cook a couple of extra slices to munch on while cooking.

Preparing the Bacon Grease

Reserve 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease for the recipe and carefully discard the rest. Add these 2 tablespoons back into the Dutch oven.

Now, add the cup of chopped onions and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes until they are softened and slightly translucent. Add in 2 tablespoons of butter and let it melt into the mix.

Creating the Base of the Casserole

Combining the Ingredients

With the onions now softened and fragrant, it’s time to add the flour. Sprinkle in 2 tablespoons of flour and stir it into the onions, making sure it’s well combined. Cook this mixture for about 2 minutes. Next, pour in 1 1/4 cups (about 300 ml) of whole milk, stirring until well combined, and turn off the heat.

Adding Cheese and Sour Cream

Stir in half of the shredded cheddar cheese along with half a cup of sour cream. Mix thoroughly until the cheese has melted into the mixture. Add in half of the chopped scallions and continue to stir until everything is well integrated. The resulting mixture is rich, creamy, and full of flavor.

Incorporating the Tater Tots

Finally, stir in 16 oz (half of a 32 oz package) of frozen tater tots. Mix well so that all the tater tots are coated with the cheesy, creamy mixture. This is where the magic of this casserole starts to come together.

Assembling the Casserole

Transferring to a Baking Dish

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Transfer the mixture from the Dutch oven to a 9×13 inch baking dish. The transfer can be a bit tricky since the Dutch oven might be quite heavy, so take your time.

Layering the Tater Tots and Cheese

Spread out the mixture evenly in the baking dish. Top it with the remaining 16 oz of frozen tater tots, aiming for even coverage. Sprinkle the top with the remaining shredded cheddar cheese to create a cheesy layer that will turn golden and bubbly in the oven.

Adding the Bacon

Finish it off by sprinkling the cooked bacon pieces over the top. Your casserole is now ready to bake. Place it in the preheated oven and bake for about 35 minutes or until it’s golden and bubbly.

Making the Homemade Ranch Dressing

Mixing the Ingredients

While the casserole bakes, let’s prepare the homemade ranch dressing. In a medium bowl, combine:

• 1/4 cup of sour cream
• 2 tablespoons of milk
• All the chopped fresh dill and chives you set aside earlier

Add salt and pepper to taste, starting with a good pinch of each. Stir everything together until well combined. This refreshing ranch dressing will be drizzled over the casserole once it’s done baking.

Finishing and Serving the Casserole

Drizzling the Ranch Dressing

Once the casserole is out of the oven, let it rest for a moment—it will be crackling and bubbling, looking absolutely irresistible. Sprinkle the top with the remaining chopped scallions. Drizzle the homemade ranch dressing over the casserole. For a professional touch, you can use a piping bag, but spooning it over works just as well.

Plating and Enjoying

Now it’s time to plate up this cozy comfort food. Serve generous portions of the casserole, ensuring each plate gets a bit of everything: the crispy tater tots, gooey cheese, crunchy bacon, and the flavorsome ranch dressing. The combination of fluffy tater tots, crispy bacon, and rich cheese with fresh herbs is beyond delicious.

Conclusion

This tater tot casserole is truly an explosion of flavors and a testament to the magic of comfort food. Whether you’re making it for a family dinner or a gathering with friends, it’s sure to be a hit.

The blend of crispy tater tots, melty cheese, savory bacon, and homemade ranch dressing makes it a dish that’s as enjoyable to make as it is to eat. I hope you get a chance to try this recipe and share it with your loved ones.