14 Ingredients to Elevate Your Tater Tot Casserole

Tater tot casserole, also known as hotdish: a cozy, comfy classic that’ll warm up your kitchen and soul every time you make it. It’s known for its layers of meat, veggies, creamy gravy, and tater tots, all situated lovingly in a scoopable casserole format. This dish is downright delightful in its classic form, but it’s also easy to riff on depending on your tastes and what you have stocked in your fridge on any given day. Swapping a few ingredients here or there can transform its flavor profile, all while maintaining its comfort food status.

Whether you’ve made tater tot casserole a hundred times before or are preparing it for the first time, you should know some of the best ways to switch up its flavor. That way, you can personalize your tater tot casserole, making it the ideal easy dish for you and your family. You should consider incorporating the following ingredients into the dish to give it a new and different flavor profile. Who knows? You may discover a new way of making the classic and never return to the standard recipe again.

Many tater tot casserole dishes call for the same ingredients: ground meat (usually beef), frozen or canned veggies like peas or corn, and some “cream of” sauce. But the way we see it, those ingredients are just a suggestion. Tater tot casserole can be made with a wide variety of ingredients, and we especially like incorporating burger flavors into this casserole. Think about it: You already have the ground beef — essential for burgers — as well as the tater tots, which usually function as a burger side dish. Why not harness some of those same burger flavors you know and love?

Burger sauce is a great way to start; if you don’t have any on hand, you can opt for ketchup and mustard instead. Bacon can give your casserole a deliciously fatty kick, and mushrooms make for a more interesting texture. Once it comes out of the oven, you can spread some shredded iceberg lettuce on top of the casserole to freshen things up, and pickle relish can play a similar role. Experiment with different burger flavors, and you’ll have a whole new dish to add to your rotation.

There are few saucy ingredients in your pantry that can pack more flavor than buffalo sauce, which is why it’s such a perfect addition to tater tot casserole. Let’s face it: With the standard ingredients, tater tot casserole can sometimes be bland, especially if you don’t season the meat well enough or use too much cream of mushroom or chicken. But buffalo sauce counters those fatty, round flavors by providing a sharp, zesty note. It’s generally quite acidic, which creates a nice contrast with tater tot’s heavier ingredients, but it has more character than something like, say, white wine vinegar. Sometimes, depending on the buffalo sauce you choose, it can even lend your casserole a touch of spice.

Just keep in mind that you should ideally add your buffalo sauce after you bake the casserole. If you drizzle it on before, your tater tots might get soggy instead of taking on that nice crisp they’re supposed to have. And if some people in your party aren’t fans of that bold buffalo flavor, then you can just keep a bottle of the stuff on the table so everyone can add as much — or as little — of the sauce as they want.

Why not switch up the flavor profile of your tater tot casserole completely by using inspiration from another classic casserole dish? We’re talking about shepherd’s pie. Usually, it’s covered in a layer of mashed potatoes, which, if you think about it, isn’t too far off from a tater tot casserole. Instead of mashed potatoes, sub in those frozen tater tots and call it a day. It actually makes the recipe easier to pull off since you don’t have to worry about making the mashed potatoes from scratch.

While you can still use ground beef and frozen veggies for this shepherd’s pie-inspired tater tot casserole recipe, skip the creamy sauce and opt for one made with tomato paste, red wine, Worcestershire sauce, and beef stock. This makes for a lighter, more complex-tasting dish with an umami punch that keeps things interesting. Layer on those tater tots, throw the casserole in the oven, and cover it in chopped parsley after it cools. It’ll give you a new way of thinking about this casserole format.

Ranch is one of those beloved creamy dressings that can transform just about anything it touches, which is why you may want to consider incorporating it into your tater tot casserole. It’s known for its herby, bright flavor profile, but it can also lend the dish an extra dose of creaminess if you use ranch dressing. So, why not skip the salad and just use it on your tater tot casserole instead?

You can add ranch flavor to your casserole in a few different ways. The easiest method is to drizzle some ranch dressing on top. Just like with the buffalo sauce, this is best done after you take the casserole out of the oven. If you’re not fond of adding even more creaminess to an already creamy dish, use a packet of ranch seasoning to capture that same flavor profile. Either stir it into the meat mixture for a well-incorporated flavor or simply sprinkle some on top when you add the cheese. Either way, it’ll make for a more interesting casserole.

If you love comfort food classics, then you’re probably just as much a fan of chicken pot pie as you are tater tot casserole. In fact, the two dishes have a lot in common. You have that creamy element of the sauce, the meaty base of the dish, and the starchy topping that brings it all together. But what if these two casseroles could join forces to create one delicious hybrid dish?

Luckily, they can, and it’s effortless to make it happen. Just take your favorite chicken pot pie recipe and only make the filling using the same ingredients you would if you were making the full dish. Instead of creating a crust, layer that filling in a baking dish and cover it with frozen tater tots. Pop the casserole in the oven, and you have a tater tot-topped chicken pot pie that’s crispier and has even more filling than the original.

We love a good high–low food combo, from fried chicken and Champagne to steak tartare and ruffles potato chips. Another unconventional but nonetheless delicious pairing is tater tots and caviar. It might seem counterintuitive to pair something as simple (and as cheap) as tater tots with an ingredient as expensive and exclusive as caviar. However, this juxtaposition is why the combo works so well. It’s unexpected, fun, and an easy way to elevate an otherwise budget-friendly dish. Tater tots, despite being fried and somewhat fatty, have a relatively neutral flavor profile, meaning they provide an excellent base for caviar, which features subtle flavors you don’t want to be overpowered by strong ingredients.

If plain tater tots and caviar work well together, it makes sense that caviar would make an excellent topping for a tater tot casserole. As much as we might enjoy the pricey stuff, we suggest getting a slightly lower-priced fish egg option, like bowfin caviar (which isn’t technically caviar since it doesn’t come from sturgeon but offers a similar flavor profile). Just plop some of those fish eggs on top of the casserole once it’s cooled, and you have a fun high-low casserole to serve at your next party.

If you love tater tot casserole but find that it can sometimes be too bland, all you need is an ingredient that can elevate the flavor in a bold, expressive way. Cajun seasoning can do just that, and it’s incredibly easy to add to the dish. You’ll want to choose a Cajun seasoning mix that’s heavy on the cayenne pepper if you are looking for a touch of heat in the dish, or you can always make your own if you want to control the spice level.

Like many of the ingredients on this list, there are a few different ways you can add Cajun seasoning to your tater tot casserole to amp up the flavor. Sprinkle some of the seasoning into your meat mixture, tasting as you go to ensure it packs enough punch for your liking. You can also sprinkle it on top of the dish if you want to taste that spiciness on the tater tots instead of the entire dish. Either way, this punch of flavor can seriously elevate an otherwise standard casserole.

If there’s one ingredient we always like to keep on hand, it’s canned beans. They’re a super convenient way to get in more protein and fiber and require essentially no prep work at all. Plus, they can be incorporated into a wide range of recipes — including tater tot casserole. Not only will they add more nutrition to the dish in the form of extra protein and fiber that will help keep you fuller for longer, but they also lend tater tot casserole a heartier, more interesting texture.

We like to simply pour a can of beans into the meat mixture to give it more heft, which also allows you to use less meat (and therefore save money in the process). However, if you don’t eat meat, don’t have any on hand, or just want to make a lighter casserole, you can omit the ground meat entirely and just use beans. Pinto beans, red kidney beans, and black beans work especially well, but you can experiment with different varieties depending on your own bean preferences. For a creamier consistency, try refried black beans.

One of the best parts of tater tot casserole is that layer of cheese that tops the recipe. It offers the dish more fat and creaminess and creates that gooey texture that makes it so craveable. Most recipes for tater tot casserole you’ll come across will call for shredded cheddar cheese, although you may substitute it with other varieties of yellow cheese you find in the grocery store. One cheese that’s not often called for is Parmesan cheese. This might be the best ingredient to add to your tater tot casserole since it packs so much flavor.

Parmesan cheese may not create the cheese pull of your dreams, but it does offer a salty, umami flavor that you won’t get from other cheeses, which means it enhances the flavor of the dish. If you want to work it into your tater tot casserole, you can skip the cheddar cheese entirely and use Parmesan or combine both cheeses for an extra layer of flavor. Either way, it’s a subtle, simple way to upgrade the standard recipe.

Taco seasoning is great for making flavorful tacos, of course, but it can be used for so much more. We love incorporating it into dishes that need a flavor boost, and tater tot casserole is no exception. Just like you add taco seasoning to your beef or ground chicken, you can do the same for the meat mixture in your tater tot casserole. That way, you won’t have to worry about seasoning the meat with any other ingredients, as it ensures the meat layer of the dish is as flavorful as possible.

Don’t have any pre-made taco seasoning on hand? Don’t worry — it’s easy to make your own taco seasoning with the spices you already have in your pantry. You’ll want to use a blend of paprika, cumin, chili powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and garlic powder, but you can feel free to experiment with other seasonings as you please. Some recipes even call for a pinch of brown sugar, which offers the blend more complexity and a hint of sweetness.

Tater tot casserole is generally envisioned as a rather humble dish. However, there are ways to elevate it and make it seem fancier, whether you want casserole night to be a bit more interesting or you’re planning on serving the dish to a crowd. One easy way to elevate your tater tot casserole? Add truffle oil to the recipe. Truffles can be quite pricey, but truffle oil is often available at a much more accessible price point, which means you can drizzle it on liberally to get that interesting, funky flavor it imparts.

We recommend keeping it simple if you want to add truffle oil to your tater tot casserole. You can simply wait until the casserole has come out of the oven, then take a few glugs of oil and pour it over the top of the finished dish. That way, the flavor will be as fresh as possible.

For all the spicy food lovers out there, a typical tater tot casserole is missing one important element: heat. Unless you stir some crushed red pepper into the meat mixture, the flavor of this dish is quite mild. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do to turn up the heat. One of the best ways to do so is to simply top the casserole with freshly sliced jalapeños. Jalapeños generally aren’t too spicy (if you already have a pretty high spice tolerance), so they’re not going to overpower the other, more subtle flavors of the dish, but they do pack enough heat that they’ll give the casserole a much-needed pop of sharp, bright flavor. Not only that, but they’ll also contribute a beautiful pop of color to the casserole.

We think fresh jalapeños really shine here, but if you don’t have any on hand, you can also use the jarred variety. And if you’re interested in adding peppers on top but aren’t craving as much heat, opt for pepperoncini instead for a similar vibe.

One of the reasons tater tot casserole is such a good meal to have on your weekly rotation is that it’s so easy to make. Think about it: All you really have to cook is the meat. You just pop all the other ingredients into the oven, and they come out hot and ready to eat. A lot of this sense of ease comes from using canned and/or frozen ingredients. After all, it’s pretty simple to open a can of cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup and throw it in a casserole dish.

However, if you’re really interested in elevating your tater tot casserole, you might want to use your own homemade gravy. Will it take longer to make dinner if you decide to take this route? Of course. But it’ll also elevate your casserole, giving it that homemade touch that canned soup can never compare to. Plus, this allows you to control the flavor and salt content of the dish during the cooking process.

One of the easiest ways to elevate your tater tot casserole is to add one other salty ingredient to the top of the dish: bacon bits. These savory, fatty chunks of meat will make the casserole richer and more decadent, plus provide the dish with a slightly chewier texture. You can always use store-bought bacon bits if you want to keep things as simple as possible. If you choose to use the store-bought version, you’ll probably want to add the bacon to the casserole a few minutes before you take it out of the oven. This way, those little pieces of bacon will be heated enough to release their fat into the dish.

On the other hand, you can also use homemade bacon bits if you want a fresher flavor. Right before the casserole comes out of the oven, fry some bacon, ensuring that it’s super crispy — you don’t want those soft, flaccid pieces of fat mucking up the top of your casserole. Break those bacon strips into small pieces, and use them to top your tater tot casserole.