Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole
My Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole is filled with crispy tater tots, juicy ground beef, melty cheese, sweet pickle relish, and a copycat big mac sauce that completes it and makes it a big hit at my Super Bowl party every year.
This easy recipe is not only great for a party but makes a budget friendly meal, with a classic flavor that the whole family will love. I mean, who doesn’t love a trip through the drive thru for those hot, salty fries and a burger?!?
As far as delicious recipes go, it’s hard to find an easy dinner recipe that is as good as this cheeseburger casserole!
With such a simple recipe, I was surprised the first time I made it at how big of a hit it was, and it quickly became a regular in our house at dinner time.
When you’re craving fast food, this big mac casserole recipe is the perfect low carb, easy meal to make in a pinch.
Love budget friendly ground beef recipes? Check out this simple ground beef casserole, this Philly steak tater tot casserole, or this Big Boy bake!
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See recipe card for complete information on ingredients and their quantities.
Ingredient Notes
- Ground beef – Substitute lean ground beef for ground turkey if you prefer.
- Dill pickle – Can’t find dill pickles? Try using another variety like Gherkin mini pickles.
- Thousand island dressing – Substitute for this Big Mac sauce if you prefer.
- Mayo – Swap out the half cup mayo with sour cream if necessary.
- Frozen tater tots – Tater tots are the potato of choice for this recipe, so make sure you have these on hand! If not, you can replace with french fries.
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How To Make Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole
- Preheat oven to 400F. Spray large casserole dish with cooking spray. In a large skillet or large saute pan, add ground beef and spice on medium heat to medium-high heat.
- Remove from oven. On top of the cheese, spread lettuce, tomatoes, mini pickle slices, and remaining dressing. Serve cheeseburger tots warm.
For the full recipe and detailed cooking instructions, please see the recipe card at the end of this post.
Serving Suggestions
For this Big Mac casserole, I highly recommend pairing it with some cooked vegetables, like broccoli, brussels sprouts, or green beans.
More Big Mac Recipes
Storage and Reheating
Any leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days, as long as they’re stored in an airtight container. I would recommend leaving off the toppings (lettuce, tomatoes, sauce) until after you reheat it to avoid having them turn brown and wilt.
Best Way To Reheat
Reheat in the oven at 400F until heated through. The time it takes depends on if you are reheating one serving or the whole casserole.
For the microwave, heat in 2-3 minute intervals until warm all the way through. If you notice that it’s a little dry, add in some chicken broth or cream of mushroom soup to add some moisture back into it.
Tips For The Best Casserole
- If you like a crunchier casserole, I recommend cooking your tater tots for a little bit longer than package instructions and adding a little extra oil, until you get that nice, crispy browning. Pat excess oil with paper towels before adding to the casserole.
- I recommend making your own Thousand Island dressing for this, because you can adjust the ratios to your liking (looking at you, Worcestershire sauce lovers!)
- Dice and prep all your ingredients ahead of time for easier prep the night you bake it.
- Keep the toppings separate if you’re planning on making this ahead or storing portions for later. Like that lunch the next day!
If you love this recipe as much as I do, pin this to your favorite casserole Pinterest board and share it on your favorite social media channels!
This Big Mac tater tot casserole recipe is super easy to make and perfect with my homemade hamburger sauce!
Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 2 cups cheddar cheese 8 ounces, shredded yourself or cubed small – divided
- 1 cup diced dill pickles
- 1 ¼ cup 1000 island dressing divided
- ½ cup mayo
- 24 ounces frozen tater tots you might only be able to find 24 or 32 ounces *just use what fits dish*
Garnishes
- 1 1/2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
- 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup sliced dill pickles
- 1/4 cup 1000 island dressing
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F. Spray a 9×13 dish with cooking spray.
- In a large skillet over medium high heat, add the ground beef and spices. Cook until the beef is no longer pink. Drain excess fat if desired.
- Add the diced onion, diced pickle, 1 cup 1000 island dressing, mayo, and half the cheese.
- Spread into the prepared dish. Top with remaining cheese. Cover with tater tots.
- Bake at 400 for 40-45 minutes or until the beef mixture is bubbling and the tater tots are crispy and golden brown. Check to see if the internal temp is 165F.
- Remove from the oven.
- Top with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and remaining dressing.
- Serve warm.
Notes
- If you like a crunchier casserole, I recommend cooking your tater tots for a little bit longer than package instructions and adding a little extra oil, until you get that nice, crispy browning. Pat excess oil with paper towels before adding to the casserole.
- I recommend making your own Thousand Island dressing for this, because you can adjust the ratios to your liking (looking at you, Worcestershire sauce lovers!)
- Dice and prep all your ingredients ahead of time for easier prep the night you bake it.
- Keep the toppings separate if you’re planning on making this ahead or storing portions for later. Like that lunch the next day!
Nutrition
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