Sweet Potato Tater Tot Casserole: The Ultimate Comfort Food
This sweet potato tater tot casserole is the definition of comfort food: warm, flavorful, and a hit with the whole family. Made with real ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions, this casserole is a satisfying weeknight meal that even the pickiest eaters will devour! Get ready to experience a delightful combination of savory ground beef, hearty vegetables, and the irresistible crunch of sweet potato tater tots.
Why You’ll Love This Sweet Potato Tater Tot Casserole
- Packed with Protein: This recipe features ground beef, a fantastic source of protein, alongside beef broth, and peas and mixed vegetables for a complete and balanced meal. Fuel your body with every delicious bite!
- Kid-Approved: Let’s face it, tater tots are a universal favorite! Elevate your kids’ meal by using sweet potato tots.
- Meal Prep Champion: Planning ahead? This casserole is a meal prepper’s dream! You can prepare it up to the baking stage and store it in the refrigerator or freezer until you’re ready to enjoy a hot, home-cooked meal.
- Easy and Quick: Requires minimal prep time and readily available ingredients.
- Versatile: Easily customizable to accommodate dietary restrictions and tastes.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Ground Beef: The foundation of our hearty casserole. For a lighter option, ground chicken or turkey works perfectly too!
- All-Purpose Seasoning: Elevate the flavor with your favorite seasoning blend.
- Red Bell Pepper: Adds a vibrant color and slightly sweet flavor. Any color bell pepper will work.
- Tomato Paste: This thickens the casserole base and creates a rich, savory coating for the beef, onion, and bell pepper.
- Garlic Cloves: Infuse the casserole with aromatic garlic.
- White Onion: Adds a savory depth to the dish. Yellow onion can be substituted if preferred.
- Frozen Vegetables: Simplifies meal prep while adding a boost of nutrients. I use one bag of mixed vegetables, and an additional cup of frozen peas.
- All-Purpose Flour: Helps to thicken the sauce, creating a creamy and cohesive mixture of beef and vegetables.
- Beef Broth: Enhances the savory flavor of the casserole. Chicken or vegetable broth can be used as alternatives.
- Sweet Potato Tater Tots: The star of the show! I love Alexia brand. For a homemade touch, try my sweet potato tater tots recipe.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Sauté the Onion and Garlic: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and a pinch of salt. Cook until the onions become translucent, about 3-5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute, until fragrant.
- Brown the Ground Beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet and season with all-purpose seasoning. Cook, breaking the beef apart with a spoon, until it is fully browned. Drain off any excess grease.
- Add Bell Pepper and Tomato Paste: Stir in the diced bell pepper and tomato paste. Cook, stirring constantly, until the tomato paste coats all of the ingredients and starts to caramelize slightly, about 2-3 minutes. This adds depth of flavor to the casserole.
- Combine the Vegetables and Broth: Add the frozen vegetables, frozen peas, all-purpose flour, beef broth, and remaining salt to the skillet. Stir to combine, ensuring that the flour is evenly distributed. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook until the sauce has thickened slightly, about 3-5 minutes.
- Top with Sweet Potato Tots: Arrange the sweet potato tater tots in a single layer on top of the beef and vegetable mixture. Get creative with the design!
- Bake to Perfection: Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges of the casserole are bubbly and the sweet potato tater tots are golden brown and crispy.
- Serve and Enjoy: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.
Flavor Variations and Simple Swaps
The beauty of this sweet potato tater tot casserole is its versatility! Feel free to customize the recipe to suit your taste preferences and dietary needs.
Tater Tots: While this recipe features sweet potato tots, you can substitute them with regular tater tots, seasoned tots, or any other type of frozen potato product.
Ground Meat: Ground turkey, ground chicken, or plant-based ground meat alternatives work just as well as ground beef. Adjust cooking times accordingly.
Veggies: Feel free to use any combination of frozen vegetables that you enjoy. Corn, carrots, green beans, and broccoli are all excellent additions. For an extra protein boost, add edamame.
Serving Suggestions
I like serving this sweet potato tater tot casserole directly from the skillet, placing it in the center of the table for everyone to help themselves. Be sure to include a generous portion of both the filling and the crispy tater tots in each serving.
Storage, Make-Ahead, and Reheating Instructions
Storage: Leftover sweet potato tater tot casserole can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheating: To reheat, cover the skillet with foil and bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 20 minutes, or until heated through. You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave.
Make-Ahead: Prepare the casserole up to step 4 in the recipe instructions. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 1 day, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before baking according to recipe instructions.
More Delicious Sweet Potato Recipes
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
- Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries
- How to Bake Sweet Potatoes
- Easy Sweet Potato Tater Tots
- Sweet Potato Recipes for Every Meal of the Day
Other Casserole Recipes You’ll Love
- Hamburger Casserole with Sweet Potato Cheese Sauce
- Greek Chicken Orzo Casserole
- Midwest Chicken Casserole
- Best Healthy Green Bean Casserole
- Southwestern Chicken Casserole
Cozy Sweet Potato Tater Tot Casserole Recipe
My sweet potato tater tot casserole is cozy, flavorful, and family-friendly. It’s made with simple ingredients and easy steps for a satisfying weeknight meal the whole family will enjoy!
By: Emily Richter
Prep: 20 mins | Cook: 20 mins | Total: 40 mins | Servings: 8
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Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 large white onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon sea salt, separated
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 3 teaspoons all-purpose seasoning
- 1 large red bell pepper, diced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 16 oz. frozen vegetables
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ½ cup beef broth
- 1.25 lbs. Alexia sweet potato tots, or any brand
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Heat olive oil in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet*. Add the onion and season with ¼ teaspoon salt. Sauté over medium heat for 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and saute for an additional minute.
- Next, add the ground beef and season with all-purpose seasoning. Cook the ground beef until cooked through. Add the bell pepper and tomato paste and toss. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes or until the tomato paste has coated all of the ingredients.
- Add the frozen vegetables, peas, flour, broth, and additional salt to the cast-iron and toss to coat all of the ingredients.
- Lastly, line the top of the casserole with sweet potato tater tots in a fun design.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the edges of the pie begin to bubble and the sweet potato tots begin to brown.
Tips & Notes:
- Many sizes of cast-iron pans would work; it will just dictate how thick the casserole is.
- Alexia sweet potato tater tots come in 20 oz. bags, and you’ll need approximately 25 oz. of sweet potato tater tots for this recipe. I recommend buying 2 bags of Alexia sweet potato tater tots, and you’ll have leftovers for another time.
Nutrition:
Calories: 312 kcal, Carbohydrates: 30 g, Protein: 15 g, Fat: 15 g, Fiber: 7 g, Sugar: 5 g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Photography by: The Wooden Skillet