Pioneer Woman Tater Tot Casserole
This one-pot Pioneer Woman Tater Tot Casserole Recipe is low on fuss and clean-up. Perfectly spicy and homey while being a complete meal the whole family will love. Add it to your menu this week!
Ingredients
Homemade Taco Seasoning:
- 1 ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¾ teaspoon dried oregano
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
Tater Tot Casserole:
- 1 ½ tablespoon olive oil
- ½ large white or yellow onion diced
- 1 large sweet pepper red, orange, or yellow, seeded and diced
- 1 pound ground turkey preferably 90-93% lean
- 1 cup salsa
- 1 (15 ounce) can of black beans or pinto beans drained and rinsed
- 2 cups reduced-fat shredded Mexican cheese blend
- 2 ½ cups frozen tater tots
Toppings:
- sour cream, extra cheese, cilantro, black olives, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, etc.
Instructions
- Start by preheating your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Combine chili powder, garlic powder, salt, onion powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl.
- Use a 12″ cast iron or other non-stick skillets to heat the olive oil over medium or medium-high heat, or until the oil sputters when flicked with water.
- Saute the onion and sweet pepper in the skillet for 4 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds or so, or until the onions are translucent and the peppers are softening.
- Add the ground turkey and seasonings to the onions and peppers and cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring and breaking up the turkey as it cooks, until it is crisp and cooked through, and the mixture is fragrant.
- Stir in the salsa and drained beans to the turkey mixture. Bring the ingredients to a boil and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring every 1-2 minutes, or until the liquid has evaporated and the mixture has thickened.
- Then, remove the pan from heat. If you’re using a cast-iron skillet, sprinkle the cheese evenly over the turkey, followed by the tater tots evenly spaced (about 1″ between each). If using a non-stick or non-oven safe skillet, pour the turkey into a greased 8 x 13″ baking dish and top with cheese. Pipe the tater tots on top and sprinkle with cheese.
- Bake the Pioneer Woman Tater Tot Casserole for 22-25 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the tater tots are crispy.
- Remove from the oven and serve hot with taco toppings of your choice!
Notes
- Taco seasoning: For the homemade seasoning blend, you can substitute 1 tablespoon + 2 teaspoons of store-bought taco seasoning.
- Reheating leftovers: You can reheat individual servings of the casserole in a toaster oven on low for 2-3 minutes or in an oven at 300 for 5-6 minutes, or until the tater tots are crisp again.
- Making this recipe without a cast-iron skillet: After cooking the turkey and beans in a large non-stick skillet, pour them into a greased 8 x 13″ pan before layering cheese and tater tots on top. Bake the dish according to the directions, or until the cheese melts and is golden brown around the edges.
- Prepare all the ingredients before you start cooking: The Pioneer Woman Tater Tot Casserole recipe moves quickly, so it’s best to have all the ingredients ready when you need them.
- Don’t drain the meat: Since the turkey is lean, it does not have to be drained. Also, the seasonings will drain out with the meat juices. If you’re using higher-quality ground beef, cook it first with the onions and peppers, drain it, and then mix in the seasonings with the salsa and beans.
- Bake the casserole uncovered: As a result, the tater tots crisp and golden up, as well as the cheese melts and turns golden brown.
Nutrition
Calories: 417kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 34gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 65mgSodium: 1348mgPotassium: 826mgFiber: 8gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 1328IUVitamin C: 33mgCalcium: 491mgIron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!