Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole
This comforting sloppy joe Tater Tot casserole is a helping of savory-sweet, bubbly goodness from your slow cooker.
- 1 bag (32 ounces) frozen Tater Tots, divided
- 2 pounds ground beef or turkey
- 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
- 1 bottle (8 ounces) sweet chili sauce
- 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon dried minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1-1/4 cups shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- Place half of the Tater Tots in the bottom of a 5-quart slow cooker.
- In a large skillet, cook the beef over medium-high heat until it's no longer pink, five to six minutes, breaking it into crumbles. Drain any excess fat or moisture. Stir in the tomato sauce, sweet chili sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, onion, salt and pepper, then reduce the heat and simmer for two to three minutes.
- Place the beef mixture in the slow cooker and top with the remaining Tater Tots. Cook the casserole, covered, on low for about four hours.
- Top the tots with the cheese and a sprinkle of paprika. Let the casserole stand, uncovered, for 15 minutes before serving it.
Whether you’re looking to feed a crowd or whip up an easy weeknight meal for the family, sloppy joe Tater Tot casserole is a comforting meal that fits the bill. After just 20 minutes of prep time, the mostly hands-off dish gets piled into a slow cooker (who doesn’t love a one-pot meal?), where the meat juices soak into crispy Tater Tots. Whether you enjoy it on its own or serve it with a simple salad, this nourishing casserole is easy to prep, serve and store.
We start by browning ground beef, then combine it with the sweet and tangy flavors sloppy joes are known for—tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce and brown sugar. Next, the meat gets layered into a slow cooker with Tater Tots and topped with shredded cheese and a sprinkle of paprika. It’s an easy way to get dinner on the table with minimal prep or cleanup.
Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole Ingredients
- Frozen Tater Tots: These little pops of shredded potato are a versatile ingredient to keep in your freezer. In this recipe, we start by lining the slow cooker with a layer of tots to act as a sturdy base for the slow cooker Tater Tot casserole. They hold everything together while soaking in the juices and flavor from the meat mixture. And did you know you can make Tater Tots from scratch?
- Ground beef or turkey: While ground beef is a rich addition to this dish, you could easily replace it with lighter ground turkey. Either protein will bulk up this dish with hearty flavor, so you can’t go wrong with either. Be sure to break the meat into smaller crumbles to help it disperse evenly throughout the casserole.
- Tomato sauce: Sweet and acidic at the same time, canned tomato sauce adds moisture and flavor to this sloppy joe casserole. You’ll add it to the cooked ground beef and let it simmer for a few minutes before pouring it over the tots.
- Sweet chili sauce: Adding a bit of tangy spice to this rich dish is a great way to offset any leftover grease from the beef and tots. Bottled sweet chili sauce combines with the meat and tomato sauce to add vibrant flavor that’s equally sweet, acidic, spicy and savory.
- Brown sugar: Add a bit of brown sugar to accentuate the savory flavors in this recipe. Brown sugar has a more caramelized flavor than white sugar, so it adds a deep complexity that pairs nicely with the ground beef.
- Worcestershire sauce: A few dashes of tangy, peppery Worcestershire sauce go a long way in this recipe. The umami flavor complements the beef’s richness and adds complexity throughout the dish.
- Minced garlic: Dried minced garlic has a slightly milder flavor than fresh, and it’s a convenient way to add quick flavor to soups and meat sauces. However, you can certainly swap in the fresh version if you prefer it.
- Minced onion: This rich, slightly nutty dried spice is packed with sweet and savory flavor. Using the dried version also saves a ton of time. It delivers a powerful punch without the need to spend time mincing a fresh onion by hand.
- Colby-Monterey Jack cheese: This pleasantly mild cheese melts easily and consistently, so it’s a great choice for casserole recipes like this one. Finish this sloppy joe casserole with a handful of shredded cheese and let it melt gently before serving it.
- Paprika: A few dashes of paprika make for a flavorful and colorful topping here. It’s a warm and vibrant spice that helps add smoky, sweet flavor to whatever dish it’s used in.
