Ground Beef Totchos

Ground Beef Totchos are the ultimate comfort food mashup—crispy tater tots loaded with seasoned ground beef, melty cheddar cheese, and all your favorite taco toppings. Perfect for game day, family dinners, or a fun snack that everyone will love!

Ingredients

• 1 (32-ounce) bag tater tots
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 (1-ounce) package taco seasoning
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• Salsa, for serving
• Shredded lettuce, for serving
• Pickled jalapenos, for serving

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Arrange tater tots in a single layer on the sheet and bake 28–30 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
3. While the tots are baking, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
4. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up, until no pink remains.
5. Stir in taco seasoning and ¼ cup water. Simmer until the liquid is absorbed.
6. Once tater tots are baked, remove from oven and top with the cooked ground beef and shredded cheddar cheese.
7. Return baking sheet to oven for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.
8. Remove from oven and add your desired toppings (salsa, shredded lettuce, pickled jalapenos). Serve immediately.

Serving and Storage Tips

• Serving: Serve hot for maximum crispiness. Perfect with a side of guacamole or sour cream.
• Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 375°F for 10 minutes to keep tots crispy.
• Freezing: You can freeze cooked tater tots separately before adding toppings. Reheat in the oven for 15 minutes at 400°F.

Variations

1. BBQ Chicken Totchos – Swap beef for shredded BBQ chicken and drizzle with extra BBQ sauce.
2. Buffalo Chicken Totchos – Use shredded chicken tossed in buffalo sauce, top with blue cheese crumbles.
3. Vegetarian Totchos – Replace beef with black beans, corn, and sautéed bell peppers.
4. Loaded Nacho Totchos – Add diced tomatoes, black olives, green onions, and sour cream.
5. Breakfast Totchos – Use breakfast sausage, scrambled eggs, and cheddar cheese.
6. Pulled Pork Totchos – Use shredded pork with BBQ sauce, top with pickled onions.
7. Chili Totchos – Pour a small amount of chili over tater tots instead of taco beef.
8. Tex-Mex Totchos – Add refried beans, corn, and avocado slices.
9. Pizza Totchos – Use ground Italian sausage, marinara, mozzarella, and pepperoni slices.
10. Fiesta Totchos – Mix ground beef with diced bell peppers, corn, and taco spices.
11. Greek Totchos – Swap beef for lamb, top with feta cheese, tomatoes, and tzatziki.
12. Buffalo Cauliflower Totchos – Use roasted buffalo cauliflower instead of beef for a veggie twist.
13. Southwest Totchos – Top with grilled corn, black beans, jalapenos, and chipotle sauce.
14. Bacon Ranch Totchos – Sprinkle crumbled bacon and drizzle with ranch dressing.
15. Cheesy Jalapeno Totchos – Add extra shredded cheese, pickled jalapenos, and a dash of hot sauce.

FAQs

1. Can I use frozen tater tots?
   Yes! Bake them straight from the freezer for best results.
2. Can I make this ahead of time?
   You can prep the beef ahead, but assemble and bake the tots right before serving for crispiness.
3. Can I use ground turkey instead of beef?
   Absolutely, ground turkey or chicken works great with taco seasoning.
4. How do I keep the tots crispy?
   Serve immediately after baking and melting the cheese. Reheat in the oven, not the microwave.
5. Can I make this gluten-free?
   Yes, use gluten-free tater tots and taco seasoning.
6. What toppings work best?
   Salsa, shredded lettuce, sour cream, guacamole, pickled jalapenos, or diced tomatoes.
7. Can I add beans?
   Black beans or pinto beans make a hearty addition.
8. How spicy is this recipe?
   The spice level depends on the taco seasoning and toppings you choose. Adjust accordingly.
9. Can I freeze assembled totchos?
   It’s best to freeze the tater tots and beef separately, then assemble and bake before serving.
10. Can I make it vegetarian?
    Yes, swap beef for beans, roasted veggies, or plant-based crumbles.

Ground Beef Totchos are a fun, crowd-pleasing meal that’s perfect for any occasion—from quick weeknight dinners to game-day snacks. The combination of crispy tater tots, savory seasoned beef, and gooey melted cheese makes them irresistible. With endless topping options and easy variations, you can customize them to suit any taste, whether you like it spicy, cheesy, or loaded with veggies. Serve immediately for maximum crispiness, and watch them disappear in minutes!

Print