Description
A comforting and hearty Cheesy Tater Tot Meatloaf Casserole combining flavorful ground beef meatloaf topped with crispy tater tots, melted mozzarella and cheddar cheese, and savory chicken bits. Perfect for a family-friendly dinner with a delicious twist on classic meatloaf.
Ingredients
Meatloaf Mixture
- 2 lbs lean ground beef
- 30 Ritz crackers
- 2 oz Lipton onion soup mix
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup ketchup and Hickory & Brown Sugar barbecue sauce mixture (from below)
Sauce
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 cup Sweet Baby Ray's Hickory & Brown Sugar barbecue sauce
Topping
- 24 oz frozen tater tots
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese blend
- 1/4 cup real chicken bits
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to get it ready for baking the casserole.
- Prepare Sauce: In a small mixing bowl, combine the ketchup and Sweet Baby Ray's Hickory & Brown Sugar barbecue sauce. Stir well and set aside.
- Mix Meatloaf Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the ground beef. Place the Ritz crackers in a large resealable plastic bag and crush them using a rolling pin until they become fine crumbs. Add the crushed crackers to the ground beef bowl.
- Add Seasonings and Eggs: Add the Lipton onion soup mix, two large eggs, and half (1/2 cup) of the prepared ketchup and barbecue sauce mixture into the ground beef bowl.
- Combine All Ingredients: Using your hands, thoroughly mix all the ingredients in the bowl until everything is evenly combined.
- Form Meatloaf Base: Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Press the meat mixture evenly into the prepared dish, forming the base layer of the casserole.
- Top with Sauce: Spread the remaining ketchup and barbecue sauce mixture over the surface of the pressed meatloaf.
- Add Tater Tots: Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single even layer on top of the sauce-covered meat.
- Add Cheese and Chicken Bits: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and cheddar blend evenly over the tater tots. Then, scatter the 1/4 cup of real chicken bits on top.
- Cover and Bake: Cover the casserole dish tightly with aluminum foil. Place it in the preheated oven and bake for 35 minutes.
- Finish Baking: After 35 minutes, remove the foil and continue baking the casserole uncovered for an additional 40 minutes, or until the ground beef is fully cooked through and the tater tots are crispy and golden.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes to set. Slice into portions and serve warm. Enjoy this hearty, cheesy casserole!
Notes
- Use lean ground beef to reduce excess grease during baking.
- Crushing the Ritz crackers finely helps bind the meatloaf better.
- Chicken bits add extra flavor and texture but can be omitted if preferred.
- Covering the casserole initially ensures the meat cooks evenly without drying out.
- Removing the foil for the last 40 minutes crisps the tater tots and melts the cheese perfectly.
- Letting the casserole rest before slicing helps maintain its structure.
