Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole

Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole brings all the flavors of the iconic burger and sauce with tater tots in one easy hot dish.

Tater Tot Casserole Big Mac Style

(Singing) Big Mac, Filet-O-Fish, Quarter Pounder, French Fries... I just can't even say "Big Mac" without singing this hand jive from my childhood. Please tell me I'm not the only one whose brain space is filled with this kind of nonsense.

My family loves a good tater tot casserole. I made the same one for years, but nowadays I experiment with other flavors of this family favorite. This Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole has all the goodies of a McD's Big Mac in a family-friendly, budget-friendly casserole.

I'm working on a Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole to share with yall soon. In the meantime, consider making Big Mac Wraps for more super Big Mac flavor. Or for the tots lovers, try my Loaded Tater Tots Casserole where chili tots go wild. Or for tots with a taco twist try this delish Tachos recipe.

How to Make Big Mac Sauce

If I'm going to claim Big Mac flavor for this Tater Tot Casserole I can't miss on the delicious Big Mac Sauce. So let's start there.

Big Mac Sauces is not Thousand Island Dressing. It has some similarities, but trust me. Make this sauce.

Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside and let them marry each other while you make the wrap portion.

• Mayonaise - The base of the sauce. Use a good quality one. I actually made mine homemade because I have a million eggs right now. NOT Miracle Whip this time.
• Sweet Pickle Relish - Brings sweetness and texture to the sauce.
• Yellow Onion, grated - This provides flavor to the sauce but grating it lets the onion just melt in your mouth.
• Mustard - Brings some needed acidity to the sauce.
• Spices - Contribute to the flavors of the sauce.
• Ketchup - It's the secret ingredient to bring it all together. Sweetness, color, richness.

Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole Ingredients

• Ground Beef - I like a 90/10 ground beef for this recipe so I don't have to drain off the fat.
• Salt and Pepper, to taste
• Garlic Powder - Easily brings a nice garlic flavor to the casserole.
• Chopped Onion, divided - Brings home the flavor while cooking the beef and a few more fresh on the top.
• Cheese Soup - Brings a deep cheesy flavor and moisture to the beef mixture.
• American Cheese Slices - Melts well and it's what the original McD sandwich has on it.
• Frozen Tater Tots - Makes this casserole a filling dish everyone loves.
• Lawry's Seasoning Salt - Flavors the tots.
• Shredded Lettuce - McD uses iceberg, but I broke from tradition here and used romaine.
• Dill Pickles, slices - Just like the original.
• Sesame seeds - Big Mac essential.

See the recipe card for quantities.

How to Make Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole

1. In a small bowl, stir together the sauce ingredients and allow them to mellow while assembling the casserole.
2. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef, salt, garlic powder, and chopped onions over medium-high heat. Cook until the burger starts to brown and get slightly crispy.
3. When ground beef is browned and onions are tender, stir in the cheese soup and ½ cup Big Mac Sauce. Spread in the bottom of a 9x13 baking pan.
4. Top ground beef mixture with cheese slices.
5. Spread tater tots over the cheese slices and sprinkle tots with Lawry's Seasoning Salt. Bake until tots are nicely browned.
6. Top golden brown tater tots with chopped lettuce, dill pickle slices, remaining chopped onions, remaining Big Mac Sauce, and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Serve immediately.

Hint: If you anticipate leftovers serve the lettuce on the side to prevent it from wilting.

Substitutions & Variations

• Ground Meats - Try this casserole with ground pork, venison, turkey, etc.
• Canned Cream Soups - I used canned cheese soup for this version, but use what you like. Cream of mushroom soup would be nice here. Or if you're not a fan of canned soups, simply add beef broth and thicken it with cornstarch.
• More Cheese, Please - Stir in more American cheese into the cooked beef base if you want it extra cheesy.

Sides for Tater Tot Casserole

Sometimes deciding what to serve with an all-in-one dinner can be hard. After all, this dish has protein, carbs, veggies, and dairy. The only thing missing for a well-rounded meal is a fruit.

Serve a simple side of fresh or canned fruit or try one of these recipes:

• Applesauce Jello - an easy way to fancy up jarred applesauce.
• Red Hot Applesauce Jello - a holiday and winter favorite with a sweet cinnamon twist.
• Best Ambrosia Salad - an easy fruit salad made with canned fruit, marshmallows, pecans, and coconut.
• Caramelized Apples - an easy side dish with big warm flavors. A simple way to turn a few apples into an impressive side dish or topping.

Storing Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole

Store leftover Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole tightly covered in the fridge for 2-3 days. It's best to serve the lettuce and onions separately.

FAQ

Related

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole:

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Food safety

• Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
• Wash hands after touching raw meat
• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
• Never leave cooking food unattended

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.