Craving comfort food without the wait? This Air Fryer Tater Tot Casserole delivers crispy, cheesy, savory goodness in under 30 minutes. It's the perfect solution for busy weeknights, lazy brunches, or anytime you need a quick, satisfying meal.
Jump to:
Tater Tot Casserole is a beloved classic, and making it in the air fryer takes it to the next level. The air fryer crisps up the tots beautifully while keeping the inside tender and flavorful. Whether you're feeding a hungry family or meal prepping for the week, this dish is a game-changer.
🧡 If you love simple air fryer meals, check out my Air Fryer Breakfast Casserole with Sausage, Crispy Air Fryer Carrot Fries, or Breakfast Potatoes with Peppers and Bacon. They’re all big hits with the fam!
💖 Why This Recipe Works
- Quick & Easy: Ready in under 30 minutes with minimal prep.
- Family Favorite: A hit with kids and adults alike.
- Customizable: Easily adapt to your taste or dietary needs.
⭐ Star Ingredients
Here are the ingredients needed to air fry tater tots casserole:
- Ground Beef: I use lean beef for less grease and rich, savory flavor. A little paprika and pepper go a long way in boosting the taste.
- Cream of Mushroom Soup: The creamy binder that holds everything together. You won’t taste mushrooms—just cozy, umami-filled goodness.
- Frozen Tater Tots: Air frying gives them that perfect golden crunch. I like standing them upright for even crisping and a fun look.
- Shredded Cheese: A mix of cheddar and mozzarella is my go-to. Freshly shredded melts best and gives you that irresistible gooey top.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
📖 Substitutions & Variations
- Protein Swap: Try ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a lighter or vegetarian take.
- Soup Options: Swap the mushroom soup for cream of chicken or cheddar if that's what you have.
- Cheese Varieties: Use pepper jack for a little heat, or go with mozzarella for that stretchy melt.
- Add Veggies: Toss in corn, peas, or chopped bell peppers for extra flavor and nutrition.
🧡 If you’re a fan of easy comfort food, check out my Cheesy Zucchini Lasagna Rolls or cozy up with this Spinach Rice Casserole with Feta. Both are weeknight winners!
🔪 How to Make Tater Tot Casserole In the Air Fryer?
Here are step-by-step instructions for making air fryer tater tot casserole:
- Step 1: In a skillet, brown off the ground beef. Cook until the beef is rare as it will continue to cook in the air fryer.
- Step 2: Season the beef with salt, pepper, and paprika. Once the meat is cooked, mix in the can of mushroom soup and set aside.
- Step 3: Fill your pan with tater tots. Stand them straight up. Cook at 400° for 7 minutes or until the top starts to crisp.
- Step 4: Top the tater rounds with meat mixture and cook for 3 more minutes.
- Step 5: Add the shredded cheese tot he top of your tater tot casserole and cook for a further 3 minutes.
- Step 6: Let your tater tot casserole cool, garnish with parsley and serve.
💡 Hint: For extra crispy tots, preheat the air fryer and ensure the tater tots are arranged in a single layer without overlapping.
Can You Freeze Tater Tot Casserole?
Tater Tot Casserole is a great go-to meal when you're looking for a freezer meal! To freeze tater tot casserole, let the tater tots cool completely and then place in a freezer bag. When you're ready to eat it, just pop it into the air fryer or oven. You might also love this freezable Sausage Gravy recipe too!
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Prep Ahead: Assemble the casserole in advance and store in the fridge until ready to cook.
- Even Cooking: Ensure ingredients are evenly distributed for consistent flavor in every bite.
- Cheese Perfection: Use freshly shredded cheese for better melting and flavor.
- Tater Tot Tips: Keep tater tots frozen until ready to use to maintain their shape and texture.
💭 FAQs
Tater tots are simply diced potatoes that have been deep-fried or roasted. They are a popular side dish and can be found in most supermarkets. Tater tots are sometimes called hashbrowns or shredded potato wedges. Tater tots are potato puffs covered in a crispy coating and are often served with ketchup or your favorite dipping sauce.
Air frying tater tots takes 7 minutes, plus another 6 minutes for the other ingredients. So it will take 13 minutes in total for cooking tater tots casserole.
Yes! Assemble the casserole, cover, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When ready to cook, follow the air frying instructions.
Air fryer frozen tater tots are super easy to cook. You can air fry both defrosted or frozen tater tots until perfectly crispy and you only need to add an extra 4 minutes to the air frying cooking time if using frozen tots for this recipe.
💖 Serving Suggestions
Air Fryer Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole is so versatile and can be served with just about anything! Here are some of our favorite sides to pair with it:
- Mediterranean Farro Salad - Nutty farro with Mediterranean flavors brings a wholesome and textured option to the meal.
- Red Cabbage Coleslaw - A crunchy, tangy slaw adds a refreshing contrast to the richness of the casserole.
- Instant Pot Feta Pasta Salad - Creamy feta and tender pasta complement the savory flavors of the casserole.
- Goat Cheese Apple Salad - The sweet and tangy combination of apples and goat cheese is a delightful balance to the hearty casserole.
- Beetroot Carpaccio - Thinly sliced beets with a light dressing provide an earthy and elegant side.
🍽 Try These Simple Casserole Dishes
Did you make this recipe? Leave a review and a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below, or tag us in our Facebook Group! Alternatively, bookmark it in your browser or save to Pinterest.
Air Fryer Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 Lb Ground Beef
- ½ Teaspoon Salt
- ½ Teaspoon Pepper
- 1 Teaspoon Paprika
- 1 Can Condensed Cream Of Mushroom Soup
- 76 Tater Tots Frozen (We like Ore Ida Tater Tots)
- 1 Cup Shredded Cheese
- Parsley For Garnish
Instructions
- In a skillet, brown off the ground beef. Cook until the beef is rare as it will continue to cook in the air fryer.
- Season the beef with salt, pepper, and paprika
- Once the meat is cooked, mix in the can of mushroom soup and set aside.
- Fill your pan with tater tots. Stand them straight up. Cook at 400° for 7 minutes or until the top starts to crispy.
- Top the tater rounds with meat mixture and cook for 3 more minutes.
- Add the shredded cheese tot he top of your tater tot casserole and cook for a further 3 minutes.
- Let your tater tot casserole cool, garnish with parsley and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Just made this Air Fryer Tater Tot Casserole for dinner—so easy and the tots turned out perfectly crispy! Definitely adding this to our weeknight rotation. Who else is obsessed with tater tot anything?