Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole

Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole is a winning weeknight meal idea! It has everything you want: beef, mac sauce, pickles, and then it’s topped with crispy tots and cheese. Each bite is rich and bursting with flavor. I promise you will add this to your weekly dinner rotation if you try it.

I use homemade Big Mac sauce to capture the essence of a real Big Mac. It’s rich, tangy, and creamy, just like the real thing, and adds moisture to the beef as it cooks in the oven. The crispy tater tot topping adds a lovely textural contrast to the tender meat and gooey melted cheese.

If you like tater tot casserole recipes, you will love this Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole with Tater Tots and my Chicken Bacon Ranch Tater Tot Casserole.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It’s easy to prep ahead: I like that I can prepare this recipe in advance so it’s ready to go in the oven at dinnertime. It saves me so much time in the kitchen, especially when I want a home-cooked meal but don’t want to cook it.
• It’s a one-pan meal: Except for browning the beef, the casserole is baked in one pan. I like that I can stick it in the oven and do other things as it bakes to perfection.
• There are endless serving ideas: You can easily customize this Big Mac casserole, and you can serve it with any side dish, too. It pairs well with veggies, salads, or even rolls. Serve it how you like best!

Ingredients

Below you have two sets of ingredients: for the homemade Mac sauce and the casserole. I broke it up to make it easier to follow!

For the Big Mac sauce

• Condiments: I use mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard in my homemade version of Big Mac sauce. I know some are slightly different, but I find that these make the perfect base.
• Pickles: I add chopped dill pickles and a little bit of juice for extra zing. It also helps to achieve the right consistency.
• Vinegar: A little white vinegar adds more tangy flavor, too. I find Mac sauce to be on the tangier side, so I find that putting a small amount of vinegar balances it well.
• Spices: I use sea salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. These balance the other flavors and add a smoky kick.

For the casserole

• Ground beef: I like lean ground beef for this tater tot Big Mac casserole. Either 80-90% lean would be great.
• Onions: Yellow onion works great here because it’s not as strong as red onion, but also has a natural sweetness. Plus, it’s the same variety used on a Big Mac.
• Spices: I season the ground beef and onions with garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper. I keep it simple to mimic a hamburger.
• Cheese: I like to use shredded cheddar cheese in this casserole. Half of it goes on top of the beef mixture, and the remaining cheddar goes on top of the tater tots.
• Tater tots: Any brand and variety of frozen tater tots will work for this Big Mac casserole recipe. They add a lovely crispy texture on top.
• Toppings: I finish the casserole with shredded lettuce, dill pickle slices, and sesame seeds to copy a real Big Mac. The extra Mac sauce is for serving, too.

See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.

Variations

• Add more veggies: Try incorporating more veggies like diced tomatoes as a topping or mushrooms and grated carrots into the meat mixture for more nutrition and texture.
• Ground chicken: Make this a chicken Big Mac casserole by trading the ground beef for ground chicken.
• Low-carb: Try cauliflower tots instead of potato tots to make this recipe more low-carb/keto-friendly.

How to Make Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole

Here are the instructions for this Big Mac casserole with tater tots. It’s simple to prepare and layer before it goes into the oven. I recommend preheating your oven to 375 degrees F and greasing the 9x13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

Step 1: Make the Big Mac sauce. Combine all of the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until they are creamy and well-mixed. Set it aside for now!

Step 2: Cook the beef and onions. Cook the beef in a large skillet over medium heat until it’s browned. Then add the onions and spices, and cook the mixture for about 5 more minutes.

Step 3: Layer beef and sauce. Add the cooked beef mixture to the bottom of the prepared casserole dish. Spread half of the Mac sauce on top and save the rest for later.

Step 4: Add the cheese. Sprinkle half of the shredded cheese evenly on top of the meat and sauce.

Step 5: Add the tots and bake. Arrange the tater tots on top to completely cover the filling. Then, stick it in the oven and bake it for about 35-40 minutes or until the tots are nice and crispy.

Step 6: Melt more cheese and serve. Pull the pan out of the oven and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Let it bake until the cheese melts or for about 3-5 minutes. Garnish it with more sauce, pickles, and lettuce. Enjoy!

If you love recipes like this tasty hamburger and tater tot casserole, you may also enjoy this Old-Fashioned Hamburger Casserole or these Big Mac Sloppy Joes!

Storage Directions

• Storing: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Freeze leftovers or the whole casserole tightly covered in the freezer for up to 3 months.
• Reheating: Reheat leftover Big Mac casserole in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or in a 350-degree oven for 12-15 minutes.
• Make Ahead: Prepare this casserole up to 24 hours in advance and store it covered in the refrigerator. This will make dinnertime even easier!

Serving Suggestions

• Serve a tasty veggie on the side like asparagus spears in bacon or sweet carrots.
• Go with a salad as a side dish to keep it light and fresh. A simple tossed salad or this bell pepper salad) are lovely ideas.
• Enjoy a sweet and delicious dessert like old-fashioned rice pudding after a serving of hamburger tater tot casserole.

Big Mac Casserole with Tater Tots

Karin and Ken

This Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole is an easy dinner recipe the whole family will love. It has the same flavors as a classic Big Mac in a delicious casserole.

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Course mains

Cuisine American

Servings 10 Servings

Calories 713 kcal

Ingredients

  

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Big Mac Sauce

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 4 teaspoons ketchup
• 2 tablespoons dill pickle juice
• 1 tablespoon dill pickle minced
• 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
• 2 teaspoons white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• ½ teaspoon ground pepper
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika

Casserole

• 2 pounds ground beef medium
• 1 yellow onion medium, chopped
• ½ tablespoon garlic powder
• ½ tablespoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon ground pepper
• 3-4 cups cheddar cheese shredded, divided
• 1 32-ounce bag frozen tater tots
• ½ - 1 cup iceberg lettuce shredded
• ¼ - ½ cup dill pickles slices
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

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Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 375F and lightly spray a 9x13 casserole dish. Set aside.
• Make your Big Mac sauce by combined all the ingredients into a small bowl and whisk well.
• Add ground meat to a large pan over medium heat until almost fully cooked.
• Strain out some excess fat, then add onion, garlic powder, salt and pepper and cook for another 5 minutes.
• Transfer beef to prepared casserole dish, spread about ½ the sauce (or more) on top of the meat mixture, then top with half of the cheese.
• Place an even layer of frozen tater tots over top of the cheese, and bake uncovered, for 35-40 minutes or until the tater tots are golden and crispy.
• Top with the remaining cheese and bake for another 3-5 or until melted.
• Cool slightly, then top with lettuce, pickles, Big Mac sauce, and sesame seeds.

Notes

• To get the crispiest tater tot topping possible, keep them frozen. There’s no need to thaw them before adding them to the casserole.
• Skip thawing your casserole and bake it as a freezer meal. Add about 20-25 minutes to the cooking time.
• Store leftover Big Mac tater tot casserole in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Calories: 713kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 26gFat: 56gSaturated Fat: 18gPolyunsaturated Fat: 14gMonounsaturated Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 108mgSodium: 1549mgPotassium: 573mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 466IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 289mgIron: 3mg

Keyword big mac tater tot casserole

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