Step 4 Bake 30-35 minutes until the tater tots are golden.Place the tater tots on top in a single layer, arranging them in concentric circles (or just toss them on and push them very close together.) Sprinkle the top with parmesan cheese and the additional 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper. Step 3 Sprinkle the cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the casserole.Fold in the spinach to wilt slightly, then the corn. Drain off excess fat or liquid, if you like. Remove skillet from the heat. Stir in the soup, milk, salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper and mix until smooth. Cook the meat until no pink pieces remain, 6-8 minutes. Add the ground beef and break into small pieces with a wooden spoon. Step 2 Add the onion to the skillet and cook until slightly softened, about 4 minutes.

Set all of the bacon aside for topping later. Remove to a paper towel lined plate and leave the grease in the skillet. Add the bacon and cook until golden brown and extra crispy, 6-8 minutes. Remove the tater tots from the freezer to let them thaw slightly while you prepare the filling. Step 1 Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.When ready to bake, heat the filling on the stovetop over medium heat until warm, then top with tater tots and cheese and bake as directed. You could make the entire filling a day ahead, let it cool, then refrigerate. Tater tots help lock in the moisture of the meat mixture, but you'll want to leave them exposed so that they can get nice and crunchy on top. The time required in the oven is relatively short when compared to other hearty casseroles because of the precooked filling. For this cowboy casserole, you'll want to forgo the foil.

Should a casserole be covered when baking? Plus, because there's corn and spinach in the filling, there's no need for any additional sides. With easy prep and a 30-minute bake, dinner can be on the table in less than an hour. Any recipe that starts with crisping bacon then cooking onions in the bacon fat is bound to be delicious. With a creamy beef filling and a cheesy tater tot topping, this skillet dinner is sure to make a regular appearance in your weeknight rotation.

Tater tot casserole crock pot