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Philly Cheesesteak Tater Tot Casserole

Philly cheesesteak tater tot casserole is a hearty baked dinner with seasoned ground beef, tender peppers and onions, and a creamy cheese layer. Frozen tater tots bake up golden and crisp on top for a comforting weeknight meal.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes
resting 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 610
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

lean ground beef
  • 1.5 lb lean ground beef
olive oil
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
green bell pepper
  • 1 green bell pepper, diced
red bell pepper
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
yellow onion
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
cremini mushrooms
  • 8 oz cremini mushrooms, sliced
garlic
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
onion powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
garlic powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
smoked paprika
  • 0.5 tsp smoked paprika
salt
  • 1 tsp salt
black pepper
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
cream cheese
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
sour cream
  • 0.5 cup sour cream
provolone cheese
  • 1 cup shredded provolone cheese
mozzarella cheese
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
frozen tater tots
  • 1 32 oz frozen tater tots
fresh parsley
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Prep
  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Cook beef and vegetables
  1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the ground beef for 6–8 minutes until browned and no pink remains, then drain excess grease if needed.
  2. Add the bell peppers, onion, mushrooms, and garlic. Cook for 5–6 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
  3. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook just until fragrant.
Make the creamy cheese sauce
  1. Reduce the heat to low. Add the cream cheese and sour cream, stirring until smooth and creamy.
  2. Fold in half of the provolone cheese and half of the mozzarella cheese until melted. Keep stirring until fully incorporated.
Assemble and bake
  1. Spread the beef mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining provolone and mozzarella cheese over the top.
  2. Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer over the cheese. Bake for 35–40 minutes until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy.
  3. Broil for 2–3 minutes for extra crispiness if desired. Watch closely to prevent over-browning.
Finish
  1. Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley. Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

For the crispiest top, spread the beef mixture evenly so the cheese layer stays in a thin, continuous sheet under the tots. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days; reheat in a 350°F oven until warmed through. Freezing is not recommended because the tater tots lose crispness after thawing. Dietary swap: use turkey (93% lean or leanest available) in place of the ground beef for a lighter option.