Craving an easy, make ahead, savory meal that the whole family will love? Loaded with ooey, gooey cheese, beef, broccoli, sour cream and more, Cracked Hamburger Hash Casserole is a tasty, kid approved, one-dish dinner that's perfect for busy weeknights.
My family is absolutely hooked on any recipe that's cracked these days.
Cracked or cracked out generally refers to a combination of cheddar, bacon, and ranch mixed together in some tasty way. It's what makes Turkey and Cheese Pinwheels and Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas so irresistibly good.
In this cracked tater tot casserole, we use that great flavor combo with ground beef, frozen tater tots, canned cheddar soup, broccoli and sour cream. The end result?--A creamy, hearty, stick-to-your-ribs, family meal that's superbly delish.
If you're intrigued about the frozen tater tot part and why I'm calling this recipe a hash (though this picture might give you a clue), keep reading!
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👪Why you'll love it
| Easy, make ahead recipe- After browning the ground beef, and making the creamy cheddar sauce, all the ingredients (including the frozen tator tots) get mixed together in a giant bowl. Then you transfer the mixture to a 13x9 dish. Bake it immediately, or refrigerate/freeze for later. It's seriously that simple. Kid approved- Kids love beef, cheese and tater tots. Mix them all together and toss in some broccoli (which, with all the other flavors, you honestly can't even taste), and this meal is a winner. Keeps well- Because this tater tot casserole is hearty and makes a lot, you will most likely have leftovers. This dish keeps well in the fridge and freezer both before and after it's made! |
For more family friendly ground beef casseroles, check out Beef Ragu Italiano, Chow Mein Beefy Rice Casserole, Mexican Stuffed Peppers, and Three Layer Cheesy Taco Bake!
🥘Ingredients
For a complete list with measurements, see the printable recipe card below.
- lean ground beef, cooked and drained--I often use extra lean; with all the other flavors, you won't miss the extra fat and calories from a higher fat percentage
- bacon flavored bits--I know not everyone's a fan of these, so feel free to use real bacon crumbles or cooked, chopped bacon
- dry ranch dressing mix--the mix is way more flavorful in this than bottled salad dressing
- fresh broccoli, cut into small pieces --may substitute defrosted frozen broccoli
- Campbell's Healthy Request Cheddar Cheese Soup--may substitute Cream of Cheddar
- reduced fat sour cream--Breakstone's or Daisy's recommended
- shredded Colby Jack cheese--cheddar is also good in this
- frozen tater tots-- do NOT defrost--these resemble hash in this recipe without all the work
🤔Hold up: Is this a tater tot casserole?
Technically yes, because it has cheddar, bacon, ranch AND tater tots in it. But because the tater tots are mixed into the casserole with all the other ingredients AND because they fall apart and resemble diced potatoes after baking, we're calling it a hash.
It's a you say potato--I say po-tah-to kind of thing. Now on to the tasty recipe!
🔪Instructions
For a more complete set of instructions, see the printable recipe card below.
- Brown the ground beef in a large skillet; drain. Then place it in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the bacon flavored bits and ranch mix. Stir until meat is evenly coated.
- Fold in the chopped broccoli. Then set this bowl aside.
- In a separate, small mixing bowl, mix the cheddar cheese soup and sour cream together to create a smooth sauce. Add this mixture to the large bowl; gently stir to incorporate.
- Add the shredded cheese and mix until blended.
- Fold the frozen tater tots carefully into the bowl.
- Transfer the cracked tater tot beef mixture to a 13x9 dish and bake--or refrigerate and bake later.
Hint: When transferring to the casserole dish, it's helpful to spread the mixture with a sturdy spoon because it's so thick.
🥣Substitutions
Meat: You can substitute lean ground turkey for the beef.
Veggies: Some readers have shared that they like to use frozen mixed vegetables in this recipe, rather than using broccoli. If choosing this option, defrost them first in a bowl of cold water and drain before adding.
📖Variations
Hamburger Hash Casserole: If bacon and ranch aren't your thing, simply omit these ingredients for more of an authentic hamburger taste.
Spicy Cracked Hamburger Hash Casserole: Add 1 tablespoon of chili powder and a finely diced jalapeño to the mixture before baking.
For a Tex-Mex tator tot casserole, check out Cowboy Casserole.
🍽Equipment
- skillet with lid
- meat chopper
- cutting board
- chef's knife
- large mixing bowl
- small mixing bowl
- measuring cups
- sturdy mixing spoons
- 13 x 9 casserole dish, lightly greased
🍶Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate. Enjoy within five days.
Reheating instructions: Bake covered at 325 degrees for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 5-10 minutes or until the tater tot casserole is heated through.
You may also freeze this for up to 2 months. If never cooked, thaw completely and follow original baking instructions. If cooked and then frozen, thaw completely and then bake covered at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until heated through.
***You can also assemble this casserole earlier in the day, refrigerate and bake later (it usually bakes for close to an hour if you chose this option).
💭Top tip
When you add the frozen tater tots to the bowl, this step requires a little bit of persistence and elbow grease. Use a large, sturdy spoon to mix all the ingredients and take your time to make sure everything is mixed well.
🗨️FAQ
That usually is the result of too much liquid and not enough baking time. I recommend using lean or extra lean meat that is drained well. If using frozen vegetables, defrost and drain them before adding. When baking, make sure the casserole is hot and slightly bubbling before removing it from the oven.
There's no need to thaw them before using them in a casserole. They bake fine from frozen and actually come out better that way.
🥄Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
🍴Pairing
These are my favorite desserts to serve with Cracked Hamburger Hash Casserole:
📋Recipe
Cracked Hamburger Hash Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean or extra lean ground beef cooked and drained
- ½ cup bacon flavored bits can substitute bacon crumbles or cooked, chopped bacon
- 2 tablespoon dry ranch dressing mix or one (1 oz.) packet
- 2 cups fresh broccoli cut into small, bite-sized pieces
- 1 (10.75 oz.) can Campbell's Healthy Request Cheddar Cheese Soup
- 1 (16 oz.) container reduced fat sour cream Breakstone's or Daisy's recommended
- 2 cups shredded Colby Jack Cheese can substitute with shredded cheddar
- 22 oz frozen tater tots do not defrost
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Cook ground beef in skillet over medium high heat until browned. Drain excess liquid.
- Chop broccoli into small, bite-sized pieces.
- Place the cooked and drained ground beef into a large mixing bowl.
- Add the bacon flavored bits and ranch mix. Blend until beef is coated.
- Add the chopped broccoli. Stir gently to incorporate. Set bowl aside.
- Empty contents of cheddar cheese soup and sour cream into a separate, small mixing bowl. Blend until smooth.
- Add the soup mixture to the large bowl. Stir well.
- Add the shredded cheese and blend.
- Carefully fold in the frozen tater tots.
- Lightly grease a 13x9 dish. Then spoon casserole mixture into prepared dish.
- Place baking dish in a preheated 350 degree oven. Bake uncovered for 40-45 minutes, or until casserole is slightly bubbling.
- Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- For additional storage instructions, including make ahead options, how to reheat leftovers, and freezing, refer to the above post.
Barbara K. says
Yeah, a new, easy recipe for ground meat. I'm definitely going to try this soon.
Kitchen Ready Betty says
That's great! It's one of our favorites!
Liz M. says
I added some leftover vegetables to this to save time and it turned out great. We are hooked on tater tot casseroles now!
Kitchen Ready Betty says
That's a great idea! That's the beauty of a casserole...there's almost always room for extra veggies and leftovers. We love tater tot casseroles too. Such an easy, hearty dinner!