Cracked Hamburger Hash Casserole is one of my favorite busy weeknight dinners when I’m craving an easy, make ahead, savory meal. Loaded with ooey, gooey cheese, beef, broccoli, sour cream and a ton of amazing flavors, this is one of those tasty, addictive one-dish recipes I find myself making again and again!
Let’s talk about the term cracked for a minute. My family is absolutely hooked on any recipe that’s called that these days. If you haven’t heard of this term, you’ve been missing out! Cracked or cracked out generally refers to a combination of cheddar, bacon, and ranch mixed together in some tasty way. It is absolutely DELICIOUS!
In this cracked tater tot casserole, we combine those fantastic flavors 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. I promise you won’t be disappointed!
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 13×9 dish. Bake it immediately, or refrigerate/freeze for later. It’s seriously that simple. Complete Meal- This cracked out tater tot casserole checks off all the boxes for a wholesome family meal. With plenty of protein from the beef and cheese, vitamins from the fresh broccoli, and heartiness from the tater tots, this meal’s got you covered for dinner–one-dish style! 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 info, see Storing Cracked Hamburger Hash Casserole below. |
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 Cracked Hamburger Hash Casserole
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
Click here for a list of equipment needed for this recipe
- 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
Hold up: Is this a Cracked 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!
How to Make Cracked Hamburger Hash Casserole
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 13×9 dish and bake–or refrigerate and bake later.
Helpful Tips for this Recipe
- To save time, while I’m browning the ground beef, I chop up the broccoli and preheat the oven.
- 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.
- When transferring to the casserole dish, it’s helpful to spread the mixture with a sturdy spoon because it’s so thick.
Storing Cracked Out Tater Tot Casserole
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).
What to Serve with Cracked Hamburger Hash Casserole
Honestly, this hearty cracked out tater tot casserole is a meal within itself. We typically enjoy it with just a salad.
If you’re looking for more recipes that have cracked flavors (because cheddar, bacon and ranch are just so good together), check out Turkey and Cheese Pinwheels, Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas and Zesty Ranch Cheese Ball.
Cracked Hamburger Hash Casserole
Description
Ground beef, bacon, ranch, tater tots, cheese and more come together in this savory and easy, kid-friendly meal. Technically a tater tot casserole, we're calling it hamburger hash because of the way the tater tots fall apart when this is baked!
Cracked Hamburger Hash Casserole
How to Make Cracked Hamburger Hash Casserole:
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
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Cook ground beef in skillet over medium high heat until browned. Drain excess liquid.
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Chop broccoli into small, bite-sized pieces.
To save time, do this while the meat is cooking.
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Place the cooked and drained ground beef into a large mixing bowl.
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Add the bacon flavored bits and ranch mix. Blend until beef is coated.
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Add the chopped broccoli. Stir gently to incorporate. Set bowl aside.
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Empty contents of cheddar cheese soup and sour cream into a separate, small mixing bowl. Blend until smooth.
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Add the soup mixture to the large bowl. Stir well.
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Add the shredded cheese and blend.
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Carefully fold in the frozen tater tots.
This step takes a little bit of persistence because there are a lot of ingredients to mix together now. Use a large mixing spoon and carefully scoop and fold contents of bowl from bottom to top to mix. Repeat as necessary until tater tots are incorporated.
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Lightly grease a 13x9 dish. Then spoon casserole mixture into prepared dish.
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Place baking dish in a preheated 350 degree oven. Bake uncovered for 40-45 minutes, or until casserole is slightly bubbling.
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Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
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Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
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For additional storage instructions, including make ahead options, how to reheat leftovers, and freezing, refer to "Storing Cracked Hamburger Hash Casserole" in the above post.
Note
I almost always use extra lean ground beef for this recipe. I would not recommend going below 85%. This casserole has a lot going on, and you won't miss the extra fat and calories from a different higher fat percentage.
It is really helpful to use a very large mixing bowl for this-- there are so many ingredients to incorporate! I use a 4 quart glass mixing bowl and sometimes I wish I had an even bigger one!
This is a great make ahead recipe. 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).
User Reviews
Yeah, a new, easy recipe for ground meat. I’m definitely going to try this soon.
That’s great! It’s one of our favorites!