Tater Tot Meatball Casserole With Cheese Sauce

close up of meatball potato casserole on a plate with green beans.

5 from 2 votes

Tater Tot Meatball Casserole With Cheese Sauce

Everyone will love the comfort food magic of cheesy tater tot meatball casserole–and it couldn’t be easier because I use frozen Farm Rich meatballs!

Prep Time35

Cook Time1 15

Total Time2

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Keyword: casserole, meatballs

Servings: to 8

Calories: 827kcal

Author: Tara Teaspoon

Ingredients

Gravy Base:

4 ounces cream cheese softened
⅓ cup finely grated Parmesan
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons Better Than Bouillon beef or vegetable flavor
¾ teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon cayenne

Casserole Filling:

3 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, cut into ¼-inch dice (1½ cups)
6 ounces button or cremini mushrooms, cleaned and chopped (1½ cups)
¼ cup chopped roasted red bell peppers
2½ cups whole milk
4 ounces smoked Gouda, shredded (1 cup)
4 ounces Cheddar, shredded (1 cup)
40 Farm Rich Homestyle Meatballs (frozen meatballs, thawed)
1½ pounds (24 ounces) frozen Tater Tots
Chopped scallions or parsley for garnish

Instructions

For the Gravy Base:

Heat oven to 375ºF.
In a mixing bowl beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the Parmesan, flour, bouillon, thyme, garlic powder, kosher salt, black pepper, and cayenne and mix until it is blended and smooth. Set aside.

For the Casserole Filling:

In a large high-sided skillet or Dutch oven, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add onion and mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent and mushrooms have released their liquid and are just starting to caramelize, 7 to 8 minutes. Add the roasted red bell peppers and reserved gravy base. Add the milk and stir to combine into cream sauce. Stir until mixture starts to thicken, about 4 minutes, and remove from heat.
Stir in half of each cheese. Pour cheese sauce into a 9-by-13-inch baking dish or lasagna dish. Add the meatballs and tater tots, nestling them into the sauce and leaving some on top. Cover dish with foil and transfer to the oven.
Bake casserole until sauce is bubbling throughout, 45 to 50 minutes. Uncover and top with remaining cheese then bake until cheese is melted and top begins to caramelize, another 15 to 18 minutes.
Let cool slightly, then garnish with scallions or parsley and serve.

Video

Notes

•Find roasted red peppers in a jar at the grocery store.

For extra flavor, (but hidden if the kids oppose!) I added sautéed mushrooms and roasted bell peppers, all topped with a golden blend of gouda and cheddar.

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