Instant Pot Tater Tot Casserole

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It’s time for another classic casserole, updated to modern cooking methods. I made a good old fashioned tater tot casserole, only in the Instant Pot. Delicious comfort food with less effort – I’m all about that!

Traditional tater tot casserole requires browning the meat in a skillet, then transferring to a baking dish with the other ingredients before baking in the oven. Using the Instant Pot sauté function means this can all be done in the Instant Pot.

So not only is it faster, you also have fewer dishes to clean up!

Total win!

serving of instant pot tater tot casserole on a plate with broccoli.

Why I love this recipe

Any lover of comfort food classics will love this casserole. I live in the Midwest, and they are a specialty of ours!

The flavors of this meal are very similar to hamburger and potato casserole, but it is much faster to make.

Ground beef, cream of mushroom soup, some veggies, and oh yes – Tater Tots. And of course, cheese.

The essence of a casserole is that the end result is greater than the sum of its parts. The combination of ingredients makes a medley of flavors in every bite.

And by using the Instant Pot, we add another important element: easy!

Ingredients

How to make Tater Tot Casserole in the Instant Pot

Easy is the word of the day here!

Start with the Instant Pot sauté function and use it to cook the ground beef and onions. Add a few spices to give that beef some flavor.

ground beef and onions browning in teh Instant Pot on saute function.

Now, layer in the veggies. I use frozen beans and corn, and don’t bother thawing, just layer them on top of the meat.

One more layer: the can of cream of mushroom soup. Just scoop this over the top of the veggies, no need to stir anything at this point.

veggies and soup layered on top the beef mixture in instant pot.

Go ahead and close/seal the Instant Pot and set a 4-minute cycle. Yes, I really said 4 minutes.

Once the cycle is done, manual release the pressure and remove the lid. Add in some sour cream and cheese and give your casserole a stir.

add cheese and sour cream to the cooked mixture.

Now, the Tater Tots. I have an Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid, which makes this SO easy! Simply layer the tots with a little more cheese over the top of your casserole goodness. Then place the Air Fryer Lid on the Instant Pot and air fry for 10 minutes to heat the tots, make them crisp, and brown the cheese.

cooked tater tots and cheese on top of the casserole in the instant pot

No Air Fryer? Just cook the tots separately in the oven according to the package directions. Then add to the top of the Instant Pot contents and sprinkle with cheese.

There’s always a way!

serving of tater tot cassserole on a plate.

Expert Tips/FAQ

What are Tater Tots?

The beloved tater tot has quite humble beginnings. The founders of the Ore-Ida company had become big producers of frozen French fries in the 1950’s, but were disturbed by the massive amounts of potato scraps produced as waste. Their desire to find a use for these scraps is what led to the creation of the Tater Tot.

How long should I cook the Tater Tots in the oven?

Per the Ore-Ida package, this will take 20-25 minutes at 450F. other brands may vary, so please follow the package directions for your brand.

Can I use a different air fryer for the tots?

Of course! Just cook the Tater Tots in your air fryer until they are hot and crispy, then layer into the Instant Pot just as you would when using the oven for the tots.

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Instant Pot Tater Tot Casserole on a plate

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