Ultimate Ground Turkey Tater Tot Casserole: A Wholesome Family Favorite

The Ground Turkey Tater Tot Casserole is a beloved dish that brings comfort and flavor to any dinner table. This recipe artfully combines lean ground turkey, a rich and creamy mushroom soup base, tangy Greek yogurt, savory cheddar cheese, nutritious peas and carrots, and, of course, a delightful crispy topping of frozen tater tots. It’s a true classic that satisfies everyone from picky eaters to gourmet enthusiasts, proving that healthy can also be incredibly delicious and easy.

This easy ground turkey tater tot casserole is a comfort food classic reimagined for modern, health-conscious families. It transforms lean ground turkey into a truly flavorful and satisfying dish with a rich, creamy filling made from condensed cream of mushroom soup, protein-packed Greek yogurt, savory shredded cheese, and a touch of milk. The combination creates a hearty base that’s both indulgent and lighter than traditional versions, making it a perfect choice for those seeking delicious yet wholesome meals.

Perfect for busy weeknights, this casserole is something the whole family will genuinely enjoy. Its straightforward preparation means less time in the kitchen and more time around the dinner table. If you’re a fan of this incredible ground turkey tater tot casserole recipe, we highly recommend exploring other comforting recipes such as our green bean tater tot casserole for another twist on the classic, or the hearty Mexican cornbread casserole for a delightful change of pace.

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Essential Ingredients for Your Perfect Casserole

Crafting the perfect Ground Turkey Tater Tot Casserole begins with selecting quality ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in building the robust flavor and comforting texture of this family-favorite dish.

• Olive Oil: A staple in healthy cooking, olive oil is used for sautéing the ground turkey and onions. It not only prevents sticking but also infuses a subtle, fruity flavor and provides healthy monounsaturated fats, contributing to the dish’s overall richness.
• Lean Ground Turkey: This is the star protein of our casserole, offering a leaner and often healthier alternative to ground beef. It’s significantly lower in saturated fat and calories, making it an excellent choice for a lighter yet incredibly satisfying meal.
• Yellow Onion: Finely chopped yellow onion is crucial for building a foundational layer of savory flavor. As it cooks down, it sweetens and softens, adding depth and a pleasant texture to the creamy filling.
• Can of Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup: This ingredient is a classic shortcut, providing an incredibly creamy and rich base for the casserole’s filling. It ensures a consistent, velvety texture and a familiar, comforting taste that defines many beloved casseroles.
• Fat-Free Greek Yogurt: Incorporating plain nonfat Greek yogurt is a brilliant way to add a luxurious, low-fat creaminess to the dish. It also introduces a slight tang that brightens the flavors and contributes a boost of protein, making the casserole more substantial.
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese: Cheddar cheese delivers that irresistibly gooey, cheesy layer that everyone loves. Its sharp, savory notes complement the other ingredients beautifully, creating a comforting and flavorful experience.
• Milk: A splash of milk helps to achieve the perfect consistency for the casserole mixture, ensuring it’s smooth and evenly distributed. It enhances the creaminess, bringing all the flavors together in a cohesive, comforting sauce.
• Frozen Peas and Carrots: This colorful blend not only adds a vibrant visual appeal but also packs in essential nutrients and a pleasant texture. The sweetness of the carrots and the pop of the peas provide a nice contrast to the savory turkey and creamy sauce.
• Kosher Salt: Salt is essential for seasoning, elevating and balancing the flavors of all the ingredients. Kosher salt, with its larger flakes, distributes evenly and provides a clean, pure salty taste.
• Black Pepper: Freshly ground black pepper adds a gentle warmth and a subtle kick, enhancing the overall savory profile of the casserole.
• Garlic Powder: For an aromatic boost, garlic powder introduces a warm, savory garlic flavor without the sharpness of fresh garlic, blending seamlessly into the creamy base.
• Frozen Tater Tots: The undisputed star of the topping, frozen tater tots provide that iconic crispy, golden-brown crust. They transform from humble potato bites into a delicious, crunchy layer that perfectly contrasts with the creamy filling below.

Refer to the recipe card below for exact quantities and precise measurements to ensure your casserole turns out perfectly every time.

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Your Casserole

Follow these detailed instructions to create a delicious Ground Turkey Tater Tot Casserole that’s sure to impress. Precision and attention to detail at each step will yield the best results.

Begin by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C). This ensures the oven is at the correct temperature for even cooking and crispy tater tots. Lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking, then set it aside. This prepares your vessel for the delicious layers to come.

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once shimmering, add the lean ground turkey and brown it thoroughly, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. This usually takes about 5-7 minutes. Ensuring the turkey is fully cooked and crumbled prevents large clumps. Next, add the chopped yellow onion to the skillet with the turkey. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens and becomes translucent, which takes approximately 5 minutes. This step allows the onion to release its sweet, aromatic flavors into the meat. Once cooked, remove the skillet from the heat.

To the skillet with the turkey and onions, add the condensed cream of mushroom soup, fat-free Greek yogurt, half of the shredded cheddar cheese, milk, frozen peas and carrots, kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Stir all these ingredients together thoroughly until they are well combined and form a thick, creamy sauce. Ensure everything is evenly distributed. Take a moment to taste the mixture and adjust the seasoning as desired, adding more salt and pepper if needed to perfectly suit your palate.

Pour the turkey mixture into the bottom of your prepared 9×13-inch casserole dish. Use a spatula or the back of a spoon to spread it out evenly across the entire bottom surface. This ensures every serving gets a balanced portion of the delicious filling. The base layer is now ready for its cheesy and crispy toppings.

Evenly sprinkle the remaining shredded cheddar cheese over the turkey mixture. Distribute the cheese from edge to edge to ensure a consistent, melty layer that will bind the tater tots to the creamy filling. This cheesy layer adds another dimension of flavor and helps create that desirable golden crust.

Carefully arrange a single layer of frozen tater tots on top of the shredded cheese, ensuring they cover as much of the casserole’s surface as possible. For maximum crispiness, try to place them side-by-side without too much overlap. This will create a beautiful, golden-brown crust when baked.

Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when the tater tots are beautifully crispy and golden brown, and the creamy filling underneath is visibly bubbling around the edges. This indicates that the casserole is thoroughly heated and the flavors have melded together perfectly. Once baked, remove the casserole from the oven and allow it to cool for a few minutes before serving. This brief resting period helps the casserole set, making it easier to serve and preventing it from being too hot to enjoy.

Expert Tips for the Best Casserole

Achieving the perfect ground turkey tater tot casserole is easy with a few simple tips:

• Don’t Overcrowd the Skillet: When browning the ground turkey, avoid overcrowding the skillet. Cook it in batches if necessary to ensure it browns properly rather than steaming, which can result in less flavorful meat.
• Drain Excess Fat: Lean ground turkey usually doesn’t have much fat, but if you notice any excess liquid or fat after browning, drain it before adding other ingredients. This prevents a greasy casserole.
• Even Tater Tot Layer: For maximum crispiness, arrange the tater tots in a single, even layer. Overlapping them too much can lead to some tots becoming soggy instead of golden brown and crunchy.
• Pre-bake Tater Tots (Optional): If you desire extra crispy tater tots, you can lightly pre-bake them on a separate baking sheet for 10-15 minutes before adding them to the casserole. This gives them a head start on crisping up.
• Adjust Seasoning to Taste: Always taste the turkey mixture before spreading it into the dish. This is your last chance to adjust salt, pepper, or other seasonings to suit your family’s preferences.

Versatile Substitutions to Customize Your Casserole

One of the best things about this ground turkey tater tot casserole is its adaptability. Feel free to experiment with these substitutions to tailor the dish to your taste or what you have on hand:

• Olive Oil: While olive oil adds a nice flavor, it can be easily replaced with other cooking fats like neutral vegetable oil, canola oil, melted butter, or even a dairy-free margarine for a similar sautéing effect.
• Lean Ground Turkey: If ground turkey isn’t available or preferred, you can confidently swap it for ground chicken, lean ground beef (for a more traditional flavor), or a vegetarian ground meat alternative to make the dish meat-free.
• Yellow Onion: Any onion variety works well here. Substitute with white onions or sweet onions for a slightly different flavor profile. In a pinch, a tablespoon of onion powder can provide a concentrated onion flavor.
• Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup: This classic soup provides a rich, umami base. Alternatives include condensed cream of chicken soup or cream of celery soup, which will subtly change the flavor but maintain the creamy texture. For a homemade touch, consider a homemade cream soup alternative to control sodium and ingredients.
• Fat-Free Greek Yogurt: To maintain creaminess, you can swap fat-free Greek yogurt with any type of plain Greek yogurt (full-fat or low-fat) or traditional sour cream. Each will add a slightly different level of richness and tang.
• Shredded Cheddar: Cheddar is a classic, but any melting cheese will work beautifully. Experiment with mozzarella for a milder, stretchier cheese, Monterey Jack for a creamier melt, or a blend of your favorite cheeses like Colby Jack or a Mexican blend for added complexity.
• Frozen Peas and Carrots: This combination is convenient and tasty, but feel free to use any frozen mixed vegetables you prefer. Popular options include corn, green beans, diced bell peppers, or a combination of these for your own custom veggie blend.
• Frozen Tater Tots: If you can’t find tater tots, crispy crowns are a very similar potato product that will give you the same delightful crunch and texture. You can also try sliced and seasoned potatoes for a homemade twist.

Essential Equipment for Your Kitchen

• 9×13 Baking Dish – This standard-sized casserole dish is perfect for accommodating the volume of this recipe, ensuring even cooking and generous servings for the whole family.
• Large Skillet – A spacious skillet is essential for browning the ground turkey and sautéing the onion, allowing the ingredients to cook thoroughly and develop their full flavor before being mixed into the creamy sauce.

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Ground Turkey Tater Tot Casserole

Ground turkey tater tot casserole is a family favorite with lean ground turkey, cream of mushroom soup, Greek yogurt, cheddar cheese, peas, carrots, and frozen tater tots. This wholesome dish combines savory meat and creamy vegetables with a crispy potato topping, perfect for an easy weeknight meal that everyone will love.

5 from 2 votes

Recipe by: Kelsey Smith

Prep time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook time: 45 minutes minutes

Total time: 1 hour hour

Servings: 8 servings

Equipment

• 9×13 baking dish
• Large skillet

Ingredients

  

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pound lean ground turkey
• 1 small yellow onion chopped
• 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup 10.5 oz
• 1 cup plain fat free Greek yogurt
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
• ½ cup milk
• 2 cups frozen peas and carrots
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ black pepper
• 1 bag frozen tater tots 32 oz

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Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the ground turkey, about 5-7 minutes, breaking it up as it cooks. Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Stir in the cream of mushroom soup, Greek yogurt, half of the shredded cheese, milk, peas and carrots, salt, pepper, and garlic powder until combined. Taste and add additional salt and pepper if desired.
• Spread the turkey mixture evenly in the bottom of the prepared casserole dish. Evenly sprinkle the remaining shredded cheddar. Top the cheese with a single, even layer of frozen tater tots.
• Bake the casserole for 40-45 minutes or until the tater tots are crispy and golden brown and the filling is bubbling. Allow the casserole to cool for a few minutes before serving to let it set.

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Notes

Storage: To store any leftovers, ensure the dish cools completely to room temperature first. Then, cover it tightly with plastic wrap or transfer it to an airtight container. Keep refrigerated for up to 3-4 days. For longer storage, this casserole freezes beautifully.

Freezer: This recipe is fantastic for meal prepping and makes a great freezer meal, whether baked or unbaked. To freeze, wrap the entire casserole tightly with plastic wrap, pressing it against the surface of the food to prevent freezer burn, then add a layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Label with the date. When ready to bake or reheat, transfer the frozen casserole to the refrigerator to thaw overnight. For best results and optimal crispiness, reheating in a preheated oven is highly recommended. Cover loosely with foil if the tater tots start to brown too quickly.

Nutrition

Calories: 499kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 26gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 75mgSodium: 1194mgPotassium: 630mgFiber: 4gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 3680IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 288mgIron: 2mg

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: casserole, tater tots, turkey, vegetables

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Delicious Serving Suggestions

This Ground Turkey Tater Tot Casserole is a complete meal on its own, but it pairs wonderfully with a simple side to round out your dinner. Consider serving it alongside a fresh green salad with a light vinaigrette to add a refreshing contrast to the rich casserole. Steamed green beans, roasted broccoli, or a side of crusty bread for dipping into the creamy sauce would also make excellent additions. For an extra touch of flavor, a sprinkle of fresh parsley or chives over the top just before serving adds a pop of color and herbaceous note.

Frequently Asked Questions

Important Food Safety Guidelines

Ensuring food safety is paramount when preparing any meal, especially those involving ground meat. Follow these guidelines to keep your family safe:

1. Cook Thoroughly: Always cook ground turkey to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Use a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat mixture to confirm it has reached a safe temperature, eliminating harmful bacteria.
2. Prevent Cross-Contamination: To avoid the spread of bacteria, use separate cutting boards, utensils, and plates for raw ground turkey and cooked foods. Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after handling raw meat.
3. Store Safely: Promptly refrigerate any leftovers within two hours of cooking. Store the casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. For longer storage, freeze it immediately in a freezer-safe container for up to 2-3 months. Always thaw frozen casserole in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.

For more comprehensive food safety guidelines and precise temperature charts, please refer to USDA.gov.