Our easy Traeger Tater Tot Casserole blends smoky wood-fired flavor with classic comfort food. Ground beef, mixed vegetables, and a rich, savory sauce are layered and finished with a golden, crispy tater tot topping. This all-in-one dish is perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or anyone looking for a hearty, satisfying meal that appeals to kids and adults alike. It’s simple to prepare and a great way to bring Traeger-style barbecue flavor to an everyday favorite.
Traeger Tater Tot Casserole
In Minnesota this dish is known affectionately as Tater Tot Hotdish, but many home cooks search for “casserole” recipes, so here’s a Traeger-friendly version that keeps the heart of the classic. The base is a simple browned ground beef seasoned with garlic and onion powder, combined with frozen peas, carrots, and green beans. A can of Beefy Mushroom soup, extra mushrooms if you like, and a splash of sherry create a savory sauce that is thickened slightly with cream and cornstarch. The mixture is transferred to a baking dish, topped with tater tots, and finished on the Traeger until the tots turn crisp and golden.
If you enjoy cheese, you can add a layer between the meat mixture and the tater tots or sprinkle shredded cheese on top toward the end of the cook time. This recipe is forgiving and versatile: swap soups, add different vegetables, or season to your taste. It’s an easy dish to customize and makes excellent leftovers or a freezer-friendly meal.
Why you’ll love this dish…
- Comforting and familiar — a true meat-and-potatoes favorite.
- Customizable — swap vegetables, soups, or seasonings based on what you have.
- Great for feeding a crowd — hearty, filling, and easy to double.
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Recipe Shopping List
If you need to shop, here’s what to pick up. For exact quantities and the full printable recipe, see the recipe card below.
- Lean ground beef
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Onion
- Frozen peas
- Frozen carrots
- Frozen green beans
- Beefy Mushroom soup (or cream of mushroom as an alternative)
- Sherry
- Cream
- Corn starch
- Tater tots
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How To Make This Recipe
Below is a concise overview of the steps. Follow the full recipe card at the bottom for exact amounts and timing.
- Preheat – Preheat your Traeger to 350°F.
- Cook the meat – Brown the ground beef in a large skillet with garlic and onion powder. Sauté diced onion until softened.
- Mix – Stir in frozen peas, carrots, and green beans. Add the Beefy Mushroom soup and sherry. Reduce heat to medium-low. Whisk together water, cream, and cornstarch, then add to the beef mixture and simmer until slightly thickened.
- Traeger time – Transfer the beef mixture to a grill-safe baking dish. Top with tater tots and, if desired, a layer of cheese. Bake on the Traeger until the tots are crispy and the filling is bubbly, about 45–60 minutes.
- Serve – Let rest briefly, then scoop generous portions and serve hot.
Try our Smoked Pulled Pork Poutine next!
Recipe FAQ
Yes. You can assemble the casserole ahead of time and refrigerate until ready to bake. It also reheats well and freezes nicely for longer storage—just thaw before reheating.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3–4 days, or freeze for several months. Reheat in the oven or air fryer to restore crispy tots; the microwave works for a quick meal if crispness isn’t essential.
Swap in cream of mushroom soup if preferred, change up the vegetables, add a few dashes of hot sauce while browning the beef, or layer on extra cheese for a richer casserole.
Make this with Pulled Beef next time!
Serve this with…
- Greek Salad
- Milk Rolls
More Recipes To Try
- Smoked Pulled Pork Nachos
- Smoked Cauliflower with Cheese Sauce
- Smoked Tomato Basil Soup
- Warm Marinated Olives
- Traeger Philly Cheesesteak Casserole
- Smoked Chicken Pot Pie Soup
- Lasagna Stuffed Shells
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Traeger Tater Tot Hotdish
This hearty classic Tater Tot Hotdish gets an extra layer of flavor from the Traeger for a smoky finish.
5 minutes
1 hour
1 hour 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 cup frozen carrots
- 1 cup frozen green beans
- 1 can Beefy Mushroom soup
- 2 tablespoons sherry
- 1 can water
- ½ cup cream
- 2 tablespoons corn starch
- 2 pounds tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat your Traeger to 350°F.
- Season the ground beef with garlic and onion powder in a large skillet. Add the diced onion and brown the beef over medium-high heat.
- Stir in the peas, carrots, green beans, Beefy Mushroom soup, and sherry. Reduce heat to medium-low.
- Whisk together the water, cream, and cornstarch until smooth. Pour into the beef mixture and simmer until slightly thickened.
- Transfer the mixture to a grill-safe baking dish (a large oval pan or 10×13 works well).
- Top with tater tots and bake on the Traeger for 45–60 minutes, until the tots are crisp and the filling is bubbling.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8
Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 622Total Fat: 32gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 121mgSodium: 959mgCarbohydrates: 45gFiber: 5gSugar: 6gProtein: 39g
Nutrition data provided here is an estimate.
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