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A bubbling chili cheese tater tot casserole, fresh from the oven, with a golden crust.

Spicy Southwest Chili Cheese Tater Tot Casserole

This hearty casserole combines spicy chili, crispy tater tots, and gooey pepper jack cheese for a crowd-pleasing meal with a kick.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 450 kcal

Equipment

  • oven
  • 9x13-inch baking dish
  • large skillet
  • mixing bowl

Ingredients
  

Chili Base

  • 2 cans canned spicy chili no beans or with beans as preferred
  • 1 pound ground meat (beef, turkey, or plant-based crumble) optional
  • 1 medium onion, chopped optional
  • 1 can condensed cream of mushroom or chicken soup optional
  • 1 cup milk if using condensed soup
  • 1 can diced green chilies

Casserole Assembly

  • 2 cups shredded pepper jack cheese divided
  • 1 bag frozen tater tots

Optional Toppings

  • sour cream
  • fresh cilantro, chopped
  • pickled jalapeños, sliced

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

Chili Base

  • If using meat, brown it with the chopped onion in a large skillet over medium heat, then drain any fat. Stir in both cans of spicy chili and the diced green chilies.
  • If using condensed soup, whisk it with milk in a separate bowl, then stir into the chili mixture.

Assembly and Baking

  • Spread half of the chili mixture evenly in the baking dish, then sprinkle with one cup of shredded pepper jack cheese.
  • Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer over the cheese, then sprinkle the remaining cup of shredded pepper jack cheese over the tater tots.
  • Bake for 30-35 minutes until the tater tots are golden and crispy, and the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Serving

  • Let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Top with sour cream, fresh cilantro, and pickled jalapeños if desired.

Notes

Using no-bean chili for one can and chili with beans for the other creates a good balance of texture. For a vegetarian option, omit the ground meat and ensure your chili and condensed soup are plant-based.