This Sweet Potato Tater Tot Casserole is a healthier version of the classic hot-dish you love! Loaded with ground turkey, homemade cheesy cream of mushroom soup, fresh veggies, and topped with sweet potato tots – you’re going to love this recreation!
This post was originally published in September 2018. I’ve updated the photos and added additional recipe instructions to make it even better!
You guys. Please tell me that you know what Tater Tot Casserole is. Some folks (primarily in the mid-west) call it a hot dish. I’ve always heard it called a casserole here in the South. When I first met my husband and told him about the glory of it, he had never even heard of it! Cue the heart pains! Thankfully, I have since taught him all there is to know about it!
What is Tater Tot Casserole?
Let me fill you in on what the beauty of what Tater Tot Casserole entails. The classic version of this delicious casserole includes ground beef, cream of mushroom soup, lots of shredded cheese topped with tater tots. It’s wonderful to say the least.
We used to have it almost once a week growing up – so I have very fond memories of this dish! It’s PURE comfort foo! It was the best! I remember always being so excited knowing it was Tater Tot Casserole night. I also remember 100% smothering mine in ketchup when it was still fresh and hot out of the oven and straight up burning my mouth. #worthit
Healthy Swaps for Sweet Potato Tater Tot Casserole:
I wanted to try and make it just a tad bit healthier without sacrificing any of that classic taste of tater tot casserole that I loved. So, instead of ground beef? Ground turkey! I actually added fresh veggies like onions, garlic and mushrooms! I subbed sweet potato tots for the regular tater tots.
Aren’t they the cutest little tots you ever did see? I surely think so. Lastly, instead of using canned mushroom soup (which you can STILL use if you’re in a hurry!), I made my own!
Ingredients You Need for Sweet Potato Tater Tot Casserole:
- 1 bag of sweet potato tots
- ground turkey
- cheddar cheese
- fresh mushrooms, garlic and onion and green bell pepper
- whole milk
- flour
- salt + pepper
How to make Sweet Potato Tater Tot Casserole:
Slice and dice the onion, garlic, mushrooms and bell peppers and set these aside. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
In a large cast iron skillet, add olive oil and let the pan warm up. Once hot, add in the ground turkey. Season generously with salt + pepper and cook for about 5 minutes until it’s done. Remove the ground turkey from the skillet and set on a plate. Meanwhile, let the ground turkey grease remain in the pan.
To this pan, add finely diced onion and green bell pepper along with a sprinkle of salt. Cook for 2 minutes on medium heat. Next, add mushrooms. Cook for 2 minutes. Lastly, add garlic. Cook for 1 minute or until fragrant.
Here’s the fun part: add 1/4 cup of flour directly onto the veggies. Stir and make sure it combines with the veggies. Slowly add the whole milk. Stir with a wooden spoon. Let this cook for about 1 minute or so – never letting it come to a boil and then add in the CHEESE!! Oh yes. Add in about 1 cup of cheese and stir until it begins to melt. It should look something like this once it’s all said and done:
Once it’s all cheesy and thick and delicious (similar consistency to the classic canned cream of mushroom soup), add back in the ground turkey. Mix until it’s combined. Add another layer of cheese on top of that if desired and then top with the delicious sweet potato tater tots! You can certainly use normal tater tots – I just love the sweet potato variety for this particular recipe!
Bake in the skillet for 25-30 minutes until it’s deliciously golden brown! Top with extra veggies or jalapenos if you’re feeling spicy.
Side note: If you don’t have a cast iron skillet, simply mix the ground turkey in with the mushroom mixture, add that to the bottom of a casserole dish, top with cheese and the tater tots! Easy swap!
The result of the healthier swaps resulted in the same amazing taste! It was super flavorful turkey, creamed in with the mushroom soup and fresh mushrooms and onions. It was extra cheesy and topped with those delightful little sweet potato tots that became perfectly caramelized and crunchy on top.
There is such a great balance here, folks. It’s not only healthier but it’s DELICIOUS!
I’m all about those one skillet meals this Fall season. From this Skillet Refried Bean Dip to my Turkey Taco Quinoa Skillet, I’m just not into doing dishes this Fall. Who else is with me? XO
Did y’all enjoy this recipe? If so, here are a few more you might like:
Baked Garlic Herb Fries with Avocado Ranch
One Skillet Taco Chili Mac and Cheese
Sweet Potato Tater Tot Casserole
This Sweet Potato Tater Tot Casserole is a healthier version of the classic hot-dish you love! Loaded with ground turkey, cream of mushroom soup, fresh veggies, cheese and sweet potato tots - you’re going to love this recreation!
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 3 cups white mushrooms, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1.25 cup of shredded cheddar cheese, use more if you want it extra cheesy
- 1 bag sweet potato tots
- drizzle of olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2/3 cup whole milk
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- jalapenos/extra green bell peppers for garnish (optional)
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Dice your onion, garlic, mushrooms and bell peppers. Set aside.
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Heat a large cast iron skillet on medium heat and add olive oil and the ground turkey and season generously with salt and pepper and cook for 5 minutes or so or until brown.
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Once the ground turkey has fully finished cooking, remove it from the pan (but leave the grease in the pan!) and put the turkey on a plate. Set this aside for now.
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To the same pan, add in the onion and green bell pepper along with a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Cook for 2 minutes Next, stir in the mushrooms. Cook for another 2 or so minutes. Lastly, add in the garlic. Cook for 1 minute or until fragrant.
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To the veggie mixture, add in 1/4 cup of all purpose flour and mix in well. Slowly add in 2/3 cup of whole milk and mix in. Do not let this mixture come to a boil! Next, add in 1 heaping cup of cheese! Mix with wooden spoon continually until thick and creamy.
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Once thick and creamy, add back in the ground turkey and mix it all together. Taste and adjust for seasoning if needed.
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Top with an additional 1/4 cup of cheese and then the bag of sweet potato tater tots.
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Bake for 25-30 minutes until crispy and golden. Serve immediately. Optional garnishes: extra green bell pepper, jalapeno, ketchup, sour cream etc. Enjoy!
OMG! This looks absolutely divine!!!
Thank you so much, Sheenam! It is pretty divine, I must say! 🙂
10/10 this was so hearty I loved it
Yay! Thanks for the comment, Brandon!
1. Of course I want it extra cheesy, duh.
2. This looks amazing and my husband (who is unfamiliar with the hot dish concept) is amazed that you put a tater tot on a dish. He is a fan.
Yassss! Love it. Tater tots on everything please!
I feel silly saying this but I’ve never had a tater tot casserole! But now it’s all I can think about for lunch! Love that you made it a little healthier without sacrificing taste or the element of pure comfort food! What a perfectly cozy meal for fall, Haylie!
Anything you put with cheese and bake it, we call it a casserole here in NC! Lol! It’s definitely pure coziness for Fall! Thanks so much for the love, as always, Leanne!
A big bowl of comfort! So creamy, cheesy, and delicious! Haylie, I love the twists you made to tater tot casserole – especially the sweet potato tater tots! They go so perfectly with the ground turkey! Your photos are gorgeous. You’re really nailing the elegant hand shot!
Kelly, your comment about the elegant hand shot totally made my day! LOL! #foodbloggerwin Thank you!!! Means so much coming from you!
Never met a tater tot casserole I didn’t love Haylie! And this will be no exception! Delicious!
Love that, Mary Ann! Same here 🙂 Thank you!!
They sure are the cutest little tots I ever did see! Only made better by your delicious creation!! What’s better than a tater tot casserole? All the comfort!! Pinned!
Right?! The lil tots are SO cute!! Thanks so much, Annie! You’re the sweetest 🙂
Tater tots are so freakin’ GOOD!!! I’ve never had the sweet potato variety before, so I’ll have to have a look out for next time I’m in the grocery. This has my name written alllll over it, Haylie! Serious comfort food right there, my friend. I’d eat this for any meal of the day, even Friday night with some vino. No joke. Can’t wait to give this one a go…with a nice drizzle o hot sauce 😉 Happy weekend ahead! XO
Right?!? Tater tots are totally underrated!! This sounds perfect for a Friday night with some vino…oh, can’t wait for Friday!! Thanks so much, Dawn! 🙂
11/10. Will make again
yessss!!! Thank you Phil!!! Made my day 🙂
Whooo protein packed!!!! Will be trying this one!!
Yay! I hope you love it 🙂