Hearty & Comforting: The Ultimate One-Pot Beef & Kraut Tater Tot Casserole
Experience the ultimate in comforting one-pot meals with this incredible **Beef & Kraut Tater Tot Casserole**. Featuring savory lean ground beef, tangy sauerkraut, melty Swiss cheese, and a crispy tater tot topping, this dish is a hearty delight designed to bring warmth and satisfaction to your entire family. It’s an easy, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying dinner solution that’s perfect for busy weeknights or cozy gatherings.
Why This Beef & Kraut Tater Tot Casserole is a Family Favorite
What makes a meal truly comforting? Often, it’s the rich flavors, the satisfying textures, and the sheer simplicity of its preparation. This Beef & Kraut Tater Tot Casserole masterfully combines all these elements into one unforgettable dish. Imagine tender, seasoned lean ground beef, sautéed with aromatic onions and sweet carrots, then mixed with the distinctive tang of sauerkraut and a creamy celery soup base. This flavorful foundation is then generously topped with a blanket of rich Swiss cheese and a golden-brown crown of crispy tater tots.
But the magic doesn’t stop at taste; convenience is key. This entire culinary journey, from stovetop browning to oven baking and serving, takes place in a single pan. That means less time scrubbing dishes and more time enjoying a wholesome, homemade meal with your loved ones. It’s a truly hearty one-pot casserole that promises both ease and exceptional flavor, making it a go-to recipe for any occasion.
This delicious recipe is proudly sponsored by Frank’s Kraut, a brand whose sauerkraut has been a beloved staple in my kitchen for years. My admiration for their quality and taste is genuinely my own.
Frank’s Kraut: A Tradition of Taste Since 1905
At the heart of this incredible tater tot casserole lies the robust and authentic flavor of Frank’s Kraut, a company renowned for crafting America’s best-tasting sauerkraut since 1905. The tradition of making sauerkraut is a time-honored art, passed down through generations. While many varieties exist, the fundamental method remains beautifully simple: finely shredded white cabbage is carefully placed into a sealable container, seasoned with salt, and pressed to initiate a natural fermentation process in its own juices. After a week or two, the result is a vibrant, fresh, and irresistibly delicious sauerkraut, packed with flavor and beneficial properties.
This traditional process ensures that every forkful of Frank’s Kraut delivers that perfect tangy bite, elevating simple ingredients into something extraordinary. This fall, my kitchen has been brimming with amazing comfort foods, all enhanced by the unique taste of Frank’s Kraut. If you’re a fan of sauerkraut, you might also enjoy these other cherished recipes:
Last month, I delighted in sharing my recipe for Polish Noodles & Kraut. This traditional meatless Polish casserole combines tender Kluski noodles, sautéed onion, and celery with sauerkraut, all fried in butter and then baked to perfection.
The month prior, it was all about this incredible Polish Sauerkraut Soup (Kapusniak). This hearty soup is bursting with flavor from potatoes, savory Polish sausage, celery, carrots, and of course, plenty of Frank’s Kraut!
Just like these beloved recipes, today’s Beef & Kraut Tater Tot Casserole offers a simple yet satisfying meal that your entire family will adore. And the best part? You can feel good about incorporating more sauerkraut into your diet, as it’s truly a powerhouse of nutrition—a genuine superfood!
The Incredible Nutritional Value of Sauerkraut: A Superfood Spotlight
Beyond its delightful tangy flavor, sauerkraut boasts an impressive array of health benefits that truly qualify it as a superfood. This fermented cabbage is a rich source of dietary fiber, essential for digestive health, and provides significant levels of vitamins, including Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and various B vitamins. Furthermore, sauerkraut is an excellent source of vital minerals such as copper, sodium, magnesium, iron, manganese, and calcium, while also contributing a moderate amount of protein to your diet.
But the benefits don’t stop there. Sauerkraut is also renowned for its amazing anti-inflammatory properties. The phytonutrient antioxidants found in sauerkraut can help alleviate the pain and discomfort associated with inflamed joints, muscles, or even sinuses, offering much-needed relief, especially during colder months. This natural remedy can be a comforting addition to your diet.
Perhaps one of its most celebrated attributes is its high Vitamin C content. A single serving of sauerkraut can provide as much as 35% of your daily recommended intake. Vitamin C is crucial for stimulating the production of white blood cells, which are fundamental to a robust immune system. It also plays a vital role in cellular regeneration and repair, helping your body heal and maintain optimal function. Incorporating sauerkraut into your meals is an easy and delicious way to boost your immunity and overall well-being.
Crafting Your Beef & Kraut Tater Tot Casserole: Simple Steps to Deliciousness
Now, let’s turn our attention back to this incredible Beef & Kraut Tater Tot Casserole. As I’ve mentioned, its simplicity, from preparation to cleanup, is a major highlight. But what exactly goes into making this comforting skillet meal?
Key Ingredients:
To create this delightful casserole, you’ll need a handful of readily available ingredients:
- Lean Ground Beef: The hearty foundation of the dish.
- Chopped Onion & Shredded Carrots: For aromatic depth and a touch of sweetness.
- Frank’s Kraut: The signature tangy element that makes this casserole unique.
- Cream of Celery Soup: A creamy binder that ties all the flavors together.
- Shredded Swiss Cheese: For a wonderfully melty, nutty topping.
- Frozen Tater Tots: The ultimate crispy, golden crown.
- Sliced Scallions: For a fresh, vibrant garnish.
Step-by-Step Preparation:
The beauty of this casserole lies in its straightforward process:
- Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a large, oven-safe skillet (a cast iron skillet works wonderfully here for its versatility), brown the lean ground beef along with the chopped onion and shredded carrots. Season generously with salt and pepper to taste.
- Once the beef is fully browned and the vegetables have softened, drain any excess fat. Then, stir in the well-drained and rinsed sauerkraut, allowing it to simmer with the meat and veggies for about 5 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Next, stir in the cream of celery soup, ensuring the mixture is evenly spread across the bottom of the pan. This creates a rich, creamy base for your casserole.
- Generously top the beef and sauerkraut mixture with the shredded Swiss cheese, creating a delicious layer that will bubble and melt during baking.
- Finally, arrange the frozen tater tots in a single, even layer over the cheese. This is crucial for achieving that irresistible crispy texture.
Bake to Perfection & Serve:
Place your skillet directly into the preheated oven and bake, uncovered, for approximately 45 minutes, or until the tater tots are beautifully golden brown and delightfully crispy. The cheese underneath will be bubbly and melted, and the entire casserole will be wonderfully heated through.
Once out of the oven, a sprinkle of fresh sliced scallions adds a touch of color and a mild oniony bite. Serve this spectacular dish directly from the skillet for a true rustic, comforting experience!
For a complete and utterly satisfying meal, we often enjoy this casserole with nothing more than a slice of warm French bread, baked right alongside it in the oven. With meat, vegetables, and potatoes all in one dish, it’s truly a “one and done” solution that doesn’t skimp on flavor or nutrition.
Every bite of this Beef & Kraut Tater Tot Casserole is incredibly comforting and bursting with delicious flavors. It’s the perfect harmony of savory beef, tangy kraut, and cheesy, crispy potatoes.
**Pro Tip:** If you don’t own a cast iron skillet that can go from stovetop to oven, simply layer your ingredients into a traditional casserole dish and bake it that way. The result will be just as delicious!
Love This Recipe? Pin It for Later!
If this delectable Beef & Kraut Tater Tot Casserole has captured your culinary heart, be sure to pin it to your favorite Pinterest board before you navigate away. This way, you can easily find this comforting recipe whenever the craving strikes or you’re planning your next family meal!
Embrace the Flavor of Sauerkraut!
Are you a devoted fan of sauerkraut, or perhaps looking for more ways to incorporate this superfood into your diet? Be sure to follow along with Frank’s Kraut on their social media channels to discover a wealth of delicious recipes all year long. Connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram for all things sauerkraut!
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Rating: 4.92 from 12 votes
Print Recipe
Beef & Kraut Tater Tot Casserole
A comforting one-pot meal made of lean ground beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and crispy tater tots. This Beef & Kraut Tater Tot Casserole is a hearty meal your whole family will enjoy.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Course: Casserole
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 101 kcal
Author: Michaela Kenkel
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ¾ cup chopped onion
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can Frank’s Kraut, drained and rinsed
- 1 (10.5 ounce) can cream of celery soup
- 1 (8 ounce) package shredded Swiss cheese
- 1 (32 ounce) package frozen tater tots
- Tops of 4 green onions, sliced, for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175°C).
- In a large cast iron skillet, brown ground beef with onion and carrots. Salt & pepper to taste.
- When the meat is browned, add in drained and rinsed sauerkraut. Simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Stir in cream of celery soup. Spread mixture evenly into pan.
- Top with cheese.
- Place tater tots in an even layer across the top of the cheese.
- Place skillet in the preheated oven, and bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes, or until tater tots are golden brown and crispy.
- Sprinkle with scallions, serve from the skillet.
Notes
- If you don’t have a cast iron skillet, simply layer ingredients into a casserole dish and bake that way.
- This recipe is also delicious with ground bratwurst instead of ground beef, or a mixture of half and half.