Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole

This Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole features all of the flavors of a classic burger + fries…just in casserole form! Grab a skillet and bake this for dinner tonight.

This Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole post is sponsored by Cabot Creamery, but the recipe and opinions are entirely my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Spiced!

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Would you like fries with that? The answer to that question is always a yes. Always! I’m not sure exactly when cheeseburgers and fries become inseparable partners, but they pair so well together. The salty, crispy fries are the perfect contrast to a juicy, savory burger. Today we’re taking those flavors and spinning ’em around a bit. Instead of fries, we’re using tater tots. And there’s no bun involved. And the whole thing is baked in a cast iron skillet. But trust me – this is a fantastic casserole recipe!

During the colder months of the year, I love pulling out the cast iron skillet. A good cast iron skillet is a workhorse in the kitchen. It can be used for everything from buttermilk biscuits to herbed dinner rolls to chocolate chip cookies. We’re adding to that list today – with a mouthwatering casserole recipe that is perfect for cooler nights. (It’s also perfect for bitterly cold winter nights when you’re craving a burger but don’t want to go outside to the grill!)

Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole

For this casserole, I initially thought about using all of the flavors of a good juicy burger tossed with pasta. But then I remembered this Tater Tot Chili Casserole from a few years ago. It’s essentially a meaty ground beef chili topped with crispy tater tots. So good! I decided to call an audible and leave the pasta in the pantry for another time. This Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole needed tots!

Ingredients

• Thick-Cut Bacon. A good bacon cheeseburger is hard to beat, so this recipe starts by cooking ½-pound of bacon in a large cast iron skillet.
• Yellow Onion. A little bit of the bacon fat is left in the skillet for sauteing the diced onions.
• Ground Beef. I used lean 90/10 ground beef for this recipe as you don’t want too much fat to collect in the bottom of the skillet. If using a different type of ground beef, just drain any excess fat once the beef is cooked.
• Garlic. I know garlic doesn’t go on burgers, but a bit of minced garlic adds flavor to this casserole.
• Tomato Paste. Tomatoes and ketchup are a popular burger topping. However, instead of using diced tomatoes I opted for a bit of tomato paste. It still brings the tomato flavor, but in a way that is better for a casserole.

• Worcestershire Sauce, Dijon Mustard, Beef Broth, Pickle Relish and Cornstarch. These condiments get mixed into the ground beef mixture to create that classic hamburger flavor. The pickle relish brings that dill pickle flavor. The cornstarch helps thicken the mixture so it’s not too watery.
• Cheddar Cheese and Monterey Jack Cheese. Cheese takes a burger from good to great, and I used a combination of two all-time great cheeses here. Cabot’s Seriously Sharp Cheddar Cheese and Cabot’s Monterey Jack Cheese are like 2 best friends working together. The Cheddar brings that classic sharp flavor while the Monterey Jack brings the ultimate meltability.
• Tater Tots. Frozen tater tots get arranged on top of the casserole before the skillet goes into the oven. The bottoms of the tots soak up some of the flavor from the hamburger mixture while the tops of the tots get nice and crispy. Talk about comfort food central!
• Chopped Green Onions. Before serving, sprinkle a handful of chopped green onions on top for color as well as a burst of fresh flavor.

Cabot Cheese

We grill a lot of burgers in our house. We grill more in the summer than the winter. However, I’ve been known to put on an extra layer of clothes so that I can get a good grilled burger on a cold winter night. I’ve always said that a cheeseburger is only as good as the cheese you put on it. That brings us to the 2-cheese combo in this casserole.

Cabot’s Seriously Sharp Cheddar Cheese is one of my all-time favorite cheeses. It has a firm texture and a delicious sharp cheddar flavor. It’s quite possible the perfect cheddar cheese. We often eat slices plain in our house, but we also use it for cooking. The shredded Seriously Sharp in this recipe brings an amazing layer of flavor!

And Seriously Sharp’s tag-team partner? Cabot Monterey Jack. I love using these two cheeses together in recipes. The sharp cheddar flavor combined with the creamy, melty texture of the Monterey Jack leads to cheesy greatness. One bite of this Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole, and you’ll know exactly what I mean. Check out Cabot’s Product Finder to find which stores in your area sell Cabot cheese.

As the days get shorter and the nights get colder, it’s time to turn our attention to comfort food. A good casserole is an all-time favorite winter comfort food. But when the flavors in that casserole remind you of an all-time favorite summer comfort food? Well then you know it’s going to be good! This casserole is sure to become a family favorite. Don’t be surprised when it gets requested on the regular.

How to Store Leftovers

Leftover portions of this casserole should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Allow the leftovers to cool completely before refrigerating. If possible, separate the tater tots from the burger mixture and store in individual containers. This will keep the tots from getting soggy, and it will make reheating the leftovers a bit easier.

The burger mixture can be reheated in the microwave while the tots will taste better if they get reheated in an oven or toaster oven. I do not recommend freezing the leftovers as the tater tots won’t have the same texture.

If you’re looking for a way to put a twist on weeknight meals in your house, then put this Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole on the menu. The flavor is fantastic, and everyone loves a good burger and fries (well, tots). I hope your family enjoys this recipe as much as we do here – Cheers!

Did you make this Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole recipe at home? Leave a comment, or snap a photo and tag me (@Spicedblog) and Cabot (@CabotCreamery) on Instagram – we’d love to see your version!

Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole

This Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole features all of the flavors of a classic burger + fries…just in casserole form! Grab a skillet and bake this for dinner tonight.

5 from 3 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 633kcal

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Ingredients

• 8 oz. thick-cut bacon
• 1 medium yellow onion diced
• 2 lbs lean ground beef
• 2 tsp minced garlic
• ⅓ cup tomato paste ~½ of a 6-oz. can
• 1½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1½ cups beef broth
• 2 Tbsp cornstarch
• ½ cup dill pickle relish
• 1 cup shredded Cabot Monterey Jack cheese
• 1½ cups shredded Cabot Seriously Sharp cheddar cheese divided
• 28 oz. frozen tater tots
• ¼ cup chopped green onions for garnishing

Instructions

• Using a 11” or 12” cast iron skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crispy, ~8-10 minutes. (Note: If you don't have a large cast iron skillet, you can substitute another oven-safe large skillet or a casserole dish.)
• Remove bacon from skillet; pat dry with paper towels and set aside.
• Drain excess grease, leaving ~1 Tbsp of bacon drippings in skillet.
• Add diced onions and ground beef. Sauté on medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes, stirring often, or until beef is fully cooked. Drain any excess grease from pan.
• Add garlic; stir until well combined. Continue sauteing for 1 more minute.
• Using a small mixing bowl, whisk together tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, beef broth and cornstarch. (Tip: Make sure to whisk well so that the cornstarch doesn’t clump.)
• Pour mixture into skillet; stir until well combined.
• Add pickle relish, Monterey Jack cheese, 1 cup of cheddar cheese and cooked bacon (from above); stir until well combined.
• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Arrange frozen tater tots in an even layer on top. (Note: Depending on the size of your skillet, you may have an extra handful of tots. Just bake ‘em separately and eat ‘em as an appetizer!)
• Bake uncovered for 30-35 minutes, or until tots are golden brown.
• Remove skillet from oven and top with remaining ½ cup of shredded cheese. Continue baking for 5-10 more minutes, or until cheese has melted.
• Sprinkle chopped green onions on top before serving.

Looking for more cheesy dinner ideas? Check out these other favorites, too: