Vegan Tater Tot Casserole will quickly become a family favorite! Topped with vegan cheese and crispy golden brown tots, it’s an incredibly delicious one-pan holiday side dish or easy weeknight dinner.
If you love casseroles as much as I do, make sure to check out my Vegan Enchilada Casserole and Biscuit Topped Pot Pie!
I didn’t think it could be done, but this Vegan Tater Tot Casserole is really giving my Lentil Shepherd’s Pie a run for its money! Crispy tater tots on top of a creamy, savory mix of Impossible Ground Meat, veggies, and vegan cheese make this casserole the ultimate clean-out-your-fridge dinner or the best holiday side dish.
It’s hard to compete with crispy potato wedges or french fries, but there’s something extra special about a tater tot. Pillowy soft potato on the inside and the signature crispy crust on the outside are what dreams are made of. Plus, you can just buy them from a store… so easy!
This vegetarian tater tot casserole is filled with:
- Vegan ground meat (use your favorite!)
- Mushrooms
- Frozen green beans and corn
- And a creamy homemade gravy (no soup mix needed)
Baked together with a finishing layer of vegan cheese and golden brown tots, every scoop is a delight next to Vegan Ham Roast or Vegan Turkey Roast on special occasions.
What is a tater tot casserole?
Tater tot casseroles with no meat are made with simple ingredients like frozen veggies, vegan ground meat, and a soupy, savory gravy sauce. To finish, they’re topped with vegan shredded cheese and tater tots before being baked to perfection. These casseroles are almost always budget-friendly, made in one pan, and so easy to make ahead of time.
Plus, kids love this meal!
How to make a vegan tater tot casserole
If you’re using vegan ground beef (such as Impossible or Beyond), you’ll need to sauté it in a pan first. When it’s brown and cooked through, add the sliced mushrooms and cook until they soften. Stir in the seasonings.
Add the flour to the mix and stir. Next, pour in the coconut milk and Worcestershire sauce, then the green beans and corn. When the mixture is ready, transfer it to a casserole dish.
Sprinkle a layer of shredded vegan cheese over the filling, then arrange the tater tots on top. Bake until the tots are golden brown and crispy. Serve and enjoy!
Do you have to use Impossible Ground Beef?
Nope! You can use any vegan-friendly ground “beef” that you already have at home or love to use (brown lentils would work too!). My favorites besides Impossible are Beyond Meat, Gardein, or even TVP (you’d need to soak them first and probably add more seasonings).
Tips and substitutions
- Vegetables – Both frozen and fresh vegetables will work for this recipe. You can even add more if you like!
- Tater tots – Use any brand you love. Sweet potato tots will even give this casserole some added flare for Thanksgiving.
- Coconut milk – Any unsweetened, unflavored vegan creamer will work in place of the coconut milk. Even plant milk would work, but the casserole would be less rich and creamy.
- Cheese – Non-dairy cheddar type cheese pairs best with the flavors (my favorite is Follow Your Heart cheddar shreds).
Can it be made ahead of time?
Prepare the casserole filling and add it to the baking dish. Cover the dish with a lid and store in the fridge for a day or two or freeze it for later. When it’s time to eat, add the cheese and tater tots on top and bake.
Serving suggestions
A one-pan tater tot casserole with veggies works well as a weeknight dinner or holiday side dish. Pair a scoop with some salad, mac and cheese, or asparagus for dinner or next to more holiday sides, like stuffing, sweet potato casserole, or brussels sprouts.
Is your heart set on serving a tater tot casserole for breakfast? The leftover tots would be delicious on top of this filling breakfast casserole!
More savory vegan casserole recipes
Vegan Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 12 ounce package Impossible ground beef*
- 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced or chopped
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- salt + black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour or gluten free flour
- 13.5 ounce can light coconut milk*
- 1 tablespoon vegan Worcestershire sauce
- 1 1/2 cups frozen corn or canned
- 1 1/2 cups frozen green beans or fresh/canned
- 2 cups vegan cheddar cheese shreds*
- 32 ounce bag tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and lightly grease a 9×13 inch casserole dish.
- Cook the Impossible meat in a pan until cooked through over medium-high heat, breaking it up with a spatula or wooden spoon as it browns.
- Now add the sliced mushrooms and sauté, stirring constantly, for about 5 minutes until they soften.
- Add the cumin, oregano, plus salt and pepper to taste and stir.
- Sprinkle in the flour and stir, then slowly stir in the coconut milk and add the Worcestershire sauce, corn and green beans. Stir well and simmer the mixture for 5 minutes.
- Transfer mixture to the prepared dish, then layer on vegan cheese. Arrange the tater tots on top.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes, uncovered, until the tots are golden. Serve immediately and enjoy!
- Leftover tater tot casserole will keep in a covered container, refrigerated for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave until warm. It can also be frozen before baking. No need to thaw first, simply place it in the oven and cook until warm.
Notes
-
I used Impossible brand (my personal favorite!), but you can use any brand of vegan “beef” you like such as Beyond or Gardein, or even TVP (though it would need to be soaked first and probably seasoned more).
-
I used Follow Your Heart cheddar shreds. Use your favorite non-dairy cheddar type cheese. My stretchy mozzarella cheese would also work.
-
May substitute unsweetened, unflavored vegan creamer for the coconut milk if needed. Even another plant milk would work, but it would be less rich and creamy.
- Substitute sweet potato tots for a fun variation, especially on Thanksgiving as a side dish.
Another winner for fast dinner on a busy weeknight. Thank you Nora!!
This was a delicious hit!! I used less impossible meat and added one bag of frozen rice as someone else mentioned and it turned out so good. Definitely adding this to our fav list.
I am not vegan but my grandson is allergic to eggs. I love all of your recipes that I have tried, including my recent favorites, Lemon Brownies and Almond Croissant Cookies!! Could this casserole be frozen, either after assembly or after baking?
I’m so glad you are loving my recipes! Yes, it could be frozen either before or after baking.
Hi
How much lentils would you suggest to replace the faux meat? And should they be cooked first? Also would additional liquid be needed?
Let me know
PS: love all your recipes they are always accurate and come out great!
PSS making the peanut butter eggs this week for Easter too!
I’d use about 2 cups of cooked lentils, not red, but preferably black or green lentils. You can use canned, or cook them first from dried. I would then saute the mushrooms, then add the cooked lentils and continue with the recipe. You don’t need to add additional liquid, only if you need water to cook dry lentils first. Hope that helps and thanks for enjoying my recipes!
Dear Nora. I live in Durban, South Africa. We don’t have TATTER TOTS in South Africa. I’ve never heard of this potato dish
It sounds delicious. Please, will you print a recipe so that I, too, can enjoy this potato topping.
Many thanks. Gladys-Ann
This was super hearty and delicious 😋 Thanks Nora for yet another steller recipe!
This was so easy to make and made for a really filling and satisfying dinner. I don’t buy faux meat products often, but sometimes find them at too good to pass up discounts at the store and buy a few then. This will now be one of my go-to recipes for how to use those. I could see it also being good with one of the ground sausage type products. I will also be thinking about what kind of legumes might go good in here, for times when I don’t have any faux meat on hand.
Thank you so much for your review, Deborah! I’m thrilled you loved the casserole!
We make this all the time! We one time substituted a bag of cooked brown rice instead of the faux beef and now that’s now how we make it!
Hi Nat. Thanks for sharing your rice idea! I’m so glad you guys are loving the casserole recipe! There’s nothing quite like a tater tot casserole! Thanks for your wonderful feedback!
This is the second recipe that we have tried this week and it did NOT disappoint. I used regular coconut milk (not light) and did not add greenbeans (only corn). I also used TJ’s faux beef. This recipe was amazing and once again, my very picky vegan eaters LOVED this!!
Hi Claudine. I’m thrilled that the recipe was a hit! Thank you for your fantastic feedback and review! It made my day! Thank you for trying out my recipes, and I wish you happy cooking!
My husband LOVED this. Mostly because he thought it was funny and kitsch-y. He is not the cook in our family, and not the activist vegan I am, but he loves recommending this recipe to his friends. He is used to Italian and Vietnamese “cuisine,” says his mom never made traditional American things, so I guess this fills a childhood void for him! My question is: Has anyone tried substituting french fries for tater tots? I have a ton of them in my freezer I’d like to use up, but not sure they would bake the same way tater tots do.
I’m so happy to hear that your husband loved this recipe so much, Alexandra! It’s a lot of fun to make AND eat 🙂 Frozen french fries might work (I haven’t tried it), although they may have a hard time crisping. Hopefully some other commenters will let you know about their experience.
So if I have frozen corn and green beans, do I cook them according to the recipe on the package first? And likewise frozen tater tots, Do I cook them first or just use them straight out of the freezer?
Hi Chris. No need to cook anything ahead of time. You can prepare the casserole from frozen veggies and tots . I hope this helps!
My second time making this recipe, does not disappoint. Your recipes are always so awesome and this has to be my favourite on for dinner (next to the mac and cheese)
I’m so glad you loved the casserole! Thank you for taking time to share your wonderful feedback!