This brisket tater tot casserole will have everyone running to the table for breakfast or dinner. It’s great for both! A layer of golden tots is topped with diced brisket, bell peppers, onions, and jalapenos, then baked and topped with cheese for the ultimate comfort food.
I love cooking with tater tots, especially casseroles. I always enjoy serving up dishes like my spicy tater tot casserole that are meaty, cheesy, and tot-tacular. They’re the perfect comfort food.
I also love a good beef brisket recipe. It’s great on the first day, and you can use the leftovers for all kinds of amazing recipes, like this brisket mac and cheese.
This brisket tater tot casserole combines the best of both worlds to create a casserole fully loaded with golden tots, a BBQ beef and veggie mixture, and tons of cheese that always has everyone coming back for another scoop!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: This casserole utilizes basic ingredients commonly found in grocery stores and your own kitchen.
- Easy: If you can bake and use a skillet, you can make this recipe!
- A Great Way to Use Leftovers: This casserole is a fantastic way to use leftover brisket and that bag of tots that’s been in the freezer for a month.
- Beefy and Cheesy: Every bite of this casserole is loaded with the flavors of tots, BBQ beef, and cheese.
- Great for Meal Prep: This is a freezer-friendly dish, so you can make a double batch for future use.
Ingredients
You’ll find all the ingredients and their exact amounts in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Variations
- Brisket: You can use chicken or pork in this recipe, as well. This crock pot BBQ pulled pork would work nicely.
- Mild: Omit the red pepper flakes and jalapenos for a mild version of this recipe.
- Cheese: I used cheddar cheese, but other cheeses like cheddar Jack, Colby Jack, or pepper Jack would also work.
- Tater Tots: You could also cut hash brown patties into chunks for this recipe.
- BBQ Sauce: Use your favorite brand and flavor of BBQ sauce. They all add something a little different to the recipe.
How to Make Brisket Tater Tot Casserole
Step 1: Place the tots in a single layer in a 9×13 dish and bake at 425 degrees until crispy.
Step 2: In a large skillet, saute the onions and peppers in oil and butter until tender.
Step 3: Add the brisket and seasonings and cook on low.
Step 4: Add the BBQ sauce and continue cooking until heated through.
Step 5: Pour the mixture over the tots and bake until hot.
Step 6: Top with cheese and enjoy!
Tips
- I prefer dicing the brisket rather than shredding it. I find it makes it easier to eat the casserole.
- Medium heat is best for sautéing vegetables, especially onions. You want them to get soft, not crispy and brown.
- Keep the heat on low after adding the brisket and BBQ sauce. This heats everything through without overcooking it.
Brisket Tater Tot Casserole FAQ
Absolutely. Leftover brisket is the perfect addition to a casserole, adding a rich, complex beefy flavor.
You can use meats like ground beef or sausage and pulled or diced beef, pork, or chicken. Cheese is always a great choice, as well.
In general, you should never thaw tater tots before baking them, especially for a casserole. They are designed to be cooked from frozen, as this allows them to get brown and crispy on the outside with overcooking.
More Easy Casserole Recipes
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Brisket Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 cups leftover brisket, cut into small pieces
- 28 ounce tater tots
- 1 green bell pepper, seeds removed, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, seeds removed, diced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 jalapeno, seeds removed, diced
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Slap Ya Mama seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ cup barbecue sauce
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 and place a single layer of tater tots in a 9×13 baking dish.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until crispy. Remove from the oven and set aside.
- In a cast iron pan or skillet, heat oil and melt butter over medium heat.
- Add diced potatoes, onions and peppers. Saute until tender.
- Next, add leftover brisket and all the seasonings. Stir to combine and heat over low flame.
- Pour barbecue sauce into the pan, stir and continue cooking until heated through.
- Pour brisket mixture over the tater tots and place back in the oven for 15 minutes.
- Remove and top with shredded cheese. Serve with your favorite toppings.
Notes
- Refrigerate for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- Brisket lasts for up to 4 days in the refrigerator, so adjust your casserole storage accordingly based on when you made the brisket.
- Freeze in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
- To reheat, defrost overnight in the refrigerator if frozen. Then, microwave individual portions at 1-minute intervals.
- I prefer dicing the brisket rather than shredding it. I find it makes it easier to eat the casserole.
- Medium heat is best for sautéing vegetables, especially onions. You want them to get soft, not crispy and brown.
- Keep the heat on low after adding the brisket and BBQ sauce. This heats everything through without overcooking it.
Nutrition
How many potatoes?
Hi, it’s a 28 ounce bag of frozen tater tots. :)