Traeger Smoked Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

Our Traeger Tater Tot Casserole brings together smoky, wood-fired flavor and classic comfort food. Ground beef is browned and combined with vegetables and a rich, savory sauce, then topped with golden, crispy tater tots and finished on the Traeger. This one-dish meal is simple to prepare, easy to customize, and perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or feeding a crowd. It’s a comforting twist on a traditional Midwestern favorite that both kids and adults will enjoy.

Traeger Tater Tot Casserole

If you grew up calling this dish a “hotdish,” you’re in good company. Many people search for casserole recipes, so here’s a version that works great whether you call it hotdish or casserole. This recipe stays true to the hearty, meat-and-potatoes roots: flavorful ground beef, a mix of vegetables, a creamy, mushroom-forward sauce, and a crunchy tater tot topping finished on the Traeger for a subtle smoky note.

The base starts with lean ground beef seasoned with garlic and onion powder, then mixed with frozen peas, carrots, and green beans. A can of beefy mushroom soup (or cream of mushroom as an alternative) gets blended with a bit of sherry, water, cream, and cornstarch to make a smooth sauce that clings to the meat and vegetables. Transfer everything to a grill-safe baking dish, top with tater tots, and cook on the Traeger until the tots are golden and the filling is bubbly.

If you like melted cheese, add a layer between the meat mixture and the tots or sprinkle some on top in the last few minutes of cooking. This is also a recipe that invites substitutions—swap vegetables, add spices, or adjust the seasonings to suit your household. It’s forgiving, adaptable, and reliably satisfying.

Why you’ll love this dish

• Comforting and familiar—classic meat-and-potatoes goodness with added smoke.
• Quick to assemble and easy to customize based on what you have on hand.
• Feeds a crowd and appeals to picky eaters while still delivering great flavor.

Traeger recipes are a great way to add wood-fired flavor to everyday meals.

Recipe shopping list

Below are the ingredients you’ll need to make this casserole. For exact measurements, see the ingredients list further down.

• Lean ground beef
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Onion
• Frozen peas
• Frozen carrots
• Frozen green beans
• Beefy mushroom soup (or cream of mushroom as an alternative)
• Sherry
• Cream
• Corn starch
• Tater tots

How to make this recipe (overview)

This overview outlines the main steps so you know what to expect. Use the full instructions below when you cook.

1. Preheat: Heat the Traeger to 350°F.
2. Cook the meat: Brown ground beef in a skillet with garlic and onion powder; add diced onion and cook until softened.
3. Mix: Add frozen peas, carrots, and green beans, then stir in the beefy mushroom soup and sherry. Lower heat to medium-low. Whisk together water, cream, and cornstarch, then combine with the beef mixture and simmer until slightly thickened.
4. Traeger time: Transfer the mixture to a grill-safe baking dish, top with tater tots, and optionally add a layer of cheese between the meat and tots. Bake on the Traeger until the tots are crisp and the filling is hot and bubbly, about 45–60 minutes.
5. Serve: Scoop and serve while hot.

Serve this with

• Greek salad — a bright, acidic salad balances the richness of the casserole.
• Milk rolls or warm dinner rolls — soft bread is perfect for soaking up the sauce.

More recipes to try

• Smoked Pulled Pork Nachos
• Smoked Cauliflower with Cheese Sauce
• Smoked Tomato Basil Soup
• Warm Marinated Olives
• Traeger Philly Cheesesteak Casserole
• Smoked Chicken Pot Pie Soup
• Lasagna Stuffed Shells

Yield: 8 servings

Traeger Tater Tot Hotdish

A hearty, comforting Tater Tot Hotdish finished on the Traeger to add a subtle smoky layer of flavor.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 pounds lean ground beef
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 cup frozen carrots
• 1 cup frozen green beans
• 1 can beefy mushroom soup
• 2 tablespoons sherry
• 1 can water
• ½ cup cream
• 2 tablespoons corn starch
• 2 pounds tater tots

Instructions

1. Preheat your Traeger to 350°F.
2. In a large skillet, season the ground beef with garlic and onion powder. Add the diced onion and cook over medium-high heat until the beef is browned and the onion is softened.
3. Add the peas, carrots, and green beans to the skillet. Stir in the beefy mushroom soup and sherry, then reduce the heat to medium-low.
4. Whisk together the water, cream, and cornstarch until smooth. Pour the mixture into the skillet and simmer until the sauce thickens slightly.
5. Transfer the beef and vegetable mixture to a grill-safe baking dish (a 10×13 or large oval pan works well). If you like, add a layer of cheese over the filling before the tots.
6. Top with tater tots and place the dish on the preheated Traeger. Bake for 45–60 minutes, until the tater tots are crisp and the filling is hot and bubbly.
7. Remove from the Traeger and let rest a few minutes before serving. Serve hot.

Nutrition (approximate per serving)

Calories: 622 | Total Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 121mg | Sodium: 959mg | Carbohydrates: 45g | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 6g | Protein: 39g

Nutrition data is an estimate.

If you enjoy this dish, share it with friends and consider making a double batch for leftovers—the flavors hold up well and the reheated casserole is just as comforting.