Big Mac Casserole
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My Big Mac casserole is layered with tender ground beef and Big Mac sauce, then topped with cheese and tater tots for a simple yet hearty recipe. It’s only 7 ingredients plus any toppings you want and takes just 15 minutes to put together before baking!
If you’re a fan of this casserole with potatoes and ground beef, be sure to give my taco tater tot casserole recipe or my hamburger potato casserole a try next!
What makes my big mac casserole recipe so easy
15 minutes of prep – I keep prep time as fast as possible by browning the ground beef with the onions instead of waiting for the onions to cook down afterward. Plus, the tater tots get placed on the casserole straight from the freezer!
Bakes all in one dish – I brown the beef, mix everything with the beef, dump it in a 9×13 pan, and layer it with cheese and tater tots. Then I just let the oven do the rest while I relax (my favorite part!). That’s how my other casserole recipes are and why I love them so much.
It’s like a Big Mac, but even better – Imagine a Big Mac having tater tots instead of a bun for more beef in every bite, and you have my big mac tater tot casserole. It’s all the best parts of a classic Big Mac, made even better because tater tots are just awesome. The beef is savory and gets that full creamy flavor of the sauce mixed right in.
This Big Mac casserole is one of my favorite dishes to make whenever I have a batch of my homemade Big Mac sauce recipe sitting in the fridge.
I almost always have ground beef and tater tots on hand, so throwing together a casserole with these two ingredients, simple seasoning, and Big Mac sauce is so convenient for busy weeknight dinners!
My husband, Ben, loves the original Big Mac from McDonald’s but says that my Big Mac casserole recipe is even better because it’s made with real and fresh ingredients.
What I love most about this casserole recipe is how it brings crispy and tender textures together with the layers of ground beef and tater tots. The contrasting textures go together so well and make each bite incredibly delicious!
Plus, with the addition of easy toppings like lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles, you can easily add extra crunch and juiciness to your own liking.
Big mac tater tot casserole ingredients
- Ground beef – Lean ground beef works best for this recipe because it’s juicy and flavorful without being overly greasy.
- Frozen tater tots – These can be used straight out of the bag. No need to thaw them beforehand!
- Yellow onion – Adds natural sweetness and complements the savory ingredients so well.
- Burger seasoning – McCormick Grill Mates Montreal Steak Seasoning is my personal favorite.
- Dill pickle chips – These tangy bits add such a wonderful taste and texture to the casserole.
- Big Mac sauce – You need exactly one full batch of my homemade Big Mac sauce for this casserole, so there’s no measuring required. It only takes 5 minutes to put together while the beef is browning. Thousand Island dressing works as a substitute when needed, but is a little sweeter.
- Shredded cheddar cheese – Melts into the ground beef and potato layers to add bold, creamy richness.
- Toppings – I add shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and additional pickles for a perfect blend of freshness, crunch, and tang.
How to make a Big Mac casserole
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
Recipe tips
- Arrange the tater tots in an even layer. Spreading them out across the whole casserole will help them crisp up nicely.
- Use freshly shredded cheese. I prefer fresh over pre-shredded because of how much better it melts and tastes.
- Don’t skimp on the toppings! The final touch of lettuce, tomatoes, extra pickles, and sauce is truly what makes this taste like the classic burger.
Variations
- When I’m craving a different cheesy flavor, I like to swap the cheddar cheese with Pepper Jack, Monterey Jack, or a blend of both!
- Top the casserole with sesame seeds. This is my trick to mimic the sesame seeds from Big Mac buns!
- If you don’t have tater tots on hand, frozen diced potatoes will work just fine as a substitute in Big Mac casserole recipes.
- To add an extra savory crunch, mix in bacon crumbles with the ground beef. The flavors go so well together, which is why I often do the same for my homemade burger bowls.
- For a spicy twist, I top this Big Mac casserole with sliced jalapeños. My husband loves anything with extra heat, so this is his favorite way to personalize the recipe!
What to serve with my big mac casserole recipe
My Big Mac tater tot casserole is best served with light and refreshing salads like my chopped salad or my broccoli salad recipe because they balance out the richness of the ground beef, potatoes, and sauce. When I want to pair this savory dish with something sweet, I serve it with my fruit salad with Cool Whip.
Big Mac casserole FAQs
Can I make this casserole ahead of time?
Yes, brown the ground beef and assemble the casserole until right before topping it with cheese, then cover it tightly and store it in the fridge until you’re ready to bake it. Add the cheese and tater tots on while the oven is preheating. The whole casserole can also be frozen unbaked or after baking for up to 3 months.
How do I keep the lettuce from getting hot and soggy?
Make sure to add the lettuce after removing the dish from the oven so it won’t bake and wilt.
How do I drain the fat so the casserole isn’t greasy?
I always remove the excess grease from the meat before moving it to the baking dish. Paper towels make it easy for me to soak up all that extra fat!
What is in Big Mac sauce?
Classic Big Mac sauce gets its unique, savory flavor from a mix of mayo, mustard, relish, vinegar, and seasonings, and there’s no ketchup in it. My version uses Miracle Whip instead of mayo to build in that known tang the sauce has.
How should I store leftovers?
Stored in a covered baking dish or an airtight container, this casserole will last for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. I recommend storing the lettuce and tomato separately, then adding them fresh right before serving.
How do I reheat leftovers?
The whole casserole can be reheated at 350°F until warmed through, about 20 minutes, but I like to zap individual portions in the microwave at 30-second increments when I need a quick fix.
More easy dinner casserole recipes
- Pork chop casserole
- Cowboy casserole with ground beef and tater tots
- Tater tot casserole with green beans
- Chicken tater tot casserole recipe
- Turkey stuffing casserole
Big Mac Casserole (7 Ingredients!)
Equipment
- 9×13 casserole dish
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pound lean ground beef
- 32 ounces frozen tater tots
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 2 teaspoons burger seasoning
- ½ cup dill pickle chips, chopped
- 1 cup Big Mac sauce , or Thousand Island dressing, plus more for topping
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
For topping (optional)
- shredded lettuce
- diced tomatoes
- chopped dill pickles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and spray a 9×13 casserole dish with cooking spray.
- In a skillet, brown the ground beef with the onions and burger seasoning all together.
- Drain the grease, then remove the skillet from the heat and add the chopped pickles, Big Mac sauce and ½ cup of shredded cheese. Stir until it's well combined.
- Layer the ground beef mixture into the casserole dish. Sprinkle on the remaining cheddar cheese, then top it with a single layer of tater tots.
- Bake it for 40 minutes or until the tater tots are golden brown.
- Remove the casserole from the oven and top with lettuce, tomatoes and more pickles or sauce if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
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