• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Chelsea Peachtree
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Contact
  • Portfolio
  • Freebies
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Contact
  • Portfolio
  • Freebies
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Quick and Simple Dinner » The Best Vegan Tater Tot Casserole

    The Best Vegan Tater Tot Casserole

    Published: Jan 10, 2022 by Chelsea Peachtree · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Share With Your Friends!

    11 shares
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Email
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This easy one pot vegan tater tot casserole is filled with fresh veggies and topped with golden brown and crispy tater tots. It is such a flavor packed comfort food! Whether you call it a hot dish or tater tot casserole, you will love this cozy meal. 

    vegan tater tot casserole in a cast iron skillet topped with guacamole, salsa, and cilantro
    the easiest best vegan tater tot casserole

    This casserole is a great recipe for a holiday side dish, a lazy weeknight meal, or when you just want the ultimate vegan comfort food. This would also be a delicious snack or side dish for football season. 

    There are a few different styles of tater tot casserole out there. Some are more like chicken pot pie. They have vegetables like green beans and carrots in a creamy sauce, usually made from cream of mushroom soup. This version is taco style made with onions, black beans, tomatoes, corn, taco seasoning and of course, some melted vegan cheese! 

    Ingredients for vegan tater tot casserole

    You just need a few simple ingredients to pull off this mouth watering dish.

    ingredients needed for vegan tater tot casserole: onions, corn, black beans, mushrooms, jalapeño, garlic, spices, vegan cheddar, salsa, and tater tots
    Ingredients needed for Vegan Tater Tot Casserole

    Vegan cheddar cheese shreds - There are a lot of brands out there, but I like Mykonos the best.

    Fresh mushrooms - Helps give this casserole a meaty texture. You can use your favorite kind. 

    White onion - You can also use a yellow or red onion here.

    Garlic cloves - You can omit if you have an intolerance. 

    Black beans - Pinto beans would also work well in this recipe. 

    Corn - I love the texture corn adds to this casserole. 

    Tomato (or salsa) - Meaty tomatoes like Roma work well. You can also use canned diced tomatoes or salsa!

    Tomato paste - Buy the kind in a squeezable tube for less waste. 

    Jalapeño - This is optional. If you want it less spicy, scrape out the inner membrane and the seeds. 

    Taco seasoning - Make sure its the low sodium version. 

    Package of frozen tater tots - Most tater tot brands are vegan, but check the ingredients in case. 

    Topping ideas: guacamole, salsa, cilantro, hot sauce, vegan sour cream, or lettuce.

    Quick Tips

    • Add the tater tots to the casserole straight from frozen. This helps them be crispy and not soggy. 
    • Use an oven safe skillet to make this a one pot family favorite. 
    • Top with guacamole, salsa, cilantro, hot sauce, vegan sour cream, or lettuce for a taco style casserole. 

    How to make vegan tater tot casserole

    Let’s make this easy recipe!

    First, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. 

    In a cast-iron skillet, or other oven safe large skillet, add olive oil or vegetable oil. Heat your garlic and onion over medium to low heat until fragrant. 

    Next, add in the rest of your vegetables to the garlic and sauteed onion: mushrooms, black beans, corn, tomato and jalapeno if using.

    Cook for about 3-5 minutes, stirring often. Sprinkle in your taco seasoning and tomato paste and combine well with the veggie mixture. Season with sea salt and black pepper as needed.

    Remove the skillet from heat and sprinkle half of the vegan cheese evenly on top.

    Next, layer your tater tops over the skillet in a single layer.

    Bake for 30 minutes. The tater tots should be crispy and golden brown. 

    Remove from the oven and sprinkle the rest of the vegan cheese on top. Bake again for 5 minutes until the cheese layer is nice and melty. 

    Remove from oven and let sit for 3-5 minutes before digging in! 

    Option to top with extra vegan cheese shreds, guacamole, salsa, cilantro, hot sauce, vegan sour cream, or lettuce.

    sautéed onions and garlic in a cast iron skillet
    Sauté onions and garlic
    mushrooms, onions, corn, jalapeños, black beans in a skillet
    Add in the veggies
    salsa on top of beans, corn, onions, and mushrooms in a skillet
    Mix in tomato paste and taco seasoning
    vegan cheese on top of beans, corn, mushrooms, onions, in a skillet
    Sprinkle vegan cheese
    tater tots layered on top of veggies for vegan tater tot casserole in a skillet
    Add tater tots in a single later
    melted vegan cheese on top of tater tots in a cast iron skillet
    Bake and top with more cheese

    Can I make this ahead of time?

    It's best to make this casserole the day you want to eat it, so the tater tots are as crispy as possible. Its so easy though, this won’t be a problem!

    How to store leftovers

    Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. 

    How to reheat

    You can microwave this to reheat, but for best results (and crispy tots) reheat in an oven safe dish in the oven or toaster oven until warmed throughout. 

    Substitutions & Variations

    The great thing about this recipe is it’s pretty versatile. You can add and swap out ingredients to your liking. 

    • You can also add a ½ cup of diced green bell peppers if you like those. A red bell pepper would also work. 
    • Try adding vegan sausage or vegan ground meat. 
    • Add some hearty lentils if you want some extra protein. 
    • Make it a vegan tater tot breakfast casserole by adding vegan breakfast sausage and vegan eggs (like Just Egg). 
    • If you don’t have taco seasoning, you can add a 1 teaspoon of each: paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, and cumin. 

    Recipe FAQs

    What is a tater tot casserole?

    A tater tot casserole is a dish with veggies and sometimes ground beef, topped with crunchy tater tots. It is also sometimes called a tater tot hot dish. This vegan version is just as delicious as the original version!

    Are tater tots vegan?

    Most tater tot brands are vegan, but to be sure check that the label is free from animal products. 

    How to make a tater tot casserole vegan?

    Follow this recipe for the best vegan and vegetarian tater tot casserole! This recipe calls to skip the meat and opts for lots of meaty texture vegetables instead. 

    vegan tater tot casserole in a cast iron skillet topped with guacamole, salsa, and cilantro
    vegan tater tot casserole

    Looking for more vegan comfort foods?

    • up close vegan hamburger helper in a light blue bowl
      Cozy Vegan Hamburger Helper
    • Easy Vegan Buffalo Mac and Cheese
    • butternut squash sweet potato mash in a bowl with butter on top
      The Perfect Mashed Butternut Squash Sweet Potato
    • Creamy Vegan Buffalo Chicken Dip

    Follow Chelsea Peachtree on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, and subscribe via email to receive all of the latest recipes!

    vegan tater tot casserole in a cast iron skillet topped with guacamole, salsa, and cilantro

    Vegan Tater Tot Casserole

    Chelsea Peachtree
    This easy one pot vegan tater tot casserole is filled with fresh veggies and topped with crispy tater tots. It's the ultimate comfort food!
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 45 minutes mins
    Total Time 50 minutes mins
    Course Main Course, Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 236 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 teaspoon olive oil
    • ½ cup white onion diced
    • 2 garlic cloves mined
    • ¾ cup mushrooms diced
    • ¾ cup black beans
    • ½ cup corn
    • ½ cup tomato (or salsa) diced
    • 3 tbsp jalapeño diced
    • 4 tbsp taco seasoning
    • 1 tbsp tomato paste
    • 1 ½ cup vegan cheddar shreds (I like the Mykonos brand)
    • ½ package tater tots approximately 3 cups
    • Optional toppings: extra vegan cheese, guacamole, salsa, cilantro, hot sauce, vegan sour cream, or lettuce.

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
    • In a cast-iron skillet, heat olive oil, garlic and onion over medium to low heat until fragrant.
    • Add in mushrooms, black beans, corn, tomato or salsa, and jalapeño (if using) and let it sauté for 3-5 minutes, stirring often.
    • Add in taco seasoning and tomato paste and mix well.
    • Remove from heat and sprinkle half of the vegan cheese evenly on top.
    • Add tater tots in a single layer across the top.
    • Bake for 30 minutes.
    • Remove and sprinkle the rest of the vegan cheese on top. Bake again for 5 minutes.
    • Remove from oven and let sit for 3-5 minutes before serving.
    • Option to top with extra vegan cheese, guacamole, salsa, cilantro, hot sauce, vegan sour cream, or lettuce.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 236kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 7gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 704mgPotassium: 410mgFiber: 6gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 415IUVitamin C: 18mgCalcium: 60mgIron: 2mg
    Follow Me on Instagram!@ChelseaPeachtree #chelseapeachtree
    « Easy Vegan Walnut Pesto (dairy-free)
    Decadent Vegan Pumpkin Brownies »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About
    • Privacy Policy

    Contact

    • Contact

    Copyright © 2023 ChelseaPeachTree

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT