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    Home » Simple Vegan Recipes » Casseroles

    Cheesy Vegan Tater Tot Casserole

    Published: Apr 13, 2023 by Becky Striepe · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Recipe Video Print

    Cheesy, hearty vegan tater tot casserole is totally addictive. This meat-free hotdish is packed with beans and veggies in a cheesy sauce!

    a serving of meat-free hotdish on a plate with a fork
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients and substitutions
    • How to make vegan tater tot casserole
    • Helpful tips
    • Storage directions
    • Frequently asked questions
    • More cozy vegan casseroles
    • 📖 Recipe

    My family loves a vegan tater tot casserole, and I think yours will, too! It's hearty, cozy comfort food based on the popular U.S. Midwest hotdish. This meat-free version uses beans instead of meat in a cheesy sauce.

    Conventional hotdish recipes use condensed soup as the base for the sauce. That's a tricky ingredient to find a vegan version of, so I'm using the same creamy base that I use to make my baked mac and cheese.

    image collage of beans and corn and other hotdish ingredients in bowls on a white table

    Ingredients and substitutions

    • olive oil - The base for this vegan tater tot casserole is a simple, vegan roux. Instead of butter, we're using olive oil as the base.
    • onion, garlic, and bell pepper - These veggies bring lots of great flavor and texture to the finished casserole!
    • chickpea flour - You can use all-purpose flour instead to make your roux.
    • unsweetened vegan milk - Any creamy, plant-based milk will work in this recipe, but be sure it's unsweetened. You don't want a sweet casserole!
    • chili powder - This adds flavor and color to the sauce.
    • vegan cheese shreds - Choose cheddar, mozzarella, pepper jack, or a mix!
    • canned beans - These are the meat replacement.
    • frozen corn - Canned corn is also fine in this recipe.
    • tater tots - Use conventional, tater tots or any veggie tots you like! See the recipe notes for how to cook this casserole with different kinds of tots.
    image collage showing the sautéed veggies and flour, the thickened milk mixture, adding the cheese to the sauce, and the cheese sauce after stirring in the cheese

    How to make vegan tater tot casserole

    This recipe uses a Dutch oven or other stove-to-oven pan to make this casserole a one-pot meal.

    Heat the oil in a Dutch oven (or other stove-to-oven saucepan) on medium-high heat. Add the onion, bell pepper, and garlic, and cook until the onion turns translucent, about 5 minutes.

    Then, reduce the heat to medium-low and add the chickpea flour. Cook, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes.

    Slowly add the vegan milk, whisking out any lumps as you go. Once all of the milk is in the pan, add the chili powder.

    Bump the heat up to medium, and simmer, stirring frequently, for 15 minutes. Keep this going until the mixture thickens, so when you drag a spoon across the bottom of the pan, there's a split second before the milk mixture fills in the gap.

    Remove the pan from the heat, and while the milk mixture is still hot, add the shredded vegan cheese, stirring to melt.

    Add the beans and corn, mixing well, then season to taste with the salt and pepper.

    Top with the tater tots in a single layer, then bake according to the tater tots package directions (usually around 20 minutes).

    image collage showing tater tot casserole in a Dutch oven before and after baking

    Helpful tips

    • After adding the flour to the pan, make sure you're stirring almost constantly. You don't want that flour to burn!
    • When stirring the milk mixture, use your spoon to scrape the bottom of the pan, because this mixture does like to stick.
    overhead photo of vegan tater tot casserole in a Dutch oven

    Storage directions

    Leftovers will keep for three to five days in a covered container in the refrigerator. I usually just put the cover back on my Dutch oven and stick the whole thing into the fridge.

    Frequently asked questions

    Are tater tots vegan?

    They are! Potatoes contain natural starch that works as a binder to hold the tots together, no eggs needed. Some veggie tots do use eggs, so if you substitute, make sure you check the ingredients.

    What goes with tater tot casserole as a meal?

    Since this is such a hearty dish, I like to serve it with a light side, if I do make a side at all. A green salad or simple, steamed or sautéed veggies make great sides, if you're looking to serve this with something.

    More cozy vegan casseroles

    • spatula serving a slice of vegan rice casserole
      Cheesy Vegan Rice Casserole
    • bowl of vegan potato casserole, fully loaded with toppings
      Vegan potato casserole (fully loaded!)
    • overhead photo of the serving dish of macaroni and peas with a piece taken out
      Vegan Macaroni and Peas Casserole

    📖 Recipe

    overhead photo of vegan tater tot casserole in a Dutch oven

    Vegan Tater Tot casserole

    Cheesy, hearty vegan tater tot casserole is totally addictive. This meat-free hotdish is packed with beans and veggies in a cheesy sauce!
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    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Vegan
    Keyword: vegan hotdish, vegan tater tot casserole
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 374kcal
    Author: Becky Striepe

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 cup chopped sweet onion
    • 2 cloves minced garlic
    • 1 chopped bell pepper - any color you want
    • 2 tablespoons chickpea flour - or all-purpose flour
    • 2 cups unsweetened vegan milk - Soy or oat both work well, and I'm sure other creamy vegan milks would, too.
    • 1 tablespoon chili powder
    • 2 cups vegan cheese shreds - Cheddar, mozzarella, or pepper jack all work well, as would a combination of any of these!
    • 1 15 ounce can of red beans - drained and rinsed
    • 1 15 ounce can of black beans - drained and rinsed
    • 1 cup frozen corn - You can use canned, if needed.
    • salt and pepper - to taste
    • 3 cups frozen tater tots

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 450° F (or whatever temperature your bag of tater tots lists).
    • Heat the oil in a Dutch oven (or other stove-to-oven saucepan) on medium-high heat. Add the onion, bell pepper, and garlic, and cook until the onion turns translucent, about 5 minutes. Then, reduce the heat to medium-low and add the chickpea flour. Cook, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes.
    • Slowly add the vegan milk, whisking out any lumps as you go. Once all of the milk is in the pan, add the chili powder.
    • Bump the heat up to medium, and simmer, stirring frequently, for 15 minutes. Keep this going until the mixture thickens, so when you drag a spoon across the bottom of the pan, there's a split second before the milk mixture fills in the gap.
    • Remove the pan from the heat, and while the milk mixture is still hot, add the shredded vegan cheese, stirring to melt. Add the beans and corn, mixing well, then season to taste with the salt and pepper. Top with the tater tots in a single layer, then bake according to the tater tots package directions (usually around 20 minutes).

    Equipment

    • Dutch Oven

    Video

    Notes

    Make sure that the vegan milk you choose is nice and creamy. Thin milk will yield a thinner cheese sauce, and that's just not the goal here.
    If your tater tots package gives a range of cooking times, I suggest using the longest cooking time for the crispiest results.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Vegan Tater Tot casserole
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    374
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    21
    g
    32
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    5
    g
    25
    %
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    4
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    6
    g
    Sodium
     
    729
    mg
    30
    %
    Potassium
     
    491
    mg
    14
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    41
    g
    14
    %
    Fiber
     
    6
    g
    24
    %
    Sugar
     
    5
    g
    6
    %
    Protein
     
    7
    g
    14
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    1331
    IU
    27
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    40
    mg
    48
    %
    Calcium
     
    162
    mg
    16
    %
    Iron
     
    2
    mg
    11
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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    About Becky Striepe

    Headshot of Becky Striepe in front of a teal wall

    Hi there! I'm Becky Striepe (rhymes with sleepy), and I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here.

    Learn more about me >>>

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    About Me

    photo of Becky Striepe
    Hi! My name is Becky Striepe (rhymes with “sleepy”). I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here. → READ MORE

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