Easy Sheet Pan Totchos with Beef - A Fun and Easy Dinner! (2024)

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These Easy Sheet Pan Totchos with Beef feature crispy oven-baked tater tots, savory taco-seasoned ground beef, and plenty of melted cheese. Top with sour cream, lettuce, tomato, or whatever you like, and say hello to your new favorite dinner!

An Easy and Festive Sheet Pan Dinner

I know this sounds crazy but, maybe it’s time to re-think Taco Tuesday.

Don’t get me wrong! I am a diehard fan of all things Mexican and Tex-Mex. In fact, that’s why I’m saying we should all maybe branch out a little bit! We could do Fajita Tuesdays, Burrito Tuesdays, Gordita Tuesdays… or perhaps Totcho Tuesdays?

If you haven’t heard of totchos, they’re just a combination of nachos and tater tots. The beloved tater tot casserole already showed us that tater tots and ground beef is a match made in casserole heaven. But, when you add taco seasoning, cheese, and other nacho-style goodies, we’re talking a whole new level of amazing!

This easy recipe for totchos bakes up on a sheet pan for a convenient, cheesy dinner the whole family will love.

Who Invented Totchos?

Although these are a Tex-Mex-style dish, totchos were actually invented in Portland, Oregon by pub owner Jim Parker. The craft beer expert had a deep love for crispy tater tots, and didn’t care for tortilla chips in nachos.

So, he decided to combine tots and nacho toppings, and the rest is history! Patrons of his pub fell in love with the dish, and before long, totchos had gained a huge following in Portland and beyond.

What You’ll Need

The basic ingredients for this dish are simple and tasty. Let’s take a look! (Note: To see the full recipe card with amounts, nutrition info, and more, scroll down to the bottom of the post!)

• Frozen Tater Tots: You’ll need a bag of your favorite frozen tater tots.
• Olive Oil: For browning the ground beef. You can substitute whatever oil you prefer, or use none at all if your beef isn’t too lean.
• Ground Beef: Any ground beef is fine: grass-fed, sirloin, chuck, or whatever you prefer.
• Taco Seasoning: Homemade or store-bought is fine!
• Water: A splash of water makes the taco meat saucy.
• Mexican Cheese Blend: Feel free to substitute cheddar, Colby, Monterey jack, pepper jack, or any other good melting cheese.
• Salsa: I typically use chunky tomato salsa. Tomatillo salsa is also good, or you could do a mango salsa, corn and black bean salsa, or whatever you like.
• Optional Toppings: Lettuce, tomato, sour cream, guacamole… the sky’s the limit!

How to Make Sheet Pan Totchos with Beef

Making this tater tots dinner is very simple! It’s easy enough to do on a busy weeknight, but tasty enough for a party. Perfection!

1. Bake the Tater Tots. Preheat the oven and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Arrange the tater tots on the baking sheet in a single layer, and bake according to the directions on the package.
2. Make the Taco-Seasoned Beef. In the meantime, heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef to the skillet, and cook until browned, about 8 minutes. Break it up into small pieces as it cooks. When the beef is browned, stir in the taco seasoning, water and salsa, and cook for a couple more minutes.
3. Layer the Totcho Ingredients. Take the tater tots out of the oven, and sprinkle the ground beef mixture over them. Sprinkle the cheese over the meat, and slide the sheet pan back into the oven to melt the cheese. When the cheese is bubbly and melted, take the totchos out of the oven.
4. Enjoy! Serve warm with toppings!

Tips for Success

This easy recipe is basically foolproof, but before you start cooking, do check out these helpful hints! Bon appetit!

• Turn the Tots: For the crispiest tater tots, turn them halfway through cooking.
• Substitution: You can also make these with sweet potato tater tots, or just make fries and load them up with the nacho toppings. 👌
• Variation Ideas: Feel free to make chili tots, turkey-taco tots, or even a breakfast version with sausage and cheese! 😍

Serving Suggestions

What should you serve with your sheet pan totchos? I like to have a light, veggie-friendly side dish or two to balance out all of the cheese, carbs, and beef. Here are a few favorites!

• Cowboy Caviar: This savory, salad-like dish is full of amazing ingredients, including corn, beans, fresh veggies, and avocado—and tossed with a mouthwatering homemade dressing. Cowboy Caviar for the win!
• Avocado Salsa: How about a homemade salsa to go with your totchos? My Avocado Salsa is juicy, creamy, and refreshing, made with bell peppers, red onions, avocado, and tomato.
• Green Beans: A warm, garlicky serving of Sauteed Garlic Butter Green Beans goes with everything! Even picky eaters will enjoy these simple green beans made in a skillet.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

• To store leftovers, place the totchos in an airtight container and refrigerate for 2 to 3 days.
• To reheat, place in the oven at 350˚F until heated all the way through.

More Sheet Pan Recipes

• Chicken and Vegetables Sheet Pan Dinner
• Sheet Pan Baked Balsamic Chicken with Potatoes
• Sheet Pan Pumpkin Pancakes