The ultimate comfort food mashup! Crispy seasoned tater tots are layered with sweet and tangy Manwich sloppy joe beef, rich nacho cheese sauce, and melted Colby Jack cheese for a simple dinner the whole family will love.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Bake Time: 25–30 minutes
- Servings: 6–8 people
🛒 Ingredients
- 1 bag (32 oz): Frozen seasoned tater tots
- 1.5 lbs: Lean ground beef
- 2 cans (15 oz each): Manwich Original Sloppy Joe Sauce
- 1 to 2 jars (15 oz each): Kroger Nacho Cheese Sauce (or any jarred liquid cheddar/nacho cheese)
- 1 bag (8 oz / 2 cups): Shredded Colby Jack cheese (or Cheddar cheese)
- To taste: Salt, black pepper, and garlic powder
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly spray a standard 9×13-inch glass baking dish or metal baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.
Brown the Beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the lean ground beef, seasoning it lightly with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Cook until fully browned and crumbled (about 6–8 minutes). Drain off any excess grease. - Mix the Sloppy Joe Filling: Pour the two cans of Manwich Original Sloppy Joe Sauce directly into the skillet with the cooked ground beef. Stir well and let it simmer gently on medium-low heat for 3–5 minutes until heated through.
- Layer the Tater Tots: Line the bottom of your prepared baking pan with a generous single layer of frozen seasoned tater tots, covering the surface completely.
- Add the Meat Layer: Spoon the warm Manwich sloppy joe meat mixture evenly over the top of the tater tot base.
- Pour the Nacho Cheese: Open your jar(s) of nacho cheese sauce and pour it generously in thick zig-zag ribbons across the entire ground beef layer as shown in the image.
- Top with Colby Jack: Evenly sprinkle the entire 8-ounce bag of shredded Colby Jack cheese across the top to completely blanket the casserole.
- Bake to Golden Perfection: Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the tater tots on the edges are perfectly crispy, and the cheese blanket is fully melted, hot, and bubbling with golden brown spots.
- Serve: Let the casserole cool for about 5 minutes to set before scooping, and serve hot!