Big Mac Casserole
Big Mac Casserole turns the drive thru favorite into a delicious, family-friendly dinner, with seasoned ground beef, melted cheese, pickles, and a copycat special sauce all under a crispy golden tater tot crust. Bake it and top it with shredded lettuce, diced tomato, and more sauce so every bite tastes like the real thing. It’s a guaranteed hit for game day or a family weeknight. Made with pantry staples, it comes together in about 55 minutes and serves 8.
Everyone has that one thing they order at the drive thru. For a lot of us, it’s a Big Mac, with the combo of beef, cheese, pickles, and the sauce that makes us sing the song in our minds.
I know I can’t resist burgers with pickles, sauce, and cheese that are juicy enough to make me use a ton of extra napkins. How about we turn it into a casserole and add some tater tots instead of french fries?
Then, right before serving, you pile on shredded lettuce, diced tomato, more pickles, and extra sauce, so every bite tastes like it’s wrapped in yellow paper.
It’s the hit of my Super Bowl party every single year, and it disappears fast.
It’s budget friendly, feeds a crowd, and it’s built for game day, though my family is happy to eat it on a random Tuesday too. If you love a fun sandwich or burger inspired dinner, check these out.
More Fun Ground Beef Dinners
- Philly Cheesesteak Casserole – loaded cheesy tater tot topped Philly bake
- French Fry Casserole – cheeseburger style beef with crispy fry topping
- Big Boy Casserole – cheeseburger style casserole with crescent roll crust
- 4 Ingredient Hamburger Casserole – simple weeknight ground beef dinner
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Read my disclosure policy.
See recipe card for complete information on ingredients and their quantities.
Ingredient Notes
Ground Beef – Use lean ground beef (93/7 or 90/10) to keep it from getting greasy. You can use ground turkey if you prefer.
Tater Tots – You can’t have a Big Mac without fries but I went for tater tots instead. They are easier for casseroles. French fries work as a swap if that’s what you’ve got. I did use them in another casserole.
Thousand Island Dressing – You can use 1000 Island Dressing, which is very similar to the original or use my copycat Big Mac Sauce.
Dill Pickles – These are essential for the full Big Mac experience. Use your favorite pickles and dice them small since they go int he meat mixture and on top.
Cheese – Cheddar is the best choice. I would shred or grate it yourself so it melts better.
For more insider tips, tricks, and a behind the scenes look, follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, & X.
How To Make Big Mac Tater Tot Casserole
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and spray a 9×13 dish with cooking spray. In a large skillet over medium high heat, cook the ground beef with the onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until no longer pink. Drain the excess fat.
- Stir in the diced onion, diced pickles, 1 cup of the Thousand Island, the mayo, and half the cheese.
- Spread the mixture into the prepared dish and top with the remaining cheese.
- Place the tater tots over the top in a single layer, getting them as close together as possible.
- Bake at 400°F for 40 to 45 minutes, until the beef is bubbling and the tots are crispy and golden. Check that the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Remove from the oven and top with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sliced pickles, and the remaining dressing. Serve warm.
For the full recipe and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Storage & Reheating
Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Leave the fresh toppings (lettuce, tomato, and sauce) off until after you reheat it so they don’t wilt or turn brown. You want them cool and fresh next to the hot ground beef.
Reheat: Warm in a 400°F oven until heated through, or microwave in 2 to 3 minute intervals. Add a splash of chicken broth or cream of mushroom soup if it seems dry.
Make Ahead: Dice and prep all the ingredients ahead for easy assembly. Keep the toppings separate until serving.
Topping Tip: Always add the lettuce, tomato, and sauce fresh after baking, never before, so they stay crisp and fresh.
Variations
French Fries: Swap the tater tots for frozen french fries for a slightly different crispy top. You can also use frozen, shredded hashbrowns in a pinch. Just press them into compact layer.
Homemade Sauce: Make your own Big Mac Sauce or Thousand Island so you can adjust it to taste.
Different Meat: Use ground turkey for a lighter version.
Extra Cheese: Add a layer of American cheese for an even more authentic burger flavor.
Low Carb: It’s already lower carb than a burger with a bun, but you swap out the tater tots for cauliflower tots.
Big Mac Casserole with Tater Tots
The tater tots are what set this Big Mac casserole apart from a standard cheeseburger dinner. As they cook on top, they turn crispy and golden brown.
They act as both the “hamburger bun” and “side of fries” you get with a regular Big Mac.
For the crispiest tots, bake them until deeply golden, and if you like extra crunch, cook them a little longer than the package says with a bit of extra oil, patting off the excess before adding them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Prep and dice everything ahead for easy assembly, and keep the fresh toppings separate until serving. Assemble and bake when ready.
Bake them until golden brown, and for extra crunch, cook them a little longer than the package says with a bit of extra oil, patting off the excess before putting on top of the casserole.
Yes. Frozen french fries work as a swap, though tater tots help make a more even topping that seals in the juices. You can also use shredded hash browns in a pinch.
Either works. Homemade Thousand Island or Big Mac sauce lets you adjust the flavor to jsut how you like it, but bottled is a great shortcut.
In an airtight container in the fridge up to 3 days. Leave the lettuce, tomato, and sauce off until after reheating so they don’t wilt.
Add a splash of chicken broth or a spoonful of cream of mushroom soup when you reheat it to add some moisture back into it.
The tater tots bake up golden and crispy on top, adding the crunch you’d get from the bun and fries, all in one dish. It’s what makes this a Big Mac tater tot casserole rather than a plain cheeseburger bake. French fries work as a swap if you prefer.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Cook the tater tots a little longer with a spray of extra oil for maximum crunch, patting off the excess.
- Make your own Thousand Island so you can adjust the flavor to taste.
- Add the fresh lettuce, tomato, and sauce after baking so they stay crisp.
- Prep and dice everything ahead for easy assembly on baking day.
- Keep the toppings separate if you’re saving portions for lunch the next day.
This Big Mac Casserole recipe is cheesy, crispy, and tastes just like the drive thru favorite. Make it for your next game day or family dinner and watch it vanish!
Big Mac Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
Casserole
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 cup yellow onion diced
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded yourself or cubed small, divided
- 1 cup dill pickles diced
- 1 ¼ cup 1000 island dressing divided
- ½ cup mayo
- 24 ounces frozen tater tots you might only be able to find 24 or 32 ounces *just use what fits dish*
Garnishes
- 1 ½ cups iceberg lettuce shredded
- ½ cup tomatoes diced
- ½ cup dill pickles sliced
- ¼ cup 1000 island dressing
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F. Spray a 9×13 dish with cooking spray.
- In a large skillet over medium high heat, add the ground beef and spices. Cook until the beef is no longer pink. Drain excess fat if desired.
- Add the diced onion, diced pickle, 1 cup 1000 island dressing, mayo, and half the cheese.
- Spread into the prepared dish. Top with remaining cheese. Cover with tater tots.
- Bake at 400 for 40-45 minutes or until the beef mixture is bubbling and the tater tots are crispy and golden brown. Check to see if the internal temp is 165F.
- Remove from the oven.
- Top with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and remaining dressing.
- Serve warm.
Notes
- Cook the tater tots a little longer with a spray of extra oil for maximum crunch, patting off the excess.
- Make your own Thousand Island so you can adjust the flavor to taste.
- Add the fresh lettuce, tomato, and sauce after baking so they stay crisp.
- Prep and dice everything ahead for easy assembly on baking day.
- Keep the toppings separate if you’re saving portions for lunch the next day
Nutrition
©TakeTwoTapas.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
