Vegan Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

Name: Vegan Tater Tot Casserole
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: neutral oil; 1 medium carrot (diced small); 1 celery stalk (diced small); 1 medium yellow onion (diced small); 1 cup cremini mushrooms (diced); 2 garlic cloves (minced); 1 tablespoon vegan butter; 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour; 1/2 cup vegan cream (I used Silk Oat Cream); 3/4 cups vegetable broth; 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast; 3/4 cups frozen corn; 1 1/2 cups cooked brown lentils; 1 teaspoon fresh thyme (if using dried, use 1/2 teaspoon); salt and pepper to taste

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Vegan Tater Tot Casserole | A creamy, savoury, vegetable, and lentil mixture topped with frozen tater tots and baked until golden and crispy. This is the perfect crowd-pleasing dish for holiday dinners. It’s easy to prepare and ready in 1 hour!

A top down view of a casserole topped with tater tots in a white square baking dish.

This easy vegan tater tot casserole is comforting, hearty, and satisfying. It’s full of flavour and packed with delicious vegetables in a creamy sauce! Tater tots are a convenient topping for casseroles and are sure to be a crowd-pleaser, especially for kids and picky eaters.

Casseroles are the perfect holiday dish and the ultimate comfort food for Christmas dinners or Thanksgiving get-togethers. This lentil tater tot casserole is packed with vegetables and hearty lentils, making it balanced and delicious.

What is tater tot casserole?

Tater tot casserole is typically a creamy beef and vegetable casserole, topped with crispy tater tots and cheese. It’s often made with canned soup to achieve that creamy texture. It’s like a twist on a pot pie or shepherd’s pie but with tater tots!

In my vegan tater tot casserole, I use a blend of vegetables and some brown lentils for protein. I ditch the canned soup, although there’s nothing wrong with a shortcut. I make my creamy mushroom and lentil filling with a roux and a mix of vegan cream and vegetable broth.

A plate of lentil casserole topped with tater tots on a beige plate in front of the casserole dish.

How to make lentil tater tot casserole

Start by sauteeing the vegetables, add garlic, and cook until fragrant. Then add the butter and flour to make a roux which will thicken the sauce.

Add the vegetable broth, vegan cream, and nutritional yeast. Lastly, add the frozen corn and cooked brown lentils. Then transfer the mixture to a baking dish. Line the top with tater tots, and bake for 45-50 minutes.

If you want to make this casserole ahead of time, make the filling and store it in the casserole dish in the fridge. Line the top with tater tots when you’re ready to bake. You may need to bake it for a little longer if storing it in the fridge beforehand.

Ingredients

More about the ingredients in this recipe. The exact measurements are below.

Carrot, yellow onion, celery, corn, and mushrooms- The vegetables for the base of the casserole.
Garlic, thyme, and nutritional yeast- Garlic for depth, thyme for freshness, and nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavour.
Brown lentils- They’re nutty, earthy, slightly chewy in texture, and packed with protein.
Vegan butter and all-purpose flour- A roux will thicken the saucy filling.
Vegan cream and vegetable stock- Together they create a flavourful, creamy, saucy filling.
Frozen tater tots- Crispy and golden, they’re a super easy and delicious topping!
Salt and pepper to taste.

Substitutions

Vegan cream: I used Silk Oat Creamer but you can use any plain vegan cream. You could also use coconut cream from the top of a coconut milk can.
You can use almost any frozen vegetables in the filling! Just add them to the filling and heat until thawed.
If you want to use vegan cheese, sprinkle it on top of the casserole during the last few minutes of baking.
You can use green lentils instead of brown lentils.

Instructions

Dice all the vegetables into small, even pieces.

Diced carrots, onion, and celery in a frying pan.

Heat the neutral oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the carrots, celery, and onion, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook until slightly browned.

Diced onion, carrot, celery and mushroom in a frying pan.

Add the mushrooms and cook for about 2 minutes. Then add the garlic, and cook for 15 seconds, until fragrant.

A creamy vegetable mixture in a frying pan.

Add the butter and let it melt. Then add the flour and stir to combine. Slowly add the vegetable stock, stirring constantly. The mixture will thicken significantly, and then thin out. Then add the vegan cream and nutritional yeast.

A creamy lentil and vegetable mixture in a frying pan.

Add the frozen corn and brown lentils. Then add the thyme.

Taste the mixture and add more salt and pepper if needed.

A creamy lentil and vegetable mixture in a square white baking dish.

Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Smooth the top out.

An unbaked lentil casserole topped with tater tots in a square white baking dish.

Top with a layer of tater tots and bake for 45-50 minutes until the tater tots are golden and crispy.

Top with a sprinkle of fresh thyme and enjoy!

A plate of lentil casserole topped with tater tots on a beige plate beside the casserole dish.

Tips for making tater tot casserole

Use a big enough pan to make the filling!
If the tater tots are cooked but not dark enough, broil the casserole for 2-3 minutes.
Use your favourite frozen vegetables! I used frozen corn but you could add peas, green beans, or frozen kale.

What to serve with vegan casseroles

What goes better with a comforting casserole than a savoury bread loaf? Try my Caramelized Onion Garlic Bread.

If you’re looking for more vegan Thanksgiving casseroles or Christmas dinner recipes, try my Vegan Scalloped Potatoes or Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms.

Add a dessert to the menu and try my Vegan Basque Cheesecake!

Storage

Cover the casserole and store in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. To reheat the dish and crisp up the tater tots, bake for 20-25 minutes at 350°F/180°C.

A top down view of a casserole topped with tater tots in a white square baking dish with a wooden spoon.

FAQ’s

What are the ingredients in a vegan tater tot casserole?

The ingredients for a vegan tater tot casserole include cooked brown lentils, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, thyme, vegan cream, vegetable broth, and frozen tater tots.

Can I make tater tot casserole ahead of time?

Yes, you can make tater tot casserole ahead of time, and store it in the fridge until you’re ready to bake. Top it with frozen tater tots, and bake for 45 minutes!