Description

Comfort food meets bold Korean flavors! This Korean BBQ Tater Tot Casserole combines savory bulgogi-style beef, tangy kimchi, and a creamy, spicy gochujang cheese sauce, topped with golden, crispy tater tots. Perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or game-day feasts. Quick, easy, and totally irresistible.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Bulgogi Beef:

1 lb ground beef (80/20) or thinly sliced ribeye
¼ cup soy sauce (tamari or coconut aminos for gluten-free)
2 tbsp brown sugar (or honey/maple syrup)
1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp grated ginger

For the Cheese Sauce:

1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 cup milk (whole or 2%)
2 tbsp gochujang (adjust to taste)
2 cups shredded cheese (mozzarella + cheddar blend)

For the Casserole:

1 cup chopped kimchi (with a little juice)
1 (32 oz) bag frozen tater tots
Sesame seeds and sliced green onions for garnish

Instructions

1. Make the Bulgogi Beef

Heat a skillet over medium-high. Brown the beef or cook the ribeye slices until just done.
Drain excess fat, leaving a little for flavor.
Reduce heat to medium; add soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger.
Simmer 3–5 minutes until the sauce thickens and glazes the beef. Set aside.

2. Prepare the Gochujang Cheese Sauce

In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
Whisk in flour and cook 1 minute.
Gradually add milk, whisking constantly to avoid lumps.
When thickened, lower heat and stir in gochujang.
Add cheese gradually, stirring until fully melted and smooth.

3. Assemble the Casserole

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
Spread bulgogi beef evenly in a 9×13” baking dish.
Scatter chopped kimchi over the beef.
Pour cheese sauce over the layers, spreading evenly.
Arrange frozen tater tots on top in a single layer. (Optional: lightly spray with cooking spray for extra crisp.)

4. Bake

Bake 30–35 minutes until tater tots are golden and cheese sauce is bubbly.
Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

5. Garnish & Serve

Sprinkle with sesame seeds and sliced green onions.
Optional: serve with cucumber salad, steamed rice, or a sunny-side-up egg on top

Notes

Vegetarian: Replace beef with plant-based ground meat or cooked lentils.
Pork Belly Version: Swap beef for diced or sliced pork belly, crisp before adding sauce.
Alternate Topping: Use hash browns or crispy crown potatoes if tater tots aren’t available.
Extra Veggies: Stir in peas, carrots, mushrooms, or spinach for added nutrition.
Heat Control: Start with 1 tbsp gochujang if sensitive to spice; adjust to taste.