Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease a baking dish.

Greasing prevents sticking and makes cleanup easier.📌

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.

Be careful not to burn the garlic, as it can turn bitter quickly.📌

Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain excess fat if needed.

Draining excess fat prevents the casserole from becoming greasy.📌

Stir in the Sloppy Joe sauce, tomato sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes until thick and well combined.

Allowing the mixture to simmer helps the flavors meld together.📌

Spread the beef mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer on top.

Ensuring an even layer of tater tots promotes even crisping.📌

Bake uncovered for 30 minutes, or until the tater tots are crispy and golden.

For extra crispy tater tots, you can par-bake them for 10-15 minutes before adding the sloppy joe mixture.📌

Remove from the oven and sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Return to the oven and bake for another 5 to 7 minutes, until the cheese is fully melted.

Watch the cheese carefully to prevent over-browning.📌