Place the 2 pounds of cooked ground beef in the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish.

Ensure the ground beef is thoroughly cooked and drained of excess fat before adding it to the dish.📌

Add the family size can of cream of mushroom soup, 3/4 cup of diced yellow onion, and 2 tablespoons of minced garlic to the baking dish. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

Scrape the can of soup completely to get all the goodness out.📌

Using a spatula, mix all the ingredients together thoroughly right in the baking dish until well combined. Flatten the mixture evenly across the bottom of the dish.

Mixing directly in the baking dish saves on extra cleanup. Make sure the minced garlic is well distributed.📌

Evenly spread the 2 pounds of frozen tater tots over the beef and soup mixture in the baking dish.

Arrange the tater tots in a single layer for even cooking and crispiness.📌

Bake the casserole in an oven preheated to 400°F (200°C) for 35 minutes.

Preheating the oven is crucial for even baking and browning of the tater tots.📌

Remove the dish from the oven and completely cover the top with 10 ounces of shredded mild cheddar cheese.

Use your favorite type of shredded cheese if mild cheddar is not preferred.📌