1️⃣ Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

2️⃣ Cook the ground beef: In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef. Add diced onions and cook until they soften. Season with salt, pepper, and any optional spices like garlic powder or paprika. Drain any excess fat.

3️⃣ Combine with cream sauce: Stir in the cream of mushroom soup and sour cream, mixing well with the beef. Cook for another 2-3 minutes until heated through.

4️⃣ Layer in the casserole dish: Grease a casserole dish and spread the beef mixture evenly across the bottom.

5️⃣ Add cheese layer: Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the beef mixture.

6️⃣ Add tater tots: Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer on top of the cheese.

7️⃣ Bake: Place the casserole in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden and crispy.

8️⃣ Add final cheese layer: Remove the casserole from the oven and top with the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

9️⃣ Serve: Let the casserole cool for 5 minutes before serving.