Homemade Tater Tot Hotdish Recipe

This tater tot casserole brings me all the nostalgic feels of comfort food with the perfect crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside tater tots. It’s the ultimate cheesy, savory dish that makes me feel like a culinary genius with minimal effort!

When I think of comfort food, my thoughts go instantly to Tater Tot Hotdish that is bubbling and hot. With ground beef that’s savory, onions that are chopped, and garlic that’s minced, this one-dish meal is both hearty and satisfying—quite the opposite of what a salad has come to signify.

When we salute an entrée with the no-guilt prefix “hotdish,” you know it’s going to be good. And bad, in a deliciously bad way.

The vegetables—which these days I try not to skip—are hardly discernible. At my most recent potluck, I was told that the nutritional value of the number of vegetables I consumed was so minimal that I should really just consider it a path to more tater tots.

Ingredients

Ground Beef:
Heaps of protein and iron makes it taste super.

It tastes great in every way.

Onion:
Offers a delicate sweetness, abundant in antioxidants.

Garlic:
Boosts taste, bestows heart-friendly effects.

Condensed Cream Soups:
The texture is creamy and adds depth to the dish.

Sour Cream:
Imparts a zesty creaminess, results in a silky finish.

Tater Tots:
Crunchy on the exterior, an interior filled with the warm solace of starch.

Frozen Vegetables:
Rich in vitamins, it brings both hue and nourishment.

Cheddar Cheese:
Oozing, pungent, and tasty–that’s cheese.

Cheese is a concentrated source of some of the nutrients that are sometimes lacking in the diets of Americans and Europeans.

It’s rich in protein, and many types of cheese are good sources of calcium.

In fact, cheese is the best source of calcium among all foods.

Ingredient Quantities

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots
• 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn, and green beans)
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Set your oven to an initial temperature of 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius).

2. In a big frying pan over medium heat, brown the ground beef. Drain off the fat.

3. Chop an onion and mince some garlic, then add them to the beef. Cook for about 5 minutes or until the onion is soft.

4. Combine well the cream of mushroom soup and cream of chicken soup.

5. Combine the sour cream and the beef mixture and stir until the two are completely combined.

6. Add the frozen mixed vegetables, and mix until everything is evenly distributed.

7. Spread the beef and vegetable mixture in an even layer in a 9×13-inch baking dish.

8. Spread frozen tater tots evenly over the mixture.

9. Distribute the shredded cheddar cheese evenly across the surface of the tater tots.

10. Place in the oven that has been preheated to the right temperature; to accomplish this, bake for three-quarters of an hour or a bit less than an hour. You want the finished dish to look as if the tater tots have been deep-fried. Slightly undercooking the tater tots in the oven really helps them achieve an authentic crispness. Otherwise, they can become gummy. Of course, the secret to achieving the ultimate texture with the tater tots is to try not to over-bake them, which can happen all too easily with these potato puffs. You must let the dish cool somewhat before serving.

Equipment Needed

1. Oven
2. Large frying pan
3. Knife
4. Cutting board
5. Garlic press (optional, for mincing garlic)
6. Wooden spoon or spatula
7. Mixing bowl
8. 9×13-inch baking dish
9. Measuring cups
10. Can opener

FAQ

• Can I use fresh vegetables instead of frozen mixed vegetables?Certainly, fresh vegetables are an option. Just ensure they are diced evenly and finely so that they cook uniformly.
• Is there a vegetarian version of this hotdish?Definitely! Replace the ground beef with a plant-based ground meat substitute and use extra cream of mushroom soup in place of the cream of chicken soup.
• Can I prepare this dish in advance?You can indeed put together the hotdish up to one day in advance. Store it in the refrigerator, and when ready to bake, allow for a few extra minutes in the oven to account for its cold storage.
• What can I use instead of cream of mushroom and cream of chicken soups?Homemade versions can be made with a roux base or use cream of celery soup for different flavors.
• How can I make the dish spicier?While the ground beef is cooking, mix in a diced jalapeño or some red pepper flakes.
• Can I freeze leftovers?Certainly! To cool the hotdish, allow it to sit at room temperature until it is not hot to the touch. You can then speed up the cooling process by placing it in the refrigerator. Do not cover the dish while it is in the refrigerator, as that will trap steam and moisture, which can lead to a mushy texture in the finished hotdish. Once the hotdish is completely cooled, or cold enough that it is safe to handle, portion it into freezer-safe containers.
• How do I reheat leftovers?Warm in the oven at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) until steaming, or heat single servings in the microwave.

Substitutions and Variations

You can use ground turkey or ground chicken to lighten things up a bit. But this is a pretty standard ground beef substitute and works well.
Cream of mushroom soup, condensed: Use instead condensed cream of celery soup or cheese soup for something with a different flavor profile.
If preferred, use cream of chicken soup that has been condensed. If you like, you can also use condensed cream of onion or cream of potato soup.
Colby Jack or Monterey Jack cheese: Substitute for a similar taste to shredded cheddar.
Sour cream: Swap in Greek yogurt for the real deal. It has more protein, fewer carbs, and in my opinion, more flavor. If you’re looking to make whole recipes, note that for every 1 cup of sour cream, use about 2/3 cup Greek yogurt. If you’re just making something small and need a few tablespoons, then you might find it easier to just use the actual sour cream.

Pro Tips

1. Sauté Onions and Garlic First Before adding the ground beef, sauté the chopped onions and minced garlic in a bit of oil until they become soft and fragrant. This enhances their flavor and integrates them better with the beef.

2. Season the Beef Well Add a bit of salt, pepper, and your favorite herbs or spices (like paprika or a dash of Worcestershire sauce) to the beef while it’s browning. This adds depth to the overall flavor of the dish.

3. Crisp the Tater Tots For extra crispy tater tots, consider baking them separately on a baking sheet for about 10-15 minutes before adding them to the top of the beef mixture. This gives them a head start on crisping up nicely.

4. Use Fresh Vegetables When Possible If you have fresh vegetables on hand, consider using them instead of frozen. Simply sauté them briefly before mixing them with the beef and soups to ensure they cook through and maintain some texture.

5. Cheese Layering Technique For a gooey cheese layer, mix half of the shredded cheddar cheese into the beef mixture before spreading it in the baking dish, and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top of the tater tots. This creates a cheese-packed casserole with layers of flavor.