Who remembers this one from childhood? A kid-friendly take on Shepard's Pie, tater tot casserole is a simple one-pot dish that feeds a crowd and can even be made (and frozen) in advance. For this updated version, we've included a DIY substitute for the can of Cream of Mushroom soup that most recipes call for. If you want to stick with a can of soup, just skip that step.
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Things You'll Need
1 pound ground beef
1 onion, diced
Optional: 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 cup frozen peas
1 cup frozen corn
1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup or DIY substitute (see recipe below)
32-ounce bag frozen tater tots
Salt & pepper
Getting Started
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
Dice the onion.
Brown the ground beef with onions until the beef is no longer pink. (No need for extra oil in the pan.)
Add a splash of Worcestershire sauce here if you like the flavor.
Tip
If you have a large oven-safe skillet, use it to cook the ground beef and onion mixture in. Then pile on the remaining ingredients and pop the whole thing into the oven. You'll dirty fewer dishes than you would by using a separate casserole dish for the baking step.
Prep DIY Substitute for Cream of Mushroom Soup
Things You'll Need
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup half & half
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Place butter in a medium sauce pan over medium heat until nearly melted.
Add flour and cook for 2 minutes. Keep stirring, even as the mixture bubbles.
Slowly pour in the half & half and chicken broth, whisking vigorously as you go.
Stir until the mixture is completely smooth. Add the garlic powder and remove from heat.
Assemble the Casserole
If you have a large skillet, layer the peas and corn right on top of the ground beef mixture. Otherwise, transfer the meat to a 9x13 casserole dish and add the layer of vegetables.
Then add the layer of cream sauce, or soup, and top with tater tots.
Cover completely with the tater tots before sprinkling with a pinch of salt and pepper.
Bake Until Crispy
Put the prepped casserole into the oven, baking at 425 degrees Farhenheit for about 30 minutes. For an extra crispy top layer, use the broiler for the last 1 to 2 minutes of cooking time.
Craving More Casseroles?
Casseroles make meal time so much easier! Make any one of these dishes in advance and enjoy throughout the week:
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