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A golden-brown Tater Tot Casserole in a white baking dish, with a serving removed to show the cheesy, meaty filling inside.

Hearty Classic Tater Tot Hotdish

A quintessential comfort food, this tater tot hotdish features a rich, savory ground beef and vegetable filling in a creamy, cheesy sauce, all topped with perfectly crispy golden tater tots. It's an easy, crowd-pleasing dinner perfect for any weeknight.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Comfort Food
Calories: 550
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Filling
  • 1.5 lbs Ground Beef 80/20 lean
  • 1 medium Yellow Onion finely chopped
  • 2 cloves Garlic minced
  • 1 tbsp All-Purpose Flour
  • 1.5 cups Beef Broth low sodium
  • 1/2 cup Milk whole or 2%
  • 4 oz Cream Cheese softened, cut into cubes
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1/2 tsp Salt or to taste
  • 1/4 tsp Black Pepper or to taste
  • 1/2 tsp Onion Powder
  • 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1/4 tsp Smoked Paprika
  • 1.5 cups Frozen Mixed Vegetables peas, carrots, corn, green beans
For the Topping
  • 2 cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese or Colby Jack
  • 32 oz Frozen Tater Tots

Equipment

  • 9x13 inch baking dish
  • Large Skillet or Dutch Oven
  • Whisk
  • Measuring cups and spoons

Method
 

Prepare the Filling
  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
  2. In a large skillet or Dutch oven, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until the beef is no longer pink and the onion is softened, about 5-7 minutes. Drain off any excess fat.
  3. Stir in the minced garlic, salt, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Sprinkle the all-purpose flour over the meat mixture and stir well to coat. Cook for 1 minute, allowing the flour to cook off slightly.
  5. Gradually whisk in the beef broth and milk, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the sauce thickens.
  6. Reduce heat to low. Add the cubed cream cheese and Worcestershire sauce, stirring until the cream cheese is fully melted and incorporated into the sauce, creating a smooth, creamy consistency.
  7. Stir in the frozen mixed vegetables. Remove the skillet from heat.
Assemble and Bake
  1. Pour the beef and vegetable mixture evenly into the prepared 9x13 inch baking dish.
  2. Sprinkle 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the filling.
  3. Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer over the cheese, covering the entire surface of the hotdish.
  4. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven, sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the tater tots, and return to the oven.
  5. Continue baking for another 10-15 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy, and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Let the hotdish rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Notes

For a spicier kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce to the filling. You can also substitute ground turkey or chicken for the ground beef. If you prefer a richer flavor, you can use a can of cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup diluted with 1/2 cup milk instead of the flour, broth, and cream cheese base, though the from-scratch version offers superior flavor and control over ingredients.