Hotdish Tater Tot Casserole with Cheese

Serves 10 in about 1 hour. Ground beef goes in first, and cream chicken soup finishes the pot.

Ingredients

• 32 oz frozen tater tots (or enough to cover the casserole)
• 1 ½ - 2 lbs lbs ground beef (or ground turkey, or sausage)
• 1 small onion, diced
• ½ tsp pepper
• 1 ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp onion powder
• ¼ tsp thyme, dried
• 1 tbsp soy sauce (or worcestershire)
• 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
• 1 10.5 oz can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 10.5 oz can cream of chicken soup
• 2 ½ cups shredded cheese, divided (sharp cheddar, monterey jack, etc.)

Method

1. Warm oven to 425° F
2. Smooth the tater tots out in an even layer on a baking pan. Cook for 15 minutes, then remove pan from oven and keep it nearby (This optional steps helps you get a crispier tater tot layer).
3. Lower oven temperature to 350° F
4. In a skillet, start browning the meat and onion together. Tip in the spices and soy sauce. Mix well and cook until meat is browned. Drain grease, if necessary.
5. Spray a 9"x13" baking dish with cooking spray. Tip in the meat mixture into the dish and spread in an even layer.
6. Distribute the frozen veggies over the meat mixture in an even layer.
7. Stir the 2 cans of soup together and then spread evenly over the frozen veggies.
8. Scatter 2 cups of the cheese over the soup layer.
9. Arrange the tater tots on top of the cheese in a single layer. Us as many as you need to cover the entire surface.
10. Cook in a 350° oven for 50 to 60 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbling.
11. Scatter the remaining 1/2 (or more) cup of cheese over the tater tots and put back in the oven just long enough to melt it.
12. Lift out from the oven and let stand about 5 minutes before serving.

More dinner ideas are in the dinner collection.