Mandatory Midwest Casserole–an easy, from-scratch hotdish with ground beef, tater tots, veggies and cheese.
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Mandatory Midwest Casserole
If you’re from the Midwest you know that “hotdish” is an essential dinner. Hot dish can be a tater tot casserole that has ground beef, a creamy sauce, tater tots and cheese…and sometimes veggies. Usually the creamy sauce is a condensed soup. My version today is made from scratch and doesn’t take much longer. I kept eating more and more bites of this. I thought I had more tots than I did so that was the only part that I wish was different. Next time!
Ingredients/Substitution Ideas
- Ground beef–or ground turkey
- Mushrooms–fresh or canned
- Dry minced onion–or ½ cup diced fresh onion
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder–or 1 Tbsp minced fresh garlic
- Flour
- Half and half–or milk, evaporated milk
- Frozen mixed vegetables–or any combo like peas, carrots, green beans, corn
- Worcestershire sauce
- Tater tots
- Shredded cheddar cheese–or Colby Jack
Steps
Heat oven to 375° F. Heat a large pan over medium high heat. Add in the beef and break it up. Brown for 5 minutes. Add in the mushrooms, onion, salt, pepper and garlic powder and stir until mushrooms start shrinking down.
Sprinkle in the flour and stir it in with the mixture. Slowly pour in the half and half and let it thicken and warm through. Stir in the veggies and heat through. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce.
Spread in a 9×13 inch baking dish. Layer the tater tots on top. Sprinkle with the cheese.
Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until tots are browned and crispy. Serve and enjoy!
Notes/Tips
- Serve with fruit salad or green salad.
- You can assemble the casserole ahead of time and refrigerate before baking—just add a few extra minutes to the bake time.
- I like using Ore-Ida brand tater tots.
- I used mixed veggies with green beans, corn, peas and carrots.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container* in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the oven or air fryer to help crisp the tater tots back up (microwave works but they’ll be softer).
- Other recipes you can make with mushrooms are Instant Pot Lisa’s Comfy Casserole and Golden Casserole.
Did you know you can filter the recipes on my website to search by meat type, IP or Crockpot, low carb, gluten free, etc.? Use the filter to find exactly what you are looking for.
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Mandatory Midwest Casserole
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
Description
An easy, from-scratch hotdish with ground beef, tater tots, veggies and cheese.
Ingredients
- 16 oz lean ground beef
- 4 oz chopped mushrooms
- 1 Tbsp dry minced onion
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 Tbsp flour
- 1 cup half and half
- 16 oz bag frozen mixed veggies
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 16 oz tater tots
- 4 oz shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Heat oven to 375° F.
- Heat a large pan over medium high heat. Add in the beef and break it up. Brown for 5 minutes. Add in the mushrooms, onion, salt, pepper and garlic powder and stir until mushrooms start shrinking down.
- Sprinkle in the flour and stir it in with the mixture. Slowly pour in the half and half and let it thicken and warm through. Stir in the veggies and heat through. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce.
- Spread in a 9×13 inch baking dish. Layer the tater tots on top. Sprinkle with the cheese.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until tots are browned and crispy.
- Serve and enjoy!
- Category: Beef
- Method: Stove and Oven
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More recipes with tater tots…
Instant Pot Napoleon Dynamite Soup
A cheesy hashbrown ground beef soup that is topped with tater tots in the place of croutons.
BYU Casserole
BYU Casserole, also known as hotdish, is a fun family favorite! It’s got ground beef, tater tots and a creamy sauce. This version can be made in your Instant Pot with an air fryer lid or it can be baked in the oven.
Redneck Casserole
Baked beans and smoked sausage with cheese, bacon and crispy tater tots.
Wheelhouse Casserole
A fast and easy breakfast skillet casserole with sausage, tater tots, cheddar and eggs.
Instant Pot Tater Tot Casserole
The hot dish your mom used to make with ground beef, veggies and tater tots only it’s made in the Instant Pot instead of the oven.
*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
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