Name: Tater Tot Hotdish
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 65 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 tbsp Olive oil (for cooking the beef and onion); 680 g ground beef (85% lean); 1 piece yellow onion (peeled and finely diced); 2 cloves Garlic (minced); 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup (undiluted); 120 ml whole milk (room temperature); 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (check the label for gluten-free needs); 300 g frozen peas and carrots (kept frozen); 1 tsp kosher salt (divided); 1/2 tsp Black pepper (freshly ground); 900 g frozen tater tots (used directly from frozen)

How to prepare

Heat the oven to 200°C. Lightly grease a 33-by-23-centimeter baking dish and place it on a sturdy baking sheet to catch any bubbling sauce.

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and diced onion, season with half the salt, and cook for 7 to 9 minutes, breaking up the meat, until the beef is browned and reaches 74°C.

Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant. Drain excess fat if the skillet is very greasy, then remove it from the heat.

In a large bowl, whisk the condensed mushroom soup, milk, Worcestershire sauce, remaining salt, and black pepper until smooth. Fold in the frozen peas and carrots.

Fold the browned beef mixture into the sauce, then spread the filling evenly in the prepared baking dish. Arrange the frozen tater tots in a snug single layer over the surface.

Tater tots arranged in a single layer over the creamy beef filling

AI-generated image

Bake uncovered for 40 to 45 minutes, rotating the dish halfway through, until the sauce is bubbling at the edges and the tater tots are deeply golden and crisp.

Finished tater tot hotdish with crisp golden potato topping

AI-generated image

Rest the hotdish for 10 minutes so the sauce can settle, then spoon it into bowls and serve hot.

Why this recipe works

Browning the beef and onion first builds a savory base, while condensed mushroom soup creates a glossy sauce that coats the vegetables. The tater tots provide a crisp, salty lid over the creamy filling.

Storage and reheating

How to store it

Refrigerate cooled leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. For best texture, keep any extra tater tots separate if possible.

How to reheat it

Reheat portions in a 180°C oven until steaming hot throughout, about 15 to 20 minutes. Microwave portions until hot, then finish briefly under a broiler or in a hot oven to restore some crispness.