Tator Tot Hotdish

There are few things that warm a Minnesotan's cold, dead heart quite like tator tot hotdish! This warm and completely mediocre meal is sure to satisfy the taste buds of an average white person! I mean, salt and pepper for spices??? How could you go wrong?! But let's be real here, it's actual pretty decent and fills you up, so there's really not much to complain about.

The recipe is here for a 8x10" pan, but feel free to increase it for a larger pan, and pictures of the process for making it are below:

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 Tbsp. salted butter

• 1 Tbsp. vegetable or canola oil

• 1 to 1/2 cup diced white/yellow onion

• 1 lb. (about 450 g) ground beef (80/20 or regular)

• Salt and pepper

• 3/4 tsp. garlic powder

• 2 1/2 cups of mixed frozen vegetables (peas, carrots, corns, green beans)

• 1 or 2 10.5 oz./310 mL cans condensed cream of mushroom soup

• 1/2 to 1 cup of milk

• 1 16 oz. bag tator tots

• About 1 1/2 cups shredded colby or cheddar cheese (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Let frozen vegetables thaw while preparing the onions and meat.

2. In a large non-stick skillet on medium heat, fry onions in oil and butter for 10 minutes, stirring regularly, until starting to brown and turn translucent.

3. Add ground beef, break it into small chunks and cook until brown, about 5-10 minutes.

4. Then pour out and discard about 2-3 Tbsp. fat (or the casserole will be too greasy).

5. Stir in salt, pepper, and 3/4 tsp. garlic powder to the cooked beef and onion mixture. Then add in the vegetables and fry until the vegetables are heated through (2-5 minutes).

6. Mix in the canned soup and milk—use 1 or 2 cans depending on your preference and adjust milk as necessary.

7. Once heated through taste the mixture for seasoning and adjust as necessary.

8. Add in the mixture to a 8x10 inch pan and smooth it out. Top with frozen tator tots and sprinkle salt on the surface.

9. Bake for 50-60 minutes, and add the cheese on top halfway through baking. The hotdish will be ready when it is clearly bubbling on the edges and the tator tots and are golden and crisp. Convection bake is great for this!

10. Cool 10-15 minutes before serving.

11. 6-8 servings.

Before frying the onions.

After frying the onions.

Add in the meat.

After cooking the ground beef. Now we strain out some fat, add the salt, pepper, and garlic powder and mix in. Then add the frozen vegetables and cook until thawed, and mix in the soup and milk.

When it's mixed together it may look like this, depending on how much soup and milk you use. Taste and adjust the seasoning.

The mixture then goes into a 9x13" pan.

Followed by a layer of cheese.

And tator tots. Sprinkle the top with a little salt, if desired. Ready to go in the oven.

And it's done. SHE'S MAJESTIC!!!!!