Tater tot casserole
Serves 6 - 8
Easy
Prep:
Cook:
Recreate this beloved Midwestern American dish, sometimes called tater tot hotdish – a cheesy, meaty meal full of veg, it's delicious, easy and budget-friendly
Skip to ingredients
- 6 tbsp unsalted butterplus extra for the dish
- 1 large carrotdiced
- 1 large celery stickdiced
- 1 oniondiced
- ¼ tsp garlic granules
- ¼ tsp onion granules
- ¼ tsp dried thyme
- 6 tbsp plain flour
- 1 tbsp chicken bouillon or stock cubecrumbled
- 475ml whole milk
- 120ml double cream
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce(or use soy or fish sauce)
- 500g beef mince
- 1 tbsp tomato purée
- 2 garlic clovesminced
- 150g frozen peas
- 500g frozen tater tots or hashbrown bites
- handful of grated cheddar cheese(optional)
- ketchupto serve (optional)
- freshly chopped parsleyto serve (optional)
Method
step 1
Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 4 and lightly butter a 23 x 33cm baking dish. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over a medium-high heat and cook the carrot, celery, half the onion and 1 tsp salt for 6-7 mins, stirring occasionally until the vegetables have softened but not browned.
step 2
Add the garlic and onion granules, the thyme and ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper. Stir and cook for 30 seconds more, or until fragrant. Add the flour and cook 1-2 mins, stirring continuously until the flour becomes is lightly golden.
step 3
Sprinkle in the crumbled chicken bouillon or stock cube, then add the milk, cream and 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce. Cook for 3-5 mins, stirring continuously until the mixture is smooth and thick, like heavy pancake batter. Remove from the heat and set aside.
step 4
Heat a large frying pan over a medium-high heat and cook the beef, 1 tsp salt and remaining Worcestershire sauce until the beef has released some of its fat, breaking it up using a wooden spoon as you go. Add the rest of the onion and the tomato purée, and cook for a further 4-5 mins, or until the onion has started to soften and the beef is cooked through. Add the garlic and cook for 30-60 seconds more until fragrant.
step 5
Remove the beef mixture from the heat and stir it into the vegetable mixture along with the frozen peas. Gently mix everything together to combine, then spoon the mixture into the prepared dish, making sure it's in an even layer. Arrange the tater tots on top in even rows.
step 6
Bake the casserole, uncovered, for 30 mins until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy. If you like, sprinkle over some grated cheddar and bake for a further 5 mins, or until the cheese has melted. Remove from the oven and let stand for 5-7 mins before serving with ketchup or topped with parsley, if you like.
