Friday, January 13, 2012

Tator Tot Casserole



I realize this picture is sideways - can't seem to get it rotated!  Shucks!

I'm sure everyone and their brother (well... maybe their sister) have made this recipe.  Everyone but me, I guess.  I had heard of it but really hadn't even ever eaten it before.  Crazy!


My pickier daughter came home from her new corporate job and told me ALL ABOUT this delicious dish she had eaten at a carry-in lunch.  As she was describing it to me, I said "Rebecca!  That's just tator tot casserole.  Like the Duggars make."  The dish Rebecca had at work was everything this dish is except it had mashed potatoes and cheese on top instead of tator tots and cheese.  She thought it was the best thing she'd eaten lately so I had to try it at home.


I don't usually use a lot of convenience foods (canned soup), but cooking at home always trumps eating out - even if it does include a can of soup and frozen tator tots.  


Keeping up with my pantry cooking, I had everything I needed to make this dish.  Its really great.  I can't believe I had never made it.  It was also delicious leftover.  I scraped the pan clean.  


This is how I make Tator Tot Casserole AT HOME MY WAY:


Tator Tot Casserole  


  • 1 pound hamburger (I'm cheap, I use the little tubes from Aldi)
  • 1 can cream of mushroom soup + ½ of the soup can of milk
  • Vegetables, optional (drained peas, corn, green beans, mixed vegetables)
  • Tator Tots (probably not the entire bag) (or mashed potatoes would work also)
  • Grated cheddar cheese



Brown hamburger, drain.  Add cream of mushroom soup plus ½ the can of milk.  Stir well.
Add any vegetables and stir.  Or for picky eaters like I have, leave the vegetables out.  Dump in a casserole dish (sprayed with cooking spray).  Top with tator tots (or regular/instant mashed potatoes).   Bake @ 350̊ for 20-30 minutes or until tator tots are browning.  Top with cheese.  Place back in the oven until the cheese melts.


Dig in!