Description
Comfort meets creativity in this shepherd’s pie tater tot casserole, blending classic British and American flavors into one hearty dish. Crispy golden tater tots crown a rich, savory beef filling, promising a delightful meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
main ingredients:
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1 lb tater tots
- 2 cups mixed vegetables (frozen or fresh)
central seasoning ingredients:
- 1 packet onion soup mix
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
topping/binding ingredients:
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 eggs (for binding)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and thoroughly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it into crumbly pieces while cooking until no pink remains.
- Drain excess fat from the beef and mix in onion soup mix, garlic powder, thyme, black pepper, and salt, ensuring even seasoning distribution.
- Spread the seasoned ground beef evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish, creating a uniform meat layer.
- Scatter mixed vegetables over the beef layer, creating a colorful and nutritious foundation.
- Whisk eggs with beef broth and sour cream in a separate bowl until smooth and well-combined.
- Pour the egg mixture slowly and evenly over the beef and vegetable layers, allowing it to seep into the gaps and bind the ingredients.
- Arrange tater tots in a precise, overlapping pattern to completely cover the casserole surface.
- Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese generously over the tater tots, ensuring complete coverage.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown and the tots are crispy.
- Remove from oven and let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before serving to allow proper setting and cooling.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with lean turkey or plant-based crumbles for a healthier, lower-fat alternative that maintains the dish’s rich flavor profile.
- Add a dash of Worcestershire sauce to the meat mixture for deeper umami complexity and enhanced savory notes.
- Create a gluten-free version by using gluten-free onion soup mix and ensuring all other ingredients are certified gluten-free.
- Boost vegetable nutrition by incorporating additional colorful vegetables like diced bell peppers or chopped spinach for extra vitamins and texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg