Here’s another one of those recipes that’s been a family favorite for as long as I can remember. In fact, anytime I ask “What should we make for dinner this week?” the answer is almost always: Tater Tot Bake.
No, it doesn’t show up every week, but when it does? It’s an absolute hit.
The original version called for canned cream of mushroom soup, but over the years, I’ve played around with it, swapping in fresh mushrooms and a homemade sauce that’s still simple, but so much more flavorful.
It’s warm, hearty, and endlessly flexible. Use ground beef or turkey, top with cheese or crispy onions, and serve it with a green salad for the perfect comfort meal.
- 1 lb lean ground beef (ground turkey works well too!)
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 cup white mushrooms (cleaned & sliced)
- 1 shallot (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 3 tbsp flour
- 1 1/2 c beef stock (or chicken if you’re using ground turkey)
- 1 c milk
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- Smoked paprika to taste
- 1/2 of a 32 ounce package of tater tots
Optional:
- 1 cup shredded cheese (sharp cheddar or pepper jack)
- 6 oz. French Fried Onions
Let’s Cook!
- Brown the meat. In a large cast iron skillet, brown the ground beef. Season with salt and pepper. Drain and remove from the skillet.
- Sauté the vegetables. Melt the butter in the skillet, then add the mushrooms and shallots. Cook until mushrooms are soft, then stir in the garlic and cook for 30–60 seconds more.
- Make the sauce. Sprinkle flour over the veggies and stir for about a minute. Slowly whisk in the milk and stock, scraping up any brown bits. Let simmer until thickened, then add Worcestershire and smoked paprika.
- Combine & assemble. Return the meat to the pan and stir to combine.
- Add the tater tots. Arrange tots over the top. For crispier potatoes, bake them at 400°F for 20 minutes while preparing the sauce, then layer on top before baking the full dish.
- Bake. Bake at 400°F for 15–20 minutes, or until bubbly and golden. If you didn’t pre-bake the tots, you may need to add 10 more minutes to cook them through.
- Add toppings (optional). Sprinkle cheese on top and return to the oven for 5 minutes. If using French fried onions, add them last and bake for another 5 minutes until golden and crisp.
Always a hit, always filling, always satisfying! What’s your comfort food classic in your rotation? Let us know! I’m always up for new ideas that make people ask for seconds.
Eat well friends!
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Michelle Cooks 
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