Description
Shepherd’s Pie Tater Tot Casserole is a comforting and hearty dish featuring a savory ground beef mixture topped with creamy mashed potatoes, crispy tater tots, and melted cheese. This easy-to-make casserole combines classic shepherd’s pie flavors with a fun and crispy twist of tater tots, perfect for family dinners or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Mixture
- 1 lb lean ground beef (or ground turkey)
- 1 cup diced yellow onions
- 12 oz canned corn (with liquid)
- ½ cup water
- 0.87 oz beef gravy mix
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tbsp onion powder
- ½ tbsp garlic powder
Mashed Potatoes
- 1 ½ cups water
- 2 tbsp margarine (or butter)
- 4 oz instant mashed potato mix
- ½ cup milk
Topping
- 28 oz frozen tater tots
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese blend
Instructions
- Prepare the Beef Mixture: Preheat your oven to 425°F. In a large pan over medium-high heat, melt a small amount of butter or margarine. Add the ground beef, breaking it apart as it cooks for about 5-6 minutes until browned. Stir in the diced onions and cook until softened, approximately 3-4 minutes. Add the canned corn with its liquid, ½ cup water, beef gravy mix, salt, black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Stir well and let the mixture simmer for a few minutes to combine the flavors. Transfer the beef mixture to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish and spread it evenly.
- Prepare the Mashed Potatoes: In a saucepan, bring 1 ½ cups water and 2 tablespoons margarine to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in the instant mashed potato mix and milk. Let the mixture sit for one minute, then stir until smooth and creamy. Spread the mashed potatoes evenly over the beef mixture in the baking dish.
- Add the Tater Tots and Cheese: Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer over the mashed potatoes. Bake the casserole at 425°F for 30 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy. Remove the casserole from the oven, sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese blend evenly over the top, and return it to the oven for an additional 4-6 minutes until the cheese melts and is bubbly. Serve hot.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey for beef to reduce fat content.
- For a creamier casserole, add extra cheese or use a cheese sauce instead of shredded cheese.
- Make sure to arrange tater tots in a single layer for even crispiness.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven for best texture.
- To make it gluten-free, verify that the beef gravy mix and instant mashed potato mix are gluten-free varieties.
