Creamy Veggie Tater Tot Hotdish
Welcome to the Midwest where we take our tots atop a hearty, creamy casserole filling. And there’s cheese, of course. This lightened-up, vegetarian version (no canned soups here!) is for days when you need warm-n-cozy, but you still have things to do later.
Ingredients
2 Tbsp butter
1 cup onion, chopped
10 ounces mushrooms, sliced
1 cup frozen veggie medley
1/2 tsp kosher salt (plus more to taste)
1/2 ground black pepper
1/8 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup milk (plus a splash more for thinning the filling if needed)
2 cans Great Northern Beans, drained and rinsed
8oz shredded cheese
1 bag tater tots
Optional garnish: green onion, sour cream, hot sauce
Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 400°. Heat a large, oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Add butter and swirl around pan until bubbling subsides.
3. Add onion and sauté 3-5 minutes or until translucent.
4. Push onions to the outer edge of the pan, and add the mushrooms in an even layer in the middle. Do not stir or disturb mushrooms until well browned on the first side, 2-4 minutes.
5. When mushrooms are brown, add veggie medley to the pan. (It’s okay if it’s still frozen, it’ll thaw in a flash.) Add a pinch of kosher salt and black pepper (approx 1/4 teaspoon each) and stir everything together. Cook, stirring occasionally, for a few minutes more or until hot throughout.
6. Sprinkle the flour over the veggies and stir to evenly disperse. This will thicken the mixture, and it will look a bit gloopy at this point.
7. Slowly add the milk, stirring constantly. Allow the filling to come to a low simmer, stirring often.
8. Stir the beans into the soupy filling. Allow to simmer for 2-3 minutes.
9. Taste and adjust seasoning. Does it need a little salt? Maybe a little more black pepper warmth? Smoked paprika would make a nice addition, too!
10. Remove the pan from the heat and spread the shredded cheese across the top of the filling.
11. Carefully arrange the tots in a pattern that pleases you. Pro-stylist tip: if you want concentric tot circles, I recommend starting from the outside and working your way in!
12. Place the skillet in the oven and bake for 30-45 minutes or until tots are golden and filling is bubbly.
13. Remove from the oven and allow to cool 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped green onion or even a dollop of sour cream with a dash of hot sauce. Yum!!
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