Minnesota Hot Dish

A classic midwestern casserole! Layers of ground beef, veggies, cream soup or sauce, cheese, and crispy tots.

Serves: 6–8

Ingredients

Filling

• 1 lb ground beef

• 1 small yellow onion, diced

• ½ cup diced celery

• ½ cup diced carrots

• ½ cup diced bell pepper

• ½ cup corn

Homemade Cream Sauce

• 3 tbsp unsalted butter

• ¼ cup all-purpose flour

• 1¼ cups milk

• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

• ½ tsp garlic powder

• ½ tsp onion powder

• ½ tsp kosher salt

• ¼ tsp black pepper

Topping

• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (optional)

• 20–25 oz frozen tater tots

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.

2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef with the diced onion until the beef is browned and the onion is softened. Drain any excess grease, then spread the mixture evenly into a lightly greased 9×13-inch baking dish.

3. Using the same skillet, cook the celery, carrots, and bell pepper for 5–7 minutes, until they begin to soften. Stir in the corn during the last minute of cooking, then spread the vegetables evenly over the beef.

4. Wipe out the skillet if needed. Melt the butter over medium heat, whisk in the flour, and cook for 1–2 minutes. Slowly whisk in the milk until smooth, then stir in the Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 3–5 minutes, until slightly thickened.

5. Pour the cream sauce evenly over the vegetables. Sprinkle with the shredded cheddar, if using, then arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer over the top.

6. Bake for 40–45 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy and the filling is bubbling around the edges.

7. Let the hotdish rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

• For a thicker, more traditional-style hotdish, prepare the recipe in an 8×8-inch baking dish. The layers will be deeper, and you may need to bake it an additional 5–10 minutes.

• Garnish with chopped chives or parsley, if desired.