Tater Tot Hot Dish

Tater Tot hot dish has been required fare at midwestern potlucks and gatherings for decades. Midwesterners love a hot dish so much that the regional icon has appeared on hats, been the subject of a state congressional competition, and been written into song. Minnesotans only refer to it as a hot dish, but in other midwestern states, you’ll also hear it called a casserole.

The key ingredients in a Minnesota hot dish are standardized, but may vary in flavor depending on what’s in the fridge and cupboard. After all, hot dish was invented by busy, thrifty women eager to quickly feed a hungry crowd. Whatever you call it—and whether you bake it in glass, ceramic or enameled cast iron—we can all agree that it’s simple, filling and easy on the budget. Here’s how to make a true Minnesota Tater Tot hot dish at home.

What is Tater Tot hot dish?

Although variations abound throughout the upper Midwest, Minnesotans claim hot dish as their own (sometimes mashed into one word as “hotdish”). The straightforward Minnesotan name may be unfamiliar in the corners of America, where most people call the layers of protein, vegetables, sauce and starch a casserole. Purists argue that hot dish is simpler and more comforting.

Hot dish began with a macaroni base, and some modern versions still use pasta or rice. But the defining topping became clear after the invention of Tater Tots in the 1950s. Today, health-conscious cooks continue the tradition, but may choose healthier hot dish ingredients like low-fat meats, less cheese (or none at all), low-sodium soups and even homemade Tater Tots.

Tater Tot Hot Dish Ingredients

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• Ground beef: Find a 90% lean ground beef blend. With all the other rich ingredients in our Tater Tot hot dish recipe, we can cut back on the fat in the ground beef.
• Onion and celery: Onions and celery add body and flavor (and some vegetables to this rich dish). Make it a full mirepoix and add chopped carrots, if desired.
• Condensed cream of celery soup: Don’t dilute the soup! We want it to be the creamy, saucy component in the Minnesota tater tot hot dish. While we recommend celery, you can use any condensed cream soup.
• Tater Tots: Tater Tot recipes abound, but a Tater Tot hot dish recipe has to be one of the best ways to use up a package. Arrange the Tots on top so they blanket the hot dish.
• Cheddar cheese: Grate your own cheese fresh from the block for the best flavor. Bagged shredded cheese contains cellulose—an anticaking agent that, while edible, changes the texture and taste of the cheese.
• Herbs: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley or chives on top of the hot dish just before serving for a pop of color.

Directions

Step 1: Cook the meat

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Preheat the oven to 400ºF. In a large skillet, cook the beef, onion and celery over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink and the vegetables are tender. Drain as needed, then stir in the salt and pepper.

Editor’s Tip: The ground beef should take about 10 minutes to cook. Break it apart with a spoon as it cooks. You can boost the flavor by adding more seasonings at this stage, such as garlic, chili powder, thyme or cayenne.

Step 2: Fill the baking dish

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Spoon the meat and vegetable mixture into a greased 3-quart baking dish, spreading it in an even layer. Spread the soup evenly over the meat. Top with the frozen Tater Tots.

Step 3: Bake the hot dish

Bake the hot dish, uncovered, for 40 minutes or until it’s bubbly.

Editor’s Tip: If the potatoes brown unevenly, rotate the dish halfway through.

Step 4: Add the cheese

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Remove the dish from the oven and sprinkle the top with the cheese. Bake the hot dish for another five minutes or until the cheese is melted. If desired, top with parsley or chives before serving.

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Tater Tot Hot Dish Variations

• Bump up the flavor: Try adding a splash or two of Worcestershire sauce to the meat or squirting Sriracha on the Tots before digging in.
• Add more veggies: A Minnesota hot dish can really pack in the veggies if you want it to! Add peas, carrots tomatoes, corn, roasted red peppers, marinated artichokes or frozen spinach.
• Change the cheese: Feel free to replace cheddar cheese for other melting cheeses like pepper jack, Gruyere, Gouda or fontina. Even goat’s or sheep’s milk cheese will add more interest.
• Try another protein: Avoiding beef? Ground sausage, chicken, turkey or tuna make great replacements.

How to Store Tater Tot Hot Dish

After baking, let the dish cool completely before covering it and stashing it in the fridge. It will keep well for three to four days.

Can you freeze Tater Tot hot dish?

Yes, you can freeze Tater Tot hot dish for two to three months. Cook the filling ingredients, layer them with the soup in the greased pan and then cover and freeze the pan. Don’t add the Tater Tots until you’re ready to defrost and cook the hot dish.

Leftovers can be frozen in small portions, but the Tater Tots may get soggy when defrosted.

How do you reheat Tater Tot hot dish?

Whether you have a full pan or a single portion, thaw frozen hot dish overnight in the fridge. Let thawed or refrigerated hot dish come to room temperature while you preheat the oven. An unbaked hot dish may need a few additional minutes more than the recipe’s stated cooking time.

It will likely take about 20 minutes in a 350° oven to reheat a previously baked hot dish, but times can vary depending on portion size. Your safest move is to reheat until a probe thermometer registers 165° in the center of the dish.

Tater Tot Hot Dish Tips

ELLIE CROWLEY FOR TASTE OF HOME

What can you serve with Tater Tot hot dish?

Fresh or lightly cooked vegetables make some of the best sides for this filling dish. A crunchy green salad adds balance to your meal, but you could also choose to roast broccoli while you have the oven going. For a comfort meal on a cold night, serve bread and butter on the side. True Midwesterners might even serve hot dish with a creamy potluck salad.

Can this Tater Tot hot dish be made vegetarian or vegan?

Yes, Tater Tot hot dish can be made vegetarian or vegan. For a vegetarian version, swap cooked lentils or a plant-based meat substitute for the ground beef. Go one step further and make it vegan by using a dairy-free condensed cream of celery or mushroom soup. Look for dairy-free cheese or omit the cheese completely, and check the ingredient list on the Tater Tot packaging for eggs, lard, cheese or butter.

Can you bake Tater Tot hot dish in a different pan?

Yes, Tater Tot hot dish can bake in almost any oven-safe pan. Instead of a 3-quart (or 13×9-inch) baking pan, bake midwestern hot dish in a 12-inch skillet, two 9-inch round pans or two 8-inch square pans.