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"Healthy" Tater Tot Casserole

The same nostalgic and delicious flavor with great ingredients!
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Servings 5 people

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 2 tsp olive oil more if needed
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic crushed
  • 2 medium carrots chopped
  • 1 cup green beans
  • 1 cup peas frozen
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • cup bone broth
  • ½ cup milk optional - see note
  • 1 tbsp worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 8 oz cheddar cheese

Season with your heart

  • salt & pepper
  • garlic powder
  • onion powder
  • paprika
  • italian seasoning mix
  • white pepper
  • mustard powder

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 400.
  • Brown the beef on the stove with listed spices. Once beef is browned - set aside.
  • Chop onions, garlic, carrots and green beans. If using frozen that's fine!
  • Add oil into the same pan and saute the onions until translucent. About 10 minutes. Add in garlic and saute a few minutes until fragrant.
  • Add in all your veggies - carrots, green beans, and peas. Saute a few minutes. (if using frozen veggies make sure to saute until the water evaporates)
  • Add back beef. Add in the flour and let it cook for a minute to get the floury taste out. Add in beef broth, milk, and worcestershire and soy sauce. Let it simmer until it's nice and thick. Let this mixture cook for 15 minutes on the stove. This helps give the fresh veggies a head start to soften up. If it thickens up too much, add in ¼-½ a cup of bone broth.
  • Taste for seasoning and add salt & pepper and seasonings as needed.
  • Pour mixture into a 9x13 baking dish. Cover in fresh shredded sharp cheddar cheese. Use as much or as little as you like but I used an 8oz block.
  • Cover cheese in your favorite tater tot brand.
  • Bake at 400 for 45 minutes until the tater tots are nice and golden and the filling is bubbly.
  • Let rest for 10 minutes on the counter and enjoy! Pro tip - enjoy with some applesauce. IYKYK.

Notes

Veggies - I use fresh veggies in this as I rarely have frozen on hand other than peas. Because of this I simmer the mixture on the stove a while longer. If you don't give them some time on the stove before baking the veggies can still be a bit firm even after baking for 45 minutes. 
Milk - I use this to add in some creaminess that can be missing from not using canned soup. It will be just as delicious if you don't use it - just make sure you replace it with an equal amount of bone broth.