Comforting Dinner Fix (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Beef Filling Base
01 -
1 cup of chopped yellow onions
02 -
1 lb of lean ground beef (swap with turkey if desired)
03 -
12 oz can of whole kernel corn (keep the liquid)
04 -
0.87 oz packet of gravy mix (beef flavored)
05 -
½ teaspoon of table salt
06 -
½ teaspoon of black pepper
07 -
½ cup of water for moisture
08 -
½ tablespoon of powdered onion
09 -
½ tablespoon of powdered garlic
→ Mashed Potatoes Layer
10 -
4 oz package of instant potato flakes
11 -
1 ½ cups of water
12 -
2 tablespoons of butter or margarine
13 -
½ cup of dairy milk
→ Topping Extras
14 -
2 cups of shredded cheese blend (cheddar and mozzarella)
15 -
28 oz bag of frozen tater tots
# Instructions:
01 -
Set the oven to 425°F so it can warm up. Melt a bit of butter or margarine in a big skillet over medium-high heat.
02 -
Toss the ground beef into the pan, breaking it into smaller chunks while it cooks. Add the diced onions once the meat shows some brown. Stir occasionally until the onions turn soft and the beef is done.
03 -
Pour the can of corn, including its liquid, into the pan. Stir everything around. Then, add water, the beef gravy mix, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Stir until blended.
04 -
Spoon the cooked beef mixture into a greased 9×13-inch dish, spreading it out evenly across the bottom.
05 -
Boil 1 ½ cups of water with 2 tablespoons of margarine in a pot. Turn the heat off and stir in instant potato mix along with ½ cup of milk. Let it sit briefly, then stir until smooth.
06 -
Take the creamy mashed potatoes and gently spread them over the meat layer in the baking dish.
07 -
Place the frozen tater tots in a single layer over the mashed potatoes. Keep them evenly spaced.
08 -
Put the dish into the hot oven and bake it for around 30 minutes. The tater tots should get crispy and golden.
09 -
Pull the baking dish out and sprinkle the shredded cheese all over the top. Bake it again for about 4-6 minutes, just until the cheese melts and browns a bit.
10 -
Let the casserole settle for a few minutes after you take it out of the oven. Slice it up and dig in!
# Notes:
01 -
Use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef to make it lighter.
02 -
Toss in veggies like peas, green beans, or carrots for added nutrients.
03 -
Assemble everything ahead of time and store in the fridge. Add 5 extra minutes to the bake time.
04 -
Mix up the cheese flavors by trying Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, or Pepper Jack.