Description
Hearty Shepherd’s Pie Tater Tot Casserole brings classic comfort to your dinner table, blending traditional British flavors with American-style tater tot crunch. Savory ground beef, rich gravy, and crispy potato topping promise a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetable Base:
- 1 pound (450g) lean ground beef
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup (150g) frozen peas and carrots mix
Seasoning and Liquid Ingredients:
- 1 cup (240ml) low-sodium beef broth
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Topping:
- 4 cups (about 1 pound or 450g) frozen tater tots
- 1 ½ cups (170g) shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish with a light coating of cooking spray.
- Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it into crumbly pieces until no pink remains, approximately 6-7 minutes.
- Drain excess fat from the meat, then return the skillet to the stovetop.
- Incorporate diced onions and minced garlic into the beef, sautéing until the onions become translucent and release their aromatic essence, about 3-4 minutes.
- Introduce frozen peas and carrots to the skillet, stirring to distribute evenly throughout the meat mixture.
- Pour in beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and sprinkle dried thyme, salt, and pepper, creating a rich and flavorful base.
- Dust flour over the mixture, stirring thoroughly to prevent lumps and allow the sauce to gradually thicken, cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes.
- Spread the beef mixture uniformly across the prepared baking dish, creating an even foundation.
- Strategically arrange frozen tater tots in a single, overlapping layer to completely cover the meat mixture.
- Slide the casserole into the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the tater tots transform into a golden, crispy landscape.
- Carefully remove the dish and generously scatter shredded cheddar cheese across the tater tot surface.
- Return the casserole to the oven for a final 5-minute melting session, allowing the cheese to become gloriously bubbling and slightly bronzed.
- Let the casserole rest for 5-7 minutes before serving, which helps the layers set and intensifies the flavors.
Notes
- Customize the ground beef mixture by adding diced bell peppers or mushrooms for extra nutrition and flavor complexity.
- Replace ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a lighter or vegetarian version that maintains the dish’s hearty texture.
- Experiment with different cheese blends like sharp cheddar, gruyere, or pepper jack to elevate the casserole’s taste profile and create unique flavor variations.
- Make the dish gluten-free by substituting regular flour with cornstarch or gluten-free flour blend when thickening the beef mixture, ensuring everyone can enjoy this comforting meal.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 70mg