Everyone in Minnesota has a recipe for tater tot hot dish with cream of mushroom soup. This recipe is a Mexican twist on a Minnesota classic.
The taco seasoned beef with onions and peppers are the base of this dish. Top with a jar of queso dip, I used Tostitos queso that you buy in the chip isle. Finally add a layer of tater tots and cheese and that’s it! Supper is ready. I like to season the tater tots in my tater tot hot dish recipes with seasoned salt because they can be a little bland otherwise. I suppose you could just buy the seasoned tater tots but they still don’t seem to have much of a flavor for my family’s liking.
This recipe is a great weeknight meal because it goes together so quickly there aren’t many ingredients or assembly. It’s even easier than regular tater tot hot dish. But if you would like a video of how the dish comes together the original recipe can be found here: Mexican Tater Tot Casserole.
Simply Stacie has a number of variations on tater tot casseroles, but you know the real name for them is “hotdish”. I am hoping to get around to trying some of the other ones and hopefully share them all with you. The good Lord knows my family doesn’t appreciate it! But I’ll keep feeding them or else they start to whine or worse yet cook for themselves! I don’t know how they can dirty so many dishes just making frozen pizza.
Let me know if you give this a try and how your family liked it.
Mexican Tater Tot Hotdish Recipe
Mexican Tater Tot Hotdish
Equipment
- 1 large pan
Ingredients
- 1 lb. hamburger
- 1 onion chopped
- 1 red pepper chopped
- 1 orange pepper chopped
- 1 pk taco seasoning
- ¾ of a package of tater tots
- 1 tsp seasoned salt
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Heat a large pan over medium heat. Add onions, peppers and ground beef and cook until beef is no longer pink and onions and peppers are softened. About 7-8 minutes. Stir in taco seasoning.
- Pre heat over to 400 degrees. Grease and 8 X 11½ in. casserole dish with cooking spray. Spread the beef mixture evenly on the bottom of the casserole dish. Spread the queso dip over the beef mixture. Cover with tater tots.
- Bake 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with cheddar cheese and bake another 5 minutes until the cheese is melted.
Video
The Magic Behind the Mexican Tater Tot Hotdish
The beauty of this dish lies in its simplicity and versatility. At its core, a hotdish is a one-dish meal that includes a starch, protein, and vegetable bound together by a creamy sauce. In the case of the Mexican Tater Tot Hotdish, the starch comes from the crispy tater tots, the protein from the ground turkey, and the vegetables from the green peppers and onions. The creamy sauce? That’s where the sour cream comes in.
But what sets the Mexican Tater Tot Hotdish apart is the addition of taco seasoning, which infuses the dish with a burst of Mexican flavors. The result is a comforting, hearty meal that’s both familiar and exciting at the same time.
Serving Suggestions for Your Mexican Tater Tot Hotdish
Now, let’s talk about how to serve your Mexican Tater Tot Hotdish. This dish is a meal in itself, but if you want to add some variety to your dinner table, there are plenty of side dishes that pair well with it. Some popular options include blooming onion, blistered tomatoes, Korean corn dogs, potato rosti, coconut shrimp, cucumber salad, mozzarella sticks, collard greens, quinoa salad, grilled asparagus, sweet cornbread, loaded baked potato, spinach and strawberry salad, fried rice, and zucchini.
Cooking Tips and FAQs
Making a Mexican Tater Tot Hotdish is straightforward, but there are a few tips and tricks that can help you achieve the best results.
Firstly, make sure to cook down your onions properly. Not doing so may cause extra moisture to be released as the casserole cooks, resulting in a soggy texture.
Secondly, don’t skimp on the baking time. Underbaking the casserole can also lead to a soggy texture.
Lastly, don’t forget the toppings! Adding fresh flavors like chopped cilantro, sliced green onion, sliced grape tomatoes, and pickled jalapenos can really elevate the taste of your hotdish.
As for FAQs, one common question is whether the Mexican Tater Tot Hotdish can be made ahead. The answer is yes, you can prepare some components of the dish ahead of time, but it’s best to do the baking portion right before serving.