You know how some recipes make me giggle, from the sheer delicious factor? Well, this recipe for Tater Tots Shepherd’s Pie is worth a minute or two of full-blown belly laughter.
How to Make Tater Tot Shepherd’s Pie
This is one of those recipes that I have been meaning to make forever. I picked up a bag of Tater Tots – something that rarely graces my freezer because they are delicious and evil and addicting – and thought perhaps I would do a classic mushroom soup and Tater Tot casserole, something a friend suggested I try when I was craving my usual mushroom soup fix.
For some reason when I went to pull out the bag of Tater Tots, I had this irresistible urge to make Shepherd’s Pie with Tater Tots on top, instead of the mushroom soup concoction.
My son also wanted to make dinner that night and this was the perfect dinner for him to practice his budding culinary skills on. At ten he is more than capable of frying up the ground beef…
…and then placing the various layers. This is the kind of cooking that gets kids excited to be in the kitchen. You can then move on to *ahem* healthier dishes, but it’s all about getting that passion started!
Well done buddy!
Holy Dinah you guys, this is seriously everything awesome in one dish!
Kid friendly? Check, the kids loved it.
Comfort food? Oh yes, better than mashed potatoes on top, I kid you not!
Easy to make? Checkity check! It’s so fast and simple to put this together for supper!
I don’t think my family is ever going to let me make Shepherd’s Pie again with mashed potatoes on top and I’m not just saying that to be witty. They spent the entire dinner exclaiming over how good the tater tots were. I’m not actually sure my daughter had ever eaten them, to be honest, because she had no idea what they were.
Too late now, Pandora’s box has been opened and Tater Tots have entered our household.
For those of you who have asked, yes, a stoneware casserole dish is perfect for this and is what I use. Pretty, aren’t they?
So, how ready are you to make this? Are you on board with being crazy and giving this a try?
Happy cooking everyone!
Love you more than Tater Tots,
Karlynn
Tater Tot Shepherd’s Pie
Ingredients
- 1 kilogram one bag of frozen tater tots
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 cup white onion chopped
- 3 cups of frozen peas corn and carrots mix steamed until warm then drained
- 1 one package Shepherd’s pie mix seasoning
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Pre-heat your oven to 375 degrees F.
- Grease a 9×13 casserole dish and set aside.
- Fry the ground beef and onion together until the beef is browned and no longer pink inside. Drain the grease (and rinse the beef if wanted to remove extra grease).
- Combine the seasoning mix with the amount of water listed on the package in the frying pan, add the Worcestershire sauce and simmer for 5-7 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Transfer the meat mixture to the 9×13 pan and spread out evenly on the bottom.
- Place the vegetables on top of the meat in an even layer.
- Take the tater tots and spread the entire bag out in an even layer on top of the vegetables.
- Cook in the oven for 25-30 minutes, until the tater tots are crispy brown and well cooked. (time may vary) Once the tater tots are cooked, sprinkle the cheese on top evenly and cook until the cheese is melted on top.
- Remove from the oven, serve and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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Lucy Alimena says
Can I make my own shepherd pie seasoning
Jody Hamm says
Hi Lucy, Just read your message and I saw no one replied so I’ll tell you I just made this recipe and I only seasoned my meat with Lawry’s Seasoned Salt, salt and pepper and garlic salt and it came out perfect. Don’t have Shepards Pie seasoning her in Columbia, SC but only used these and it was very good. Hope this helps
Gretchen Laauwe says
Great recipe except I added the can of cream of mushroom.We also made a turkey Shepard’s pie with sweet potato tots if you can find them used cream of celery with veggies grd turkey or leftover turkey .We don’t have Shepard’s pie seasoning,have never heard of it in New Jersey.Just use some worstershire,pepper,onion,thyme
Robin B says
Made this for the kids tonight. Couldn’t find shepherd’s pie seasoning in the shops but found a rich savoury mince seasoning packet and used this instead – we are in Australia. My 8 and 10 year old loved it. Thanks!
Cyndi says
What is and where do I find Shepherd’s pie mix seasoning? I live in Kansas City and have never seen this in any store. Thanks.
CloviaHoefer says
This is way better if you use cream of celery or cream of mushroom or even golden mushroom with the hamb. meat. I added a little water as well (not a full can just enough for moisture) so it was not too thick or dry. Cheddar cheese soup would be great here as well.
Carly McEathron says
Minnesotans grew up on Tater Tot Hotdish – it wasn’t until, years later as an adult I made/had shepherd’s pie for the first time and realized that Tater Tot Hotdish was really just an easier, maybe Midwestern, form of Shepherd’s Pie. It blew my mind.
The Kitchen Magpie says
I have heard of Hotdish and didn’t know what it was!!
NANA says
Shepherds Pie seasoning can be bought on Amazon.
Carly McEathron says
The Kitchen Magpie its called casserole elsewhere.
Bet Stapleton says
What are tater tots please?
The Kitchen Magpie says
They are potato hashbrowns in a roll shape, found in the frozen section of stores!
Heather Pollock says
I’m gonna try making this as a taco bake with spicy beef , sautéed peppers and corn,refried beans , spicy Spanish rice with the tatertots and cheese on top!
AngelaMurphy says
Can this be frozen? Looking for freezer dinner ideas. If so, thaw first then cook 30-35 mins?
Valerie Gray Smith says
Great idea! It looks delicious. Glad to see I’m not the only one completely addicted to tots. Love those little suckers! \U0001f60d
The Kitchen Magpie says
Oh they are a favorite treat in this house!
NJ Nowoselski says
my kids would love this
Sheryl L McDonald says
I need this! Now