Description
This Shepherd’s Pie Tater Tot Casserole is a comforting and hearty dish combining a savory ground beef and corn filling topped with creamy mashed potatoes, crispy tater tots, and melted cheese. Perfect for a family dinner, this casserole is baked until golden and bubbly, offering a delicious twist on the classic shepherd’s pie with an easy, crowd-pleasing tater tot topping.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Mixture
- 1 lb lean ground beef (or ground turkey)
- 1 cup diced yellow onions
- 12 oz canned corn (with liquid)
- ½ cup water
- 0.87 oz beef gravy mix
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tbsp onion powder
- ½ tbsp garlic powder
Mashed Potatoes
- 1 ½ cups water
- 2 tbsp margarine (or butter)
- 4 oz instant mashed potato mix
- ½ cup milk
Topping
- 28 oz frozen tater tots
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese blend
Instructions
- Prepare the Beef Mixture: Preheat your oven to 425°F. In a large pan over medium-high heat, melt a small amount of butter or margarine. Add the ground beef, breaking it apart as it cooks for about 5-6 minutes until browned. Stir in the diced yellow onions and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Add the canned corn (with liquid), ½ cup water, beef gravy mix, salt, black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Stir well and let the mixture simmer for a few minutes to combine flavors. Transfer the beef mixture to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish and spread evenly.
- Prepare the Mashed Potatoes: In a saucepan, bring 1 ½ cups of water and 2 tablespoons of margarine to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in the instant mashed potato mix and milk. Let it sit for a minute, then stir until smooth. Spread the prepared mashed potatoes evenly over the beef mixture in the baking dish.
- Add the Tater Tots and Cheese: Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer over the mashed potatoes. Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake at 425°F for 30 minutes or until the tater tots are golden and crispy. Remove the casserole from the oven, sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese blend evenly over the top, and return to the oven. Bake for an additional 4-6 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve warm.
Notes
- Using lean ground beef or turkey helps reduce fat content without sacrificing flavor.
- Be sure to keep the liquid from canned corn to add moisture and flavor to the beef mixture.
- For a creamier mashed potato layer, you can add a bit more milk if desired.
- If you prefer extra crispy tater tots, broil for the last 1-2 minutes while watching closely to prevent burning.
- This casserole can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated before baking; just add extra baking time if baking from cold.
