Tater tot hotdish. It’s not the heathiest thing to eat, and it’s certainly not the most fancy thing to make. But it’s a Minnesota classic. And what kind of Minnesotan would I be if I didn’t show you how to make it?
If you live outside of Minnesota, you’d probably call this something like “tater tot casserole.” But for some reason, Minnesotans say hotdish. I didn’t even know that was weird until talking to some out of town coworkers who laughed hysterically at the idea of eating something called “hotdish.”
Every Minnesota family has their own spin on the tater tot hotdish, and everyone will say that theirs is the correct way to make it.Some people add cheese, some people add veggies like carrots, peas, green beans, or corn. I’ve seen some versions with french fried onions too.
But generally speaking, as long as you’ve got some kind of cream of something soup, plus ground beef, plus tater tots, it’s legit. You can improvise as you see fit. You do you.
My version has cheese, corn and peas. Plus of course the old staples: ground beef, two different “cream of” soups–chicken and mushroom–and a crispy tater tot topping.
I’m not sure exactly which Minnesotan came up with the idea of making a casserole–um, hotdish–with tater tots as the central focus. But, hey, I can get behind it. Tots are the bomb. There’s a reason this stuff is so popular up here in the great white north.
When it’s cold out and you need a big helping of comfort food, I’m telling you. Go ahead and whip up a a big pan of tater tot hot dish, just like a good Minnesota grandma would make.
You won’t regret it.
Tater Tot Hotdish
Tater tot hotdish is an old-school, family-friendly Minnesota classic weeknight dinner. You might call it a casserole, but we Minnesotans call it a hotdish.
Course:Main Course
Cuisine:American
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 648 kcal
Author: Jen
Ingredients
- 1poundground beef
- 1/2onion(diced)
- 3clovesgarlic(minced)
- 10ozcream of mushroom soup
- 10 ozcream of chicken soup
- 1cup frozen corn
- 1 cupfrozen peas
- 1.5cupcolby jack cheese(shredded)
- 32oztater tots
Instructions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
In a skillet, cook the ground beef until no longer pink. Place the cooked beef in a large bowl and drain the grease. Set the beef aside. In the same skillet, sautee the onions and garlic until softened, about 5 minutes.
Add the sauteed onions and garlic to the bowl with the ground beef and stir. Stir in the cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, corn and peas. Mix until well combined.
Evenly spread the mixture into a 9x13 casserole dish. Sprinkle one cup of cheese on top of the mixture. Place tater tots on top of the casserole, covering the top entirely.
Cook the casserole in a 450 degree oven for about 30 minutes, until bubbly and the tater tots are golden brown and crispy on top. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top and bake until the cheese is melted, about five minutes.
FAQs
All hotdishes are casseroles, but not all casseroles are hotdishes. But the main difference between hotdish and other casseroles is where you make it. What someone in Minnesota or North Dakota would call hotdish, a person in Indiana would simply know as tater tot casserole.
Why is my tater tot casserole soggy? ›
Why is my tater tot casserole soggy? Not baking the casserole long enough is the most common reason for it to become soggy. Make sure the center is bubbly and the top is golden before removing it from the oven. If the top begins to brown too quickly, cover it with foil, and continue to bake.
Why do Minnesotans call casserole hotdish? ›
What is known, though, is that the term "hotdish" first appeared in a 1930 Mankato cookbook, published by Grace Lutheran Ladies Aid. "What's clearer is that the dish has become a symbol of Minnesotan identity," Deustch said. "That is exactly why there are so many debates over what a hotdish can be."
What state is known for Tater Tot Hotdish? ›
In the Library with Toni Tipton-Martin: How Tater Tot Hotdish Became a Minnesota Classic. It's even a rite of passage to enter Minnesota congress. Published Mar. 12, 2023.
Why is it called John Wayne casserole? ›
Why Is It Called A John Wayne Casserole? The origins of this delicious casserole can be traced back to a cookbook called “Cooking with Love from Cara and Her Friends.” John Wayne contributed an egg and cheese casserole recipe to that book.
What is a Minnesota hot dish? ›
Tater tot hotdish from the Saint Paul, Minnesota Winter Carnival. Typical ingredients in hotdish are potatoes or pasta, ground beef, green beans, and corn, with canned soup added as a binder, flavoring, and sauce. Potatoes may be in the form of tater tots, hash browns, potato chips, or shoe string potatoes.
What is a North Dakota hot dish? ›
In Fargo, ND, a hot dish is basically a warm-ya-up, comforting casserole that's bursting with goodness. We think we hit the nail on the head with our recipe for Fargo Hot Dish. It's a layered casserole that features hearty noodles, ground beef tossed with tomato sauce, a savory cheese filling, and more.
What do British people call casserole? ›
' In the UK, the terms casserole and stew tend to be used interchangeably, although some distinguish them by saying stews are cooked on a stovetop while casseroles are cooked in an oven.
What do the French call a casserole? ›
noun. le ragoût masc. I'm going to make a casserole. Je vais faire un ragoût. a casserole dish une cocotte.
What to serve with tater tot hotdish? ›
What can I serve this with? This tater tot casserole could be served as a side dish itself alongside roasted meats such as roast chicken, turkey, beef or ham. If you're serving this as the main dish then why not try serving this tater tot casserole with green beans, spinach, or a bountiful fresh salad.
History. Tater tots were invented in 1953 when American frozen food company Ore-Ida founders F. Nephi Grigg, Golden Grigg, and Ross Erin Butler Sr. were trying to figure out what to do with leftover slivers of cut-up potatoes.
Is casserole a Southern thing? ›
Few dishes have a closer link to Southern home-cooking traditions than the casserole. Recipes, ingredients, and methods vary from kitchen to kitchen, but the idea of mixing different food items, baking in a deep and sturdy dish, and serving to friends and family is near and dear to many Southerners' hearts.
Is hotdish the same as casserole? ›
What Minnesotans — and some North Dakotans — call hotdish is a type of casserole, although its definition is somewhat narrower. A hotdish must be a main course, and almost always a hearty one that includes a protein, starch and at least some vegetables. It can't be a breakfast or side dish, for instance.
What is tater tot casserole made of? ›
Tater Tot Casserole is a classic comfort food made with a flavorful beefy base, canned or frozen vegetables, an optional addition of cream of mushroom soup, cheese, and crispy tater tots. It's easy to make ahead of time, freezer friendly, budget friendly, and a great way to feed a crowd!
What makes something a hotdish? ›
According to Eater, the elements that are absolutely necessary to include in hotdish are a starch, protein, and vegetable bound together by a creamy sauce, usually cream of mushroom soup. It's all baked in one dish and served piping hot.
Why is a casserole called a casserole? ›
The word casserole is derived from a French word that means 'saucepan'. Apparently, casseroles originated as communal pots that people shared for meals. The oldest recipe for a casserole, around 1250, consisted of pasta sheets cooked in water, layered with grated cheese and spices.
