Description
Tater Tot Shepherd’s Pie loaded with savory ground beef, vegetables, and topped with crispy tater tots. Quick, comforting, and crowd-pleasing.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds (907g) frozen tater tots
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) olive oil
- 1 large onion, finely diced (about 1½ cups)
- 2 medium carrots, diced (about 1 cup)
- 2 celery stalks, diced (about ¾ cup)
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1½ pounds (680g) ground beef (85/15 lean-to-fat ratio)
- 2 tablespoons (16g) all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup (240ml) beef broth
- 1 cup (150g) frozen peas
- 1 cup (150g) frozen corn
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (or ½ teaspoon dried)
- 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped (or ½ teaspoon dried)
- 2 cups (200g) shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Position a rack in the upper third of the oven to help achieve maximum crispiness for your tater tot topping.
- Step 2: Heat olive oil in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the diced onions, carrots, and celery, cooking for 5-7 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Step 3: Add the ground beef to the vegetable mixture, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. Cook until the meat is browned and no longer pink, about a 7-8 minutes. If there’s excessive fat, drain all but about 2 tablespoons from the pan.
- Step 4: Sprinkle the flour over the meat mixture and stir continuously for 1-2 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste. Add the tomato paste and cook for another minute, stirring to coat the meat mixture.
- Step 5: Pour in the Worcestershire sauce and beef broth, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 5-7 minutes until it thickens slightly.
- Step 6: Stir in the frozen peas, corn, thyme, and rosemary. Cook for 2 minutes, then taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese until melted.
- Step 7: Transfer the meat mixture to a 9×13-inch baking dish, spreading it evenly. Arrange the frozen tater tots in neat rows on top, covering the entire surface of the filling. The presentation matters, so take a moment to create an even layer.
- Step 8: Bake for 25 minutes, then sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese over the tater tots. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and the tater tots are golden brown and crispy.
- Step 9: Let your Tater Tot Shepherd’s Pie rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. This allows the filling to set slightly and makes it easier to portion.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of the dish
- Calories: 480 calories per serving
- Sugar: 6 grams
- Sodium: 770 mg
- Fat: 30 grams
- Saturated Fat: 12 grams
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 grams
- Trans Fat: 0 grams
- Carbohydrates: 29 grams
- Fiber: 4 grams
- Protein: 24 grams
- Cholesterol: 95 mg