The Ferguson Recipes – Recipes, Plain & Simple
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The Ferguson Recipes – Recipes, Plain & Simple
The Ferguson Recipes

Classic Scottish Shortbread 🌄 💤 ⏳
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Classic Sourdough Pancakes 🌄 💤
Classic Spaghetti Carbonara 🌄 💤
Classic Swiss Fondue 🌄 💤 ⏳
Classic Tater Tot Hotdish 🌄 🆕
Claude's Garlic Medley Seasoning Substitute 🌄 💤 ⏳
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Classic Tater Tot Hotdish
Classic Tater Tot Hotdish
{Serving suggestion only*}
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Few things say Midwestern comfort quite like a bubbling tater tot hotdish fresh from the oven. This crowd-pleasing hotdish layers seasoned ground beef, tender onions, mixed vegetables, and creamy mushroom soup, all crowned with a golden, crispy blanket of Tater Tots arranged in neat rows. It's hearty, nostalgic, and endlessly customizable, making it a go-to weeknight dinner or potluck favorite that both kids and adults devour. With straightforward pantry staples and just 15 minutes of hands-on prep, this ground beef hotdish comes together quickly before baking to golden perfection. Serve it straight from the dish with a squeeze of ketchup for the ultimate comfort food experience. - Claude
No Jump Zone
Ingredients
1 Tbsp salted or unsalted butter
2 lb ground beef, any kind
1 large yellow onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt, plus more to taste
1 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
16 oz mixed frozen or canned vegetables (green beans, corn, peas, and/or carrots)
2 (14 oz) cans cream of mushroom soup
24 oz frozen Tater Tots
Ketchup, for serving (optional)
Directions
Preheat the Oven
Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C).
Cook the Ground Beef and Onions
Heat a large frying pan over medium-high heat and melt the butter.
Once melted, add the ground beef and onions.
Season with salt and pepper, and use a spatula to break up the meat.
Continue to cook until there's no longer any pink meat visible, about 8 minutes.
Layer the Hotdish
Use a slotted spoon to layer about half of the beef into the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish, draining each spoonful and discarding the excess liquid.
Add half of the vegetables over the top of the beef, seasoning with more salt and pepper as desired.
Pour one can of soup over the top, spreading it as evenly as possible.
Layer in the remaining beef and vegetables, then season again.
Top with the remaining can of soup, spreading it as evenly as possible once more.
Individually place the frozen Tater Tots in a single layer over the top of the final soup layer in straight rows and columns to cover the entire surface.
Bake and Serve
Transfer the baking dish to the preheated oven and bake until the Tater Tots are well browned and the hotdish is bubbling up around the sides of the tots, about 45 minutes.
Let cool slightly before serving with ketchup, if desired.
Let leftovers come to room temperature before tightly covering or transferring to an airtight container and storing in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat uncovered in the microwave for a few minutes until hot all the way through, or covered in a preheated 350°F (177°C) oven for about 15 minutes.
Servings\Yield
Serves 6 (makes one 9x13-inch hotdish)
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition Per Serving - Calories: 750; Total Fat: 46g (Saturated Fat: 18g); Cholesterol: 110mg; Sodium: 2050mg; Total Carbohydrates: 43g (Dietary Fiber: 4g, Sugars: 5g); Protein: 31g; Calories from Fat: 414 (55%)
*Nutrition information is provided as a general estimate only. Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients, and is based on available nutrient data. Variations may occur based on ingredient brands and preparation methods.
💬 Uncle Dave says...
This one comes together with pantry and freezer staples, so it's a great make-ahead option — you can assemble the hotdish a day in advance, refrigerate it, and pop it in the oven when you're ready. Originally adapted from Simply Recipes.
🧑‍🍳 The Cook:  Dave Ferguson 🔑 Keywords: tater tots, ground beef, casserole, hotdish, comfort food, weeknight dinner
🗂️ Categories: 🆕 New Recipes, 🥩 Beef, 🥘 Casseroles, 🍽️ Dinner, 🧒 Foods Kids Love, 🍔 Ground Beef
📚 Collections: Uncle Dave's Cookbook, The TFR Cookbook
Classic Tater Tot Hotdish was added on September 03, 2026 and last updated on September 03, 2026.
*Serving suggestion only. 😂 If a food photo doesn't look like it was taken by a monkey named Frank, it was most likely AI generated and not the result of Frank's minimal culinary or photographic skills. Unless you failed the "I'm not a robot" test, your recipes will probably not look like the ones in the pictures. See Creamy Turkey Veggie Soup to read more about AI images.
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📄Recipe Disclaimer: While The Ferguson Recipes strives to present reliable and delicious recipes, please note that most of the recipes on this site have not undergone rigorous testing or independent verification. For this reason, we strongly recommend that you always follow standard food safety guidelines when preparing any dish. Eggs: If you make a recipe that uses raw eggs, please consider using pasteurized eggs. Allergens: Food allergens have not been identified in each individual recipe. Please use caution if you have any food allergies. If you have any questions or concerns about a specific recipe, please feel free to contact us.
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