Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 pound lean ground beef or ground lamb
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups beef broth
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn, green beans)
- 32 ounces frozen tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and position oven rack in the top third.
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté 5 minutes until softened.
- Add ground beef and cook 6–8 minutes, breaking up with a spoon, until browned.
- Reduce heat to medium. Stir in Italian seasoning, tomato paste, and flour. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Pour in beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and salt. Stir and simmer 1 minute until slightly thickened.
- Stir in frozen mixed vegetables and cook 3 minutes until heated through. Add a splash of beef broth if mixture is too thick.
- Transfer meat and vegetable mixture to a 9×13-inch casserole dish and spread evenly.
- Arrange frozen tater tots in a single layer over the filling.
- Bake uncovered for 40 minutes until casserole is hot and tater tots are golden and crisp.
- Optional: Broil 2–3 minutes at the end for extra browning, watching carefully to prevent burning. Let rest a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- Use tater tots straight from the freezer to maintain crispiness.
- Add a splash of beef broth if the filling becomes too thick.
- Swap ground beef for lamb or turkey for different flavors.
- For a cheesy variation, sprinkle shredded cheddar over tater tots during the last 10–15 minutes of baking.
- Top with fresh herbs or serve with a green salad to balance richness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking and Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Halal
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 470 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 810 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
