Tater Tot Casserole

This meal is a favorite of my whole family, especially the kids. It includes some simple ingredients that hit all of the major food groups, has a creamy texture to part of it and is still crispy too.

​Prep Time: 15 minutes

​Cook Time: 1 hour in oven at 350 deg F

Ingredients:

2 pounds ground beef

2 Tbsp Lawry's Salt

2 Tbsp onion powder

2 Tbsp garlic powder

1 cup frozen peas

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 cup whole milk

4 cups (32 oz) shredded cheddar cheese

2 lb bag of frozen tater tots

Directions:

1. Set oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a large pan, add ground beef, Lawry's Salt, onion powder and garlic powder. Cook on the stove over a medium heat, stirring every so often, until the meat is cooked and turns from pink to brown. Drain and place in the bottom of a 9" x 13" pan and spread across the bottom as a layer.

3. Add frozen peas spreading evenly over the bottom as a layer.

4. In a separate bowl, mix the can of cream of mushroom soup with the milk and stir until blended. Then pour over the frozen peas & ground beef evenly all around the pan.

5. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top as another layer.

6. Cover the top with tater tots and line up in rows to cover the complete top of the pan.

7. Bake uncovered in center rack of oven for 1 hour. Tater tots should be golden brown and you should be able to see juices bubbling around the edges.

Makes approx. 6 large servings or 8 average servings. Refrigerate left-overs.

Alternative ingredients:

You can substitute various ingredients to make alternate dinners including:

1) Frozen green beans can be substituted for frozen peas, (although my son says not to, as it does change the taste).

2) If your kids don't like the cream of mushroom soup, you can substitute another type of canned soup like cream of potato or cream of celery.