When meat is starting to brown, add all of the veggies to the pan.Add ground beef and break up with a spoon.Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.Coat 1- 9×13 pan or 2- 8×8 pans with cooking spray.Make Ahead Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole.So how about a healthier tator tot casserole for dinner tonight? By making these healthier swaps to the recipe, you can enjoy this comfort food a little more guilt free. Of course, I’m not going to try and convince you that tator tots are any kind of health food, but I think we all know they are delicious. Basically bake it until the tator tots are browned and crispy and the sauce is bubbly.

If you’re cooking a pan from frozen, just add about an additional 15 minutes of baking time. You could also double the recipe and divided between two 9×13 pans. You can either freeze it in a 9×13 pan or if you have a smaller family, divide it into two 8×8 pans. The other thing I love about this casserole is that you can make it ahead and freeze it. I also have found that a little sliced green onion sprinkled on top of the tator tots after the casserole comes out of the oven adds a perfectly fresh, light onion flavor. I think carrots, green beans or zucchini would also be delicious additions to the casserole. You can add any mixture that you choose, but I recommend using fresh veggies if possible, because of the brighter flavor they add. I like the combination of onion, garlic, red pepper, mushrooms and celery. I decided to bump up the nutrition and the flavor by adding a variety of fresh vegetable. I think back in the day everyone had their own mix of veggies they would add, like corn, green beans or a mix of both. It really isn’t much more work than opening the can of cream of mushroom soup and the result is delicious!Īs I said, traditional tator tot casserole can also be a little light on veggies. To make the sauce, I replaced the cream soups with a homemade sauce that’s a combination of beef stock and milk, thickened with a little flour and seasoned with fresh herbs. To reduce the sodium and make this classic dish a little healthier, I started by making my own sauce. The problem I have with it, though, is that it’s heavy on cream soups and a little light on veggies.Ĭream soups are certainly convenient, but they are filled with so much sodium. Over the years, it’s been the star at many potlucks and I’m pretty sure we all ate it growing up. You and your family will love this comfort food classic.

Tator tot casserole just got a little healthier with a homemade sauce and a healthy dose of fresh veggies.

Healthy tator tot hotdish