Comfort Food Casserole (Print)

A fun spin on shepherd's pie featuring seasoned beef, creamy potatoes, crispy tots, and cheesy goodness. Great for weeknight dinners!

# Ingredients:

→ Beef Filling

01 - 1 cup chopped yellow onions
02 - 1 lb ground beef (swap with turkey if preferred)
03 - ½ tbsp onion powder
04 - ½ cup of water
05 - ½ tbsp garlic powder
06 - 12 oz canned corn (use with liquid)
07 - ½ tsp black pepper
08 - ½ tsp salt
09 - 0.87 oz packet of beef gravy mix

→ Mashed Potato Layer

10 - 2 tbsp butter or margarine
11 - 4 oz instant potato flakes for mashed potatoes
12 - ½ cup dairy milk
13 - 1 ½ cups water

→ Top Layer

14 - 2 cups of shredded cheddar and mozzarella blend
15 - 28 oz package of frozen tater tots

# Steps:

01 - Set your oven at 425°F to preheat. On medium-high heat, add a small amount of butter or margarine to a big pan.
02 - Toss the ground beef into the pan, breaking it into smaller bits as it cooks. Once it's starting to brown, add the onions and keep cooking. Stir occasionally until the meat is cooked and the onions turn soft.
03 - Mix the canned corn (don’t drain) with the beef and onions. Pour in the water and sprinkle in the gravy mix, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine everything nicely.
04 - Pour the beef mixture into a greased 9x13 baking dish, spreading it out evenly to cover the bottom.
05 - Heat 1 ½ cups water with 2 tbsp butter until boiling. Remove it from the heat, pour in instant mashed potato mix, followed by ½ cup milk. Stir after a minute until it’s smooth.
06 - Scoop the mashed potatoes over the beef mixture and spread it out evenly across the dish.
07 - Arrange the tater tots in a neat row all over the potato layer, making sure they’re in a single layer.
08 - Pop the dish into the 425°F oven for about 30 minutes, or until the tater tots are nicely golden and crunchy.
09 - Once tater tots are ready, sprinkle the shredded cheese blend over the top. Put it back in the oven for about 4-6 minutes to melt the cheese.
10 - Before cutting and serving, let the casserole sit on the counter for a few minutes. Enjoy every bite!

# Notes:

01 - For lighter options, go with ground turkey or chicken instead of beef.
02 - Mix in veggies like peas, carrots, or even green beans for a nutritious twist.
03 - Build it completely beforehand and keep it in the fridge. Just bake it and add an extra 5 minutes to the time.
04 - Branch out with different cheeses, like Pepper Jack, Monterey Jack, or Colby Jack for new flavors.

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