The word casserole commonly refers to an entrée containing a starch, meat, vegetable, and canned soup that is baked together in a casserole dish. In some parts of the country, a casserole is more commonly referred to as a “hot dish.” Casseroles got their start in America during the Great Depression when families were trying to conserve food and stretch resources. These dishes were a way to make a pound of meat feed an entire family. In the 1950s casseroles became increasingly popular as easy, affordable one-dish meals. When commercial tater tots were introduced in 1956, they began being used to top casseroles in place of other common toppings such as breadcrumbs or fried onions. Tater tots, of course, top this casserole, which is also made with seasoned ground beef, green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and cheese.
Recipe Servings: 6
Ingredients
- Nonstick cooking spray, as needed to grease pan
- 1 lb ground beef (the leaner the better)
- ½ onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- Salt, to taste
- Ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 can (15 oz) green beans, drained
- 1 can (10.75 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 cups frozen tater tots
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease an 8 x 8-inch or 9 x 9-inch baking dish using nonstick cooking spray.
- Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Drain the grease.
- Add the diced onion to the ground beef and sauté it for 4–5 minutes or until the onion is translucent.
- Add the garlic and cook, stirring frequently, for 1 minute.
- Stir in the Worcestershire sauce and season the meat with salt and pepper to taste.
- Spread the meat mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
- Spread the cream of mushroom soup evenly over the meat.
- Cover the layer of soup evenly with the green beans followed by the shredded cheese.
- Spread the frozen tater tots over the cheese in a single layer.
- Bake the dish for 35–40 minutes or until the tater tots are golden-brown.
- Remove the casserole from the oven and serve it immediately.
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