Tater Tot Hot Dish

Tater Tot hot dish has spent decades as required fare at Midwestern potlucks and gatherings. It’s a regional icon that has appeared on hats, as a state congressional competition and in song.

The key ingredients remain the standard but may vary in flavor depending on what’s in the fridge and cupboard. After all, hot dish was invented by busy, thrifty women eager to quickly feed a hungry crowd.

What is Tater Tot hot dish?

Although variations abound throughout the Upper Midwest, Minnesotans claim the origin of hot dish, sometimes mashed up as “hotdish.” The name may be unfamiliar in the corners of America, where most people call the layers of protein, vegetables, sauce and starch a casserole. Purists argue that hot dish is simpler and more comforting.

Hot dish began with a macaroni base, and some modern versions still use pasta or rice. But after their invention in the 1950s, Tater Tots became a defining topping. Today, health-conscious cooks continue the tradition but may choose healthier hot dish ingredients like low-fat meats, dropping the cheese and swapping in soups and Tater Tots that are low in sodium, organic or even homemade.

Tater Tot Hot Dish Ingredients

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• Lean ground beef (90% lean)
• Onion
• Celery
• Salt
• Pepper
• Condensed cream of celery soup
• Frozen Tater Tots
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Fresh parsley or chives, optional

Directions

Step 1: Cook the meat

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In a large skillet, cook the beef, onion and celery over medium heat for about 10 minutes, breaking apart the meat as it browns. Cook until the beef is no longer pink and the vegetables are tender; drain as needed. Stir in the salt and pepper.

Editor’s Tip: You can boost the flavor by adding more seasonings at this stage, such as garlic, chili powder, thyme or cayenne.

Step 2: Fill the baking dish

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Grease a 2- to 3-quart baking dish and spoon in the meat mixture, spreading it in an even layer. Spread the soup evenly over the meat. Top with frozen potatoes.

Step 3: Bake the hot dish

Slide the dish into a 400ºF oven and bake, uncovered, for about 40 minutes, until bubbly. If the potatoes brown unevenly, rotate the dish halfway through the cooking time.

Step 4: Add the cheese

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Remove the dish from the oven and sprinkle the top with the cheese. Bake for another 5 minutes, until the cheese is melted. If desired, top with parsley or chives before serving.

Tater Tot Hot Dish Tips

What to serve with Tater Tot hot dish?

Fresh or lightly cooked vegetables make some of the best sides for this filling dish. A crunchy green salad adds balance to your meal, but you could also choose to roast broccoli while you have the oven going. For a comfort meal on a cold night, serve bread and butter on the side. True Midwesterners might even serve this casserole with a creamy potluck salad.

How to store Tater Tot hot dish?

After baking, let the dish cool completely before covering it and stashing it in the fridge. It will keep well for three or four days.

It’s also easy to prep and freeze hot dish for two to three months. Cook the filling ingredients, put them with the soup in the greased pan and then cover the pan and freeze. Leave the Tater Tots frozen separately until you’re ready to defrost and cook the hot dish.

Leftovers can be frozen in small portions, but the Tater Tots may get soggy when they defrost.

How do you reheat Tater Tot hot dish?

Thaw frozen hot dish, whether a full pan or a single portion, overnight in the fridge. Let thawed or refrigerated hot dish come to room temperature while you preheat the oven. An unbaked hot dish may need a few minutes added to the recipe’s stated cooking time.

It will likely take about 20 minutes to reheat a previously baked hot dish, but times can vary depending on portion size. Your safest move is to reheat until a probe thermometer registers 160°F in the center of the dish.