This is a pretty easy casserole but it's SO good. It's basically like eating a sloppy joe. Meat and sauce, cheese and instead of hamburger buns, tater tots! There are a dozen versions floating around, some one layer, others with other add ins, but this is how we do it and keep it simple:
Ingredients:
1 32 oz pkg of tater tots (for some reason there is the exact right amount for a two layer 8x8 dish)
2 cups shredded cheddar
1 can sloppy joe sauce (or equivalent homemade)
1 lb (give or take a bit) ground beef
Brown the ground beef and drain...
Add the sauce and heat up as normal...
Meanwhile, in a greased 8x8 dish, line the bottom with tater tots...
Pour the sloppy joe mix over the top...
Put 1 cup of the shredded cheese over the mixture...
Cover that with another layer of tots...
And finish off by topping it with the remaining cup of shredded cheese...
Place in 350 degree oven for 45-55 minutes or until cheese is golden and tots are browned...
And here it is out of the oven. Let it sit for about 10 minutes to cool down a bit...
Dish it up and serve! It's so good and makes for really great leftovers the next day. It's not something you'd eat every day of course but hey, for some nice comfort food or a quick meal, you can't beat it. Very easy and freezes well too!
Stay safe and eat well!
interesting concept
ReplyDeleteRight? it's really tasty (if you like sloppy joes normally of course, ha).
Deleteno words
ReplyDeleteIs that a good thing or a bad thing? LOL!
DeleteI make tater tot casserole on occasion and it takes me back to a more comfortable time.
ReplyDeleteA good old fashioned tater tot casserole is definitely a comfort food!
DeleteThat looks fantastic! I used to eat Manwich years ago and forgot about it. I’ll have to add a few cans to the grocery cart next time.
ReplyDeleteTo be extra decadent, I think I’ll add some Fritos on top.
I know you can make your own but when we were stocking up for the quarantine I grabbed four cans at the store. Good for these. Now we only had two bags of tater tots as that's all the freezer can hold with the other stuff, so it's time to order some more, ha. It's inexpensive and very satisfying.
DeleteOh and Fritos would be good, even more decadent for sure, ha.
Wow! Thanks so much for this post, and recipe....you must have read my mind :) I made sloppy joes last weekend and have some leftover...being a bit tired of eating them as usual on buns, I was thinking I'd just freeze the leftover...But, Yay!! Happened to have some tator tots in my freezer so this recipe is just perfect for me tonight! Thank you so much for this great idea. :)
ReplyDeleteSerendipitous! ha. You could easily just do one layer, tots , the meat sauce, cheese and then bake. It's forgiving whatever you like and/or have on hand. Hope you like it.
DeleteOk, I gotta admit, your recipe is quite different as I'm used to having my Sloppy Joe's on a bun.
ReplyDeleteA casserole I have made before with the tots on the bottom but I really didn't care for that so much. They just seemed soggy and not done. Me, I like all my tots on top where they can get nice and brown & crispy. I know there isn't much difference. but I do prefer the Crispy Crowns over the tater tots.
I'm willing to try something new so I have this recipe on my menu list to make for next week; only I will be putting all my tots on top and using my own Manwich meat sauce. Thanks 4 sharing
Have an enjoyable weekend and may you have no more trouble with them goats
You could totally do it that way. I've also seen online that some people have put in the layer of tots and then cooked them until crispy and then put the sauce on top and the other layer of tots. But yes it Is mush on the bottom they are done of course but just makes it like a soft potato mixed with the meat.
DeleteThe crispy crowns are very good. I never thought about using those, might have to try it. Thanks!!
So I've become a fan of the Tater Bites, I think, a Kroeger brand in a kind of purple bag ... they seem to be more tasty ... and with instacart and the pandemic I can get something i really enjoy for a treat now and then ...
ReplyDeleteI've gotta give you my gramma's Sloppy Joe recipe .. I love them too much not to share ... and they could go with this casserole method too.
Sloppy Joes Usually double or triple amounts. Better the 2nd day!! Gramma Huldah
*I usually double the sauce part ... I like this very sloppy!!
1-pound hamburger & 1 small onion, grated Brown in large skillet
Mix the below while burger & onions cooking:
½ C Catsup 1 Tbsp yellow mustard, 1
1 Tbsp yellow Mustard
1 Tbsp cider vinegar
2 Tsp Sugar
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
salt to taste
1 C cubed cheddar or Velveeta cheese (we had commodity cheese growing up.. it was perfect!) Add to meat mix, Simmer 15 minutes with lid on.
Stir in cheese till partially melted
Spoon over toasted buns and serve
Hamburger buns Toast buns, set open on serving plates
Oh my goodness, this sounds wonderful! Thanks for sharing, will totally make this soon. I never thought about the velveeta cheese, what a great idea. Thank you! And we will definitely have to try the Kroger tots. Love instacart too, ha.
DeleteSince I've never met a potato dish I didn't like(thank you to my Irish & Scandinavian roots for this unquestioning devotion to the spud), this caught my eye immediately. I have to feed 3 big guys so I doubled it and liked the suggestion to cook the tater tots first to avoid soggy tots. I sprayed a bit of cooking spray in a large pan, cooked 2 bags for 20 minutes at 450 each. One bag for 1st layer, topped with Manwich mix, then cheese and repeated again for layer #2. It was awesome!!! Served it up with fresh corn on the cob from a nearby farm and a Caprese Salad with red & yellow tomatoes, some French bread topped with olive oil, Italian seasoning and a sprinkle of Romano cheese browned in the oven. Judging from the teeny bit of leftover Manwich Tot lasagna I had, it was a huge hit -thanks so much for the recipe.
ReplyDeleteoh my how sweet of you to come back and let us know. And I have a new name for it, manwich tot lasagna! Love it. Thanks so much and glad you enjoyed.
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