Best Venison Tater Tot Casserole Or Use Ground Beef Recipes

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TATER TOT CASSEROLE



Tater Tot Casserole image

I first ate this hot dish, a Midwestern favorite, on a late fall evening in the humid kitchen of the cook and television star Molly Yeh, at her farmhouse in Minnesota. The casserole accompanied venison, lefse and talk of the sugar beet harvest outside. I thrilled to the cream-beefy, umami-strong flavors that sat beneath its golden, cobbled exterior, and I loved the way the potatoes soaked up the gravy that pooled below the venison. You could substitute other ground meats for the beef, and other frozen vegetables for the peas or corn, but the tots are mandatory, and I do love the addition of cheese at the end.

Provided by Sam Sifton

Categories     dinner, casseroles, vegetables, main course

Time 2h

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

1/2 cup unsalted butter
2 carrots, peeled and finely chopped
2 celery stalks, finely chopped
1 large white or yellow onion, finely chopped
Kosher salt and black pepper
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups whole milk
2 tablespoons chicken, vegetable or beef broth base or bouillon
2 pounds ground beef (about 15 percent fat)
9 ounces frozen peas or corn, or a combination
1 1/2 pounds frozen Tater Tots
1 cup shredded Cheddar (optional)
Chopped fresh parsley, for serving (optional)
Ketchup, for serving (optional)

Steps:

  • Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Make the creamed soup: In a large pot, melt 6 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Add the carrots, celery, half the onion and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 12 to 15 minutes.
  • Stir in the flour and cook for another minute. Add half the milk and cook, stirring, until thickened. Add the remaining milk and cook, stirring, until very thick. Stir in the broth base, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Pour into a heat-safe bowl and set aside.
  • Wipe out the pot and set it back over medium-high heat. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, then add the remaining onion and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring, until soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon, until browned. Stir in the peas or corn and season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Using a slotted spoon, drain and discard any excess liquid from the beef mixture. Transfer half the mixture to a 4-quart casserole dish and spread it out evenly. Spread half the creamed soup mixture on top. (It can be tricky to spread the soup over the beef, but it's OK if it gets messy and mixes together a little bit.)
  • Add the remaining beef mixture on top in an even layer, and spread the remaining creamed soup mixture on top. Cover with Tater Tots, sprinkle with another pinch of salt and pepper, then with cheese, if using.
  • Bake until the tots are golden brown and crispy on top, about 45 minutes. Let cool slightly. Sprinkle with parsley and serve with ketchup, if using.

TATER TOT VENISON CASSEROLE



Tater Tot Venison Casserole image

I always end up with so much venison each year. This is a weekly dish at our house during Hunting season. Kids love it and so do we. I use 1 1/2 or 2 pounds of venison. Just varies depending on what I have on hand. Doesn't really matter. Turns out great either way. You can also use ground beef if you do not have venison on hand.

Provided by WendyTN

Categories     Deer

Time 1h30m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 lbs ground venison
2 (10 1/2 ounce) cans cream of chicken soup
2 (14 1/2 ounce) cans French style green beans
1 medium onion
1 (32 ounce) bag frozen tater tots (I use extra crunchy)
2 cups shredded monterey jack cheese
salt
pepper
minced garlic

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Dice onion and brown venison with the onion, salt to taste, pepper to taste and garlic to taste.
  • Put cooked venison in casserole dish. Drain green beans and layer on top.
  • Layer the 2 cans of soup on top of that.
  • Sprinkle cheese on next layer.
  • Top with frozen tater tots ( I usually let mine set out while I am preparing the venison so they are not so frozen). I usually don't use the whole bag. Just enough to cover the top with one full layer.
  • Cover with aluminum foil and cook 350°F for an hour.
  • Uncover and cook an additional 15 minutes or until tots are browned and crispy.
  • I then salt, pepper the top, but that is up to your taste.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 903.2, Fat 50.1, SaturatedFat 20.9, Cholesterol 162.5, Sodium 2020.9, Carbohydrate 64.6, Fiber 8.1, Sugar 3.2, Protein 50.9

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