📖 Instructions

1. Get started by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This step is crucial because a well-heated oven ensures that your hotdish cooks evenly, giving it that perfect golden-brown top and bubbly interior.
2. Next, grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. This will prevent the hotdish from sticking to the bottom, making it easier to serve and clean up later. Trust me, you’ll appreciate this step when you’re trying to get that first perfect square out of the dish.
3. In a big skillet, brown your ground beef over medium heat. As it cooks, break it apart with a spatula until it’s in small, crumbly pieces. Nobody wants big chunks of beef in their hotdish! Once it’s browned, drain off any excess grease. This is an important step to avoid a greasy casserole.
4. Now, add the diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet with the ground beef. Cook until the onions are soft and translucent, which usually takes about 5-7 minutes. This not only adds flavor but also a nice texture to your hotdish.
5. Stir in the cream of mushroom soup, mixed vegetables, milk, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Mix everything together until well combined. You want to make sure all those flavors are melding together nicely. Simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, to let the sauce thicken slightly.
6. Pour the ground beef mixture into the greased baking dish, spreading it out evenly. This creates a nice, uniform base for the tater tots.
7. Arrange the tater tots in a single layer over the ground beef mixture. You can line them up neatly in rows or just scatter them randomly – it’s up to you! Just make sure they cover the entire surface so every bite has that crispy tater tot goodness.
8. Sprinkle the French fried onions evenly over the tater tots. This adds a delightful crunch and flavor that’s just irresistible.
9. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy, and the filling is bubbly. Keep an eye on it towards the end of the baking time to make sure the tater tots don’t burn. A perfectly baked tater tot hotdish should have a beautiful golden-brown color and a mouthwatering aroma.
10. Let the hotdish stand for a few minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld together even more, and it also makes it easier to cut and serve without it falling apart. Serve hot and enjoy this classic Midwestern comfort food!