Crispy Tater Crown CasserolePhoto byGin Lee

Tater Crown Casserole

Enjoy the delicious flavors of this quick and savory crispy tater crown casserole. No additional spices are needed, as the sauce used in this recipe is already perfectly seasoned. Suitable for a weeknight dinner, this casserole can be prepared in advance, refrigerated, and then baked to perfection right before serving.

Ingredients:

• 1 package of crispy crown taters, tater babies, or tater tots (1.2 pounds)
• 1 pound of ground beef, cooked and browned
• 1 to 2 cups of pot pie filling or beef stew sauce (adjust to taste)
• 2 cups of Velveeta cheese, or your preferred cheese
• Canola oil for cooking the tater crowns
• Cooked, crumbled bacon (optional for the topping)

Instructions:

Begin by browning the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat for 12 to 15 minutes until nicely browned. Drain excess grease and set aside.

In another skillet, heat a small amount of canola oil over medium-high heat. Place the tater crowns flat side down and cook for 8 minutes, then flip and cook for an additional 7 to 8 minutes.

In a separate bowl, combine the cooked ground beef with half of the pot pie filling or stew sauce. Mix well and set aside.

Layer the browned tater crowns in the bottom of a 9x13-inch casserole dish. Smear a layer of pot pie filling or stew sauce over the tater crowns, using a spatula to evenly distribute the sauce.

Add a layer of cheese over the sauce, followed by a layer of the beef mixture. Then add another layer of tater crowns and cheese.

Transfer the casserole to a 375-degree oven and bake until the cheese is melted.

For added flavor, consider sprinkling crumbled bacon over the top of your casserole before serving (optional).

For optimal flavor and texture, I recommend letting the casserole rest for a minimum of 10 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to come together and the sauce to thicken. Once rested, serve and enjoy!