This casserole is a complete meal with meat, potatoes and veggies. It can be on the dinner table in about an hour. It's almost like a shepherd's pie but it's made with tater tots instead of mashed potatoes.
4 bacon strips
1/2 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb. ground sirloin
10.75 oz. can cream of your favorite soup (mushroom, potato, celery, or chicken)
3/4 c. milk
1/2 t. salt
3/4 t. ground black pepper, divided
3 c. baby spinach, roughly chopped
1 c. frozen corn
8 oz. shredded Cheddar or Colby Jack cheese
32 oz. bag frozen tater tots, slightly thawed
1/4 c. freshly grated Parmesan cheese
chopped chives or green onions, for garnish
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Remove tater tots from the freezer to let them thaw slightly while preparing the filling.
Heat a large, oven proof skillet over medium heat; add bacon; cook until crispy, 6-8 minutes; transfer to a paper towel lined plate; crumble; set aside. Don't discard the bacon grease in the skillet.
Add onion to the skillet; cook until slightly softened, about 4 minutes. Add garlic; cook 1 minute. Add ground beef; break into small pieces; cook until no pink remains, 6-8 minutes. Discard excess fat/liquid.
Remove skillet from the heat. Stir in soup, milk, salt and 1/2 t. pepper; stir until smooth. Fold in spinach, allowing it to wilt slightly; add corn.
Sprinkle Cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Place tater tots on top in a single layer, arranging them very close together. Sprinkle the top with Parmesan cheese and remaining 1/4 t. pepper.
Bake 30-35 minutes until tots are golden. Remove from the oven.
Sprinkle the crumbled bacon over the top. Let rest 5 minutes.
Serve, topped with chopped chives or green onions.
6 servings.