Description
Hearty Big Montana Casserole brings mountain-sized comfort to dinner tables across America. Cheesy layers and robust ingredients promise a satisfying meal that delivers bold flavors you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
- 1 bag (32 ounces/907 grams) frozen tater tots
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) shredded cheddar cheese
Liquid and Creamy Ingredients:
- 1 can (10.5 ounces/298 grams) cream of mushroom soup
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) sour cream
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) milk
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Thoroughly heat the oven to a moderate temperature of 350°F, preparing a cooking surface for the hearty casserole.
- Place ground beef into a skillet, breaking down the meat into small crumbles while cooking over medium heat until uniformly browned and no pink remains.
- Carefully drain any accumulated fat from the cooked beef, ensuring a lean meat base for the dish.
- Combine cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a spacious mixing bowl, whisking until ingredients form a smooth, creamy sauce.
- Integrate the cooked ground beef into the creamy mixture, stirring gently to distribute the meat evenly throughout the sauce.
- Transfer the combined mixture into a pre-greased rectangular baking dish, spreading it out to create an even foundation.
- Arrange tater tots across the surface in a uniform layer, covering the entire beef mixture completely.
- Slide the casserole into the preheated oven and bake for approximately 30 minutes, watching for the tater tots to transform into a crisp, golden-brown coating.
- Remove the casserole and generously sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the top of the tater tots.
- Return to the oven for an additional 5-10 minutes, allowing the cheese to melt and create a bubbling, appetizing finish.
- Extract from the oven and let rest momentarily before serving this comforting, crowd-pleasing meal.
Notes
- Consider using lean ground beef to reduce overall fat content without compromising flavor.
- Swap regular tater tots with sweet potato tots for a nutritional boost and unique twist.
- Prepare casserole ahead of time and refrigerate before baking for enhanced flavor melding.
- For gluten-sensitive individuals, use gluten-free cream of mushroom soup and verify tater tot ingredients.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg