Step by step

Method

4 steps

1. 1

   Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Brown 1½ lb ground beef with 1 small diced onion over medium-high, 7–9 minutes; drain. Stir in 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup, ½ cup sour cream, ½ cup shredded cheddar, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, and ½ teaspoon paprika until creamy and evenly mixed.

2. 2

   Spread the beef mixture in the baking dish. Arrange a 28–32 oz bag of frozen tater tots in a single snug layer on top — no big gaps, or the filling dries out.

3. 3

   Bake 35–40 minutes until the tots are deep golden and crisp and the filling is bubbling at the edges. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup cheddar over the top and bake 5 more minutes until melted.

4. 4

   Rest 5 minutes, garnish with chopped parsley if you want, and scoop. You want a creamy savory beef base under shatter-crisp tots — not pale soft tots or a greasy broken filling.