Chili Tots Casserole

The Menu:
Chili Tots Casserole


The Original Recipe:
Another great Babycenter recipe find. It is like a Tator Tot Casserole, but made with chili, so it's chili tots casserole. I've used ground turkey in this recipe and added some beef bullion for the flavor and it's still yummy!

CHILI TOTS CASSEROLE


(luckymommyto2boys ~ Amy ~ Recipezaar)

1 lb ground beef (optional)

2 (15 ounce) cans chili without beans

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1 (32 ounce) bag tater tots



Cook the beef and drain.

Stir in the chili and heat through.

Pour into 2 8" sprayed square baking dishes.

Sprinkle with the cheese and top with the tater tots.

Cover and freeze one casserole for up to three months.

Cover and bake the remaining casserole at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until heated through.

To use the frozen casserole: Remove from the freezer 30 minutes before baking (do not thaw). Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 hrs or until heated through.

 The Way I Made it My Own:
I wanted to make my own "chili." It turned out so yummy! The kids and my husband gobbled it down!

Kowboy's Chili TOTS CASSEROLE


1 lb ground beef

2 hot dogs, sliced into bite sized pieces (optional)

1 cup black beans

1 cup white beans

1 small onion, diced

1/2 small green pepper, diced

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1-2 tbls. chili powder

2 cups tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes (if using crushed tomatoes, add 1 tbls. cornstarch to the mixture to thicken)

1/2 cup long horn cheddar cheese

1 (32 ounce) bag tater tots



Cook the beef with onions and green pepper, drain. Add in beans, hot dogs, tomato sauce, garlic powder and chili powder. Taste and add seasonings to taste. It should be thick at this point. If not let it simmer a bit to thicken.

Pour into 9x13 sprayed baking dishes.

Sprinkle with the cheese and top with the tater tots.

Bake casserole at 400 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until tator tots are crispy.

Comments

Krista said…
We already have a favorite tater tot casserole in our house, but I love the idea of chili tot casserole! I'm definitely going to try this. Love that you gave instructions for freezing and thawing too.