Vegetarian Tater Tot Hotdish

Vegetarian Tater Tot Hotdish – a classic comforting Minnesota casserole, now vegetarian-friendly!

Now that it’s officially September we can talk all things FALL! I don’t have another pumpkin recipe for you today to kick off the fall recipes that will be coming your way (although don’t be fooled – they are coming).

No, today I want to share with you a Minnesota classic, a tradition, a right of passage…

Vegetarian Tater Tot Hotdish

Since I recently moved back to Minnesota, I’ve enjoyed lake days, boat rides, drinks on patios, and soaking up the last few rays of a Minnesota summer before it ends.

I’ve also learned how to make a vegetarian version of hotdish, as a way to welcome myself back home.

If you’re ready to move on from this recipe because what the heck is a hotdish, and why do I care, and this just sounds weird — then WAIT. Please wait. Because I was just like you not so long ago, and I promise you it’s worth figuring out.

To be honest, after spending the majority of my childhood in Minnesota, I never truly had a tater tot hotdish. Sure, I had plenty of casseroles (I am from Iowa – the Midwest has every version of “throw whatever in a pan and bake it”), but I never had a true tater tot casserole/hotdish/whatchyamacallit.

It was time that changed.  With the exception of ground beef though. Y’all know I’m not usually about the meat, so it had to go in my version. It doesn’t really add much for me, and basically all I care about are the tater tots (we’re on the same page, right?).

This Tater Tot Hotdish doesn’t miss the meat at all; it’s packed with veggies and the Homemade Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup – ohmygosh – is just to die for in it.

The mushrooms add such a hearty note and the flavor and spice that comes from it – like whoa – if you were ever worried about tater tot hotdish being boring, THINK AGAIN FRIENDS!

Ok, and the tater tots. Let’s not forget the tater tots, because they basically make this hotdish everything and more. There’s nothing better than crisp pillows of potato goodness on top of a savory, creamy, veggie-filled dish.

The Irish have Shepard’s Pie, the Minnesotans have Hotdish — crispy tater tot covered hotdish. FTW, BTW!

For the record, it’s even better if it’s made in a Minnesota shaped cast iron skillet from American Skillet Company — just saying.

[tasty-recipe id=”5514″]

Homemade Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup

Note: this is not a sponsored post, just a super big fan of the skillet!  However, Fork in the Kitchen is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program, which means if you happen to buy a product, a small portion – at no extra cost to you – goes to support FITK and keeps recipes coming.  Thanks for your support!