Tater Tots beyond the Salt and Ketchup

Okay I’ll admit it; I happen to like tater tots, beyond the normal sprinkling of salt and covered in ketchup way of eating them. I also like to use them as an ingredient in other things such as this “Tater Tot Beef Bake”. Sure the kids will love it but trust me the grown-ups will too. Everything is canned, frozen and prepackaged so there is no need for a lot of prep work. Plus you can modify the ingredients to suit your taste; “change the type of veggies, or use a different meat or no meat at all”. It’s a great way to utilize those leftovers in the fridge. Be creative, you can adjust this to your hearts content.

1-1/2 lbs. ground beef
1-1/4 cups of water
2 envelopes sloppy joe sauce mix
1 can (6ounces) tomato paste
3-1/2 cups frozen green beans
1 can (4 ounces) Mushrooms stems and pieces drained
6 cups frozen tater tots (big bag)
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese

In a dutch oven, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in water and sauce mix. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 3-5 minutes or until thickened. Add tomato paste; stir until blended. Add green beans and mushrooms.
Transfer to a greased 13-in. X 9-in. X 2-in. baking dish. Top with tater tots. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Sprinkle with cheese; bake another 5-10 minutes longer or until heated through and cheese is melted.
This will serve about 6-8 people