Description
Chili Tot Bake is a delicious comfort food recipe, featuring a savory combination of ground beef, beans, and crispy tater tots topped with melted cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 15-ounce can dark red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 28-ounce bag of crispy frozen tots
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 cup chicken broth with less sodium
- 1 15-ounce can of pinto beans, rinsed and drained
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 pounds lean ground beef (93% lean)
- ½ cup cheddar cheese, shredded (optional)
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped finely
- ⅓ cup tomato paste (about half a 6-ounce can)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ cup cilantro, chopped (optional)
- 1 14-ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 425°F. Spray a casserole dish (9×13-inch) with non-stick cooking spray, then set aside.
- Warm the olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the diced onions and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 3-4 minutes. Add the garlic and stir for another couple of minutes.
- Add the ground beef to the same pan, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon while it cooks. Stir occasionally for 8-10 minutes until the beef is no longer pink. Drain any excess liquid.
- Add the tomato paste, cumin, chili powder, salt, black pepper, thyme, and oregano to the meat. Stir and let cook for a few minutes to combine the flavors.
- Add the beans, broth, and crushed tomatoes to the skillet. Stir, then turn up the heat to bring it to a boil, then remove from burner.
- Transfer the meat and bean mixture into your prepped casserole dish. Evenly spread the frozen tots across the top.
- Bake the dish in the oven, uncovered, for about 25-30 minutes until the tots are crispy and golden.
- Remove the dish from the oven. Add shredded cheese and cilantro (if using), returning it to the oven for another 5-10 minutes until the cheese melts.
- Allow the dish to sit for about 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- You can customize the toppings with additional garnishes like sour cream or jalapeños.
- Adjust the spice level by adding more or less chili powder.
- This dish can be made ahead of time and reheated.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of the dish
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg