With summer winding down and most of the kiddos heading back to school, I thought it was time for an easy, throw- together dish for busy families. Warning…this is not a gourmet dish the judges on Chopped would swoon over…but I don’t have to please them tonight…just a 14 year old! And I still enjoy kid food sometimes! Even the pickiest of eaters will love the simple combo that sports a taste reminiscent of a cheeseburger…with nothing objectionable like vegetables! LOL! I didn’t invent this combination, obviously. I’ve seen many versions of it throughout the years. But it never disappoints. It’s good old fashioned hamburger, mixed with some bbq sauce or ketchup and mustard.
It’s topped with tater tots, crumbled bacon and cheese… melted in the oven. Not only does it taste awesome…you can cook the meat ahead of time so it’s ready to assemble and throw into the oven when you get home from work.
You can serve a salad on the side to get a little greens in…and after all, cheeseburgers come with lettuce and tomato don’t they?! And by the way, feel free to get creative. Think about all the burgers you’ve had, and give it a twist for a new flavor! You could do a spicy version with pepper jack cheese. Or, think mushroom swiss burger…just take out the bbq, ketchup and mustard…or leave ’em in! Whatever you like on your burger works here! Switch the beef for ground chicken and add hot sauce and bleu cheese for a buffalo version. I haven’t tried these yet…just thinking off the top of my head…but play with it, and if you find one you like let me know!
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1/2 cup ketchup or bbq sauce…or combo of the two
- 2-3 T mustard
- 16 oz. frozen tater tots
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 4 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
Directions
Preheat oven to 400. Brown beef in skillet until cooked through. Add ketchup, bbq sauce and mustard. Spoon into casserole dish. Top with cheese, tater tots, crumbled bacon and more cheese. Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until potatoes are tender and crispy.