Hotdish is quintessential comfort food, but if you grew up outside of the Midwest you might not be all that familiar. (Which is a tragedy, really.) Hotdish is a one-dish casserole made a million different ways but almost always with four things: ground beef, creamy condensed soup, a frozen or canned vegetable, and Tater Tots. It’s simple — and it’s meant to be — but it’s always incredibly tasty, comforting, and feels nostalgic even for those of us who don’t hail from Minnesota, Wisconsin, or North Dakota.

What Ingredients Do You Need for Minnesota Hotdish?

Not a lot. You’ll need:

• Ground beef.
• Mixed vegetables of your choice.
• Two cans of cream of condensed soup. (We’re using celery and chicken.)
• Butter.
• An onion.
• And last but not least — tater tots.

That’s it!

What Variations Can I Make?

Well, the truth is that there are probably as many variations on Hotdish as there are families in the Upper Midwest. The most common variation is probably the type of canned soup that is used. Cream of Mushroom is very common, but you can use two varieties like we do here, or swap in something totally different. Like how about some Cream of Cheddar?

Another common variation is to add cheese to the dish, either mixed in or as a layer on top. It adds flavor and an extra helping of comfort.

The type of vegetables is often changed up a lot. You can use just green beans here or you can use your favorite vegetable mix. Frozen or canned works great in the interest of keeping things simple, but there’s nothing stopping you from chopping your own.

How do You Make Minnesota Hotdish?

All you need to do is brown up the beef with the onion, stir in the soup and veggies and get it into a baking dish. Top that with tots and get it in the oven. Just a few minutes of work for one delicious and comforting dish!