Sloppy Joe Tator Tot Casserole

Happy Veterans Day to all the amazing Men and Woman who have served and continue to serve our great country. I personally know several great men who serve our country. They are beyond brave and always the most respectful men you will meet.  Never forget the sacrifice these brave men and woman risk for all of us. Freedom in Never Free and May God bless all the families of the brave men and woman who serve our great country!! We are a blessed nation, Thank you Veterans!!

When I first met my husband he was very proud of his tator tot casserole and could not wait to make it for me. The truth...I really did not love it nor I had I ever heard of or had tator tot casserole before. He thought I was crazy and I told him it was delicious because sometimes that's what you do when you first start dating...right?!? So tator tot casserole has never really been my thing, I love tator tots for dipping in ketchup, but that was all I grew up having them for;) Our son has grown in love with tator tots as well, its on the lunch rotation, grilled cheese and tator tots with lots and lots of ketchup. I saw a tator top casserole over on Buns in my Oven and thought I would mix it up a little. I thought this tator tot casserole sounded good and would be a huge win with the husband. Sloppy Joe's & Tator tots are a few of his favorite things...WIN for the wife and mommy since my son is a lover of tator tots.

This comfort food is a crowd pleaser sure to make the whole family very happy, wanting more, and full of warmth.  The bottom layer is homemade sloppy Joe's mixed with cream cheese and topped with a layer of cheese, tator tots, and then more cheese! The sloppy Joe recipe is not my own but the wonderful and talented Pioneer Woman's , it is amazing. The casserole can easily be halved (which is what I did), we have a small family and eating a big 9x13 pan is not always a good thing for the waist line. I took half the sloopy joe mixture, put it in the freezer, and in two weeks made another one for dinner and it was SUPER easy and fast! I love recipes that you can half and freeze. You could also easily double the sloppy joe and stick it in the freezer as well.

Sloopy Joe Tator Tot Casserole
Inspired by Buns in my Oven & The Pioneer Woman

Sloppy Joe mixture

2 Tablespoons Butter

2-1/2 pounds Ground Buffalo or Beef (I am sure you could use turkey if you prefer)

1/2 whole Large Onion, Diced

1 whole Large Green Bell Pepper, Diced

5 cloves Garlic, Minced

1-1/2 cup Ketchup

1 cup Water

2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar

2 teaspoons Chili Powder

1 teaspoon Dry Mustard

1/2 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes (more To Taste, depending on spice tolerance)

 Worcestershire Sauce, To Taste

2 Tablespoons Tomato Paste 

4 ounces Cream Cheese

1 can of corn

1 to 1 1/2 cups Mexican style grated cheese

1 bag of tator tots

Add butter to a large skillet over medium high heat. Add meat and cook until brown. Drain the fat and toss.

Add diced onions, diced green pepper, and minced garlic. Cook until the vegetable start to soften(about 5 min). Add the ketchup, brown sugar, chili pepper, dry mustard, tomato paste, Worcestershire, and water. Stir to combine and simmer for 15 minutes, adding salt and pepper to taste. Finally add your cream cheese and can of corn to the mix, stir to melt cheese and heat up corn.

Next, lay your sloopy joe mixture into a 9X13 pan, layer with half of your grated cheese, next a layer of tator tots, and finally top with the rest of your cheese. Bake in the oven at 450 for 20-25 minutes.

Serve warm and enjoy!