Tater Tot Shepherd's Pie

Somewhere in between a traditional Irish Shepherd’s Pie and a midwestern hot dish is this tater tot shepherd’s pie. Traditional? Not exactly. Delicious and family-friendly? Absolutely. It has all the hallmarks of a cozy cottage pie — ground beef, mixed vegetables, fresh herbs and a rich tomato- and wine-based sauce — with a frozen topping that everyone can get on board with. This recipe not only eliminates the extra work of having to make mashed potatoes from scratch, but it adds a nice textural balance to the meat filling. It’s a meal that kids and adults will both enjoy on a cold winter’s night.

To make the filling, sauté ground beef with salt and pepper until it’s browned and cooked through, followed by a mixture of onions, carrots and celery (also known as mirepoix). Next, stir in some garlic, fresh herbs, tomato paste, red wine and beef stock. A pat of butter and a little bit of flour help to thicken the sauce and make the filling luscious and creamy. Fold in some frozen peas (no need to pre-cook them, as the heat from the filling will thaw them completely) and transfer the mixture to a baking dish. Top with a bag of your favorite frozen tater tots and bake until the tots are browned and the filling is bubbling.

While this dish is best enjoyed day-of, you can easily reheat leftovers in the oven for round two.

Swap Option: You may use ground lamb in place of ground beef for a more traditional Shepherd’s Pie filling.