Name: Tater Tot Dish Soup
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 4 cups hot water ((to make stock from concentrate, or 4 cups stock)); 3 tablespoons chicken base/stock - (such as Better Than Bouillon); 1/2 - 1 pound Ore-Ida Tater Tots - (I used Ore-Ida Mini Tots); 1 - 1 1/2 pound(s) 80/20 ground beef ((or other lean ground meat)); 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 2 teaspoons 14Spice Mix* - OR - the following seasonings:; 1 teaspoon Kosher salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes; 1/4 teaspoon white pepper; 1 10 oz. package SnoPac frozen Organic Diced Onions - (about 2½ cups); 1 10 oz. package SnoPac frozen Organic Mixed Vegetables (corn, carrots, peas, green beans) - (about 2½ cups); 1/2 cup all-purpose flour; 1 1/2 cups heavy cream; Fresh parsley for garnish, optional

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Tater Tot Hot Dish… But make it a SOUP!

Originally posted April 2020; updated September 2021.

Tater Tot Dish Soup is a delicious variation on the Midwestern Classic, Tater Tot Hot Dish.

As cliché as it sounds, sharing food and recipes brings me joy. My favorite recipes are old ones with “vintage” ingredients… recipes shared at family gatherings and passed down on 3×5 recipe cards with minimal ingredients and instructions noted. I doubt they were ever made the same twice (at least that’s how it was… IS… in my family). Our grandmothers and mothers mostly used recipes as guidelines and made things their own way dictated by whim and ingredients on-hand. And it’s their version of things that still make us misty when we think about them today.

The same can be said for recipes shared among friends. Learning new ways of making things using new method or ingredients is always fun. And even if they don’t come by way of handwritten 3×5 recipe cards, they mean just as much. They can even become instant favorites — like this warm and hearty Tater Tot Dish Soup recipe!

Gotta Love Recipes from Friends

I adapted this recipe from one created by my friend Chef Mik German, creator of 14Spice Seasoning Mix and the mastermind behind 328 Grill located within American Legion Post 98 in Saint Paul Park, MN. He and his Tater Tot Dish Soup recipe were featured on Twin Cities Live back in January of 2020, and I had to try it right away. My husband and I loved the recipe, and Chef Mik was kind enough to let me share it here.

My adaptations are mostly adjustments of quantities based on standard packaging readily available in grocery stores. I also wanted to add more veggies and beef for a heartier, main course soup – perfect for chilly Minnesota evenings.

Several friends have enjoyed this recipe since, and nothing makes me happier than getting a text or email from someone saying “Tater Tot Dish Soup for dinner tonight!” A few friends have used wild game (such as ground venison) in place of ground beef, and I think it’s a great idea! (That might be why this recipe caught the attention of the producer of a local/national outdoor radio show!)

Tater Tot Dish Soup: Make It Easy!

Tater Tot Dish Soup is super easy to make and customize. The ingredients aren’t complicated, so you may already have everything on hand.

Tater Tot Dish Soup is a great soup to make during the week because it comes together so quickly. It’s also a great soup to have in the refrigerator over the weekend so you can heat up a bowl for a quick and hearty meal. And if you’re looking for something warm and comforting to share with friends, this definitely hits the mark. Just be sure to make lots of tater tots, too, because tater tots make everything better!

Frozen veggies work wonderfully in this recipe and save on prep time, so I used the frozen SnoPac Organic Mixed Vegetables and ground beef that we had from Grandpa Don’s Market.

Keeping it Local

Speaking of family, friends and food, I got to know Grandpa Don’s Market (“Locally grown foods, delivered to your door!”) around the same time as I found this recipe, and the two went hand-in-hand. It’s been such a gift to have quality, Minnesota farm grown/raised ingredients in my freezer for meals of all kinds, so here’s some #locallove for them, too!

Grandpa Don’s Market is a farm market located in Rushford, MN (near Cannon Falls). They offer a wide variety of local beef, pork, turkey, fish, vegetables, cheeses, and dairy items. Everything can be ordered online at grandpadonsmarket.com. They ship on Mondays and Wednesdays (just order by 10am!) so you can fill your freezer for the week or the weekend.

Hungry for more warm and wonderful soup, stew & chili recipes? Try these!

New Year’s Soup with Beans, Greens and Bacon

Mediterranean Chili with White Beans and Lamb

Sweet Potato, Apple and Corn Coconut-Curry Chowder

Signature Butternut Chowder with Corn, Sage and Bacon

Tater Tot Dish Soup

This easy-peasy twist on a Midwestern Classic will soon be your new comfort food favorite! Using organic frozen vegetables shortens prep time without compromising flavor. Double the recipe to share or freeze for another time!

Course Soups and Chowders

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Servings 12 Cups

Author Michele Phillips, BaconFatte.com

Ingredients

4 cups hot water (to make stock from concentrate, or 4 cups stock)
3 tablespoons chicken base/stock - such as Better Than Bouillon
1/2 - 1 pound Ore-Ida Tater Tots - I used Ore-Ida Mini Tots
1 - 1 1/2 pound(s) 80/20 ground beef (or other lean ground meat)
2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons 14Spice Mix* - OR - the following seasonings:
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1 10 oz. package SnoPac frozen Organic Diced Onions - about 2½ cups
1 10 oz. package SnoPac frozen Organic Mixed Vegetables (corn, carrots, peas, green beans) - about 2½ cups
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
Fresh parsley for garnish, optional

Instructions

Add chicken base to hot water. Stir well and set aside.
Pre-heat oven and bake tots per package instructions.
In a large pan or stock pot, add ground beef and brown over medium heat. Make sure to break up any large chunks of beef.
When beef is cooked, leave 2 - 3 tablespoons of the fat in the pan. Add garlic, oregano, and 14 Spice Mix OR seasonings, and stir. Add frozen onions and frozen vegetables.
Pour all but 1 cup of chicken base into the pot, and stir. Add flour to remaining cup of chicken base to create a roux. Whisk well, making sure to dissolve flour completely. Add roux and cream to the pot, and bring to a simmer, stirring well and allowing soup to thicken.
To serve, pour soup into a cup or bowl. Top with crispy tots and fresh parsley, if you wish, and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

*14Spice is a Minnesota-made, multi-purpose seasoning mix created by Chef Mik German. It's great with burgers, chicken, pork, veggies, etc., and can be purchased online at 14spice.com.