Skillet Tater Tot Casserole (No Condensed Soup!)

I made my fair share of Tater Tot Casserole. My husband is a meat and potatoes guy. These days we eat more veggies, less meat and carbs. But if I let us indulge this is a fave. So I was happy to find this Skillet Tater Tot Casserole from Iowa Girl eats. The recipe is very adaptable. So one can make this dish with all veggies, or ground turkey, or you can make the tater tots from cauliflower or another veg. Omit the cheese or a use a vegan cheese. It's all tasty.

Skillet Tater Tot Casserole

serves 4-5

Ingredients

1lb ground beef
salt and pepper
3 Tablespoons butter
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 shallot, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 Tablespoons gluten-free or all-purpose flour
1-1/2 cups chicken broth
1 cup milk (I used skim)
2 Tablespoons gluten-free tamari or soy sauce
2 Tablespoons ketchup
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
2lb bag tater tots (not extra crispy)

Directions

Preheat oven according to tater tot bag instructions. Brown ground beef in a very large, oven-proof skillet (at least 10" - cast iron works great) seasoning with salt and pepper over medium-high heat. Drain then set aside.
Turn heat down to medium, melt butter in skillet, and then add mushrooms and shallots. Season with salt and pepper then saute until mushrooms start to soften, 3-5 minutes. Add garlic then saute for 1 more minute. Sprinkle in flour then whisk to combine and cook for 1 minute. Slowly stream in chicken broth and milk a splash at a time, whisking to avoid lumps. Add tamari/soy sauce, ketchup, worcestershire sauce, and smoked paprika, turn heat up slightly to bring mixture to a bubble, then turn heat back down to medium and simmer until just slightly thickened, 2-3 minutes.
Remove skillet from heat then stir in ground beef and arrange tater tots on top. Place skillet on top of a baking sheet (or place one on the rack below) then bake according to tater tot bag instructions. Let sit and thicken for 5 minutes before serving.