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America's Melting Pot
Tater Tot Hotdish hero image coming soon
Postwar & Diner Age - Upper Midwest church-supper cooks using postwar convenience foods
A practical Upper Midwest casserole layered with seasoned beef, vegetables, creamy sauce, cheese, and crisp tater tots.
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Difficulty
Easy
Prep time
15 minutes
Cook time
45 minutes
Total time
1 hour
Servings
6
Region
Minnesota and the Upper Midwest
Era introduced
Postwar & Diner Age
Introduced by
Upper Midwest church-supper cooks using postwar convenience foods
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Hotdish represents the practical genius of American home cooking: economical ingredients, a single pan, and enough comfort to feed a cold-weather crowd. Frozen potatoes and canned soup made it a postwar staple, but family versions remain fiercely personal.
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