When it comes to internet food trends, I’m trying it! And this Minnesota tater tot hotdish from Tim Waltz did not disappoint. The tasty one-dish meal with golden tater tots is perfect for cold winters and makes excellent leftovers.
What is Hot Dish?
A hotdish is a hearty, one-pan meal popular in the Upper Midwest. It combines meat and vegetables with a creamy sauce made from canned soup and cheese. Often, it is topped with crispy tater tots and baked until bubbly.
If you’re heading to a potluck, family reunion, or cookout in the Midwest, bring this tater tot casserole brimming with warm hotdish.
Where Did Hotdish Originate?
In the days leading up to being confirmed as Kamala Harris’s vice presidential running mate, Minnesota governor Tim Walz tweeted one of his family’s turkey hotdish recipes. The tweet sent the internet into a frenzy, gaining over a million views. Since then, he has shared even more recipes, including this hot dish recipe featuring juicy bratwurst.
While Tim Walz’s hotdish is delicious, he didn’t invent the meal. Hotdish is a Midwestern staple, with everyone and their grandma toting a secret family recipe. The dish traces its roots back to church potlucks, church suppers, and budget-friendly cooking in the 1930s.
Key Ingredients
- Bratwurst: Boil one package of bratwurst in beer.
- Beer: Use your favorite beer to boil the brats, or try Schell’s as recommended by Tim Walz.
- Filling: The creamy soup base is simple, just combine the diced brats, fresh veggies (yellow or white onion and celery), cheddar soup, cream of mushroom soup, and whole milk.
- Spices: Season the casserole filling with salt, garlic powder, and a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- Tater Tots: And finish it off with a bag of frozen tater tots—it wouldn’t be Minnesota tater tot hotdish without them! Of course, you could always use sweet potato tots.
- Cheese: And don’t forget a generous handful of shredded sharp cheddar to top the casserole.
Additions and Substitutions
- Load up on veggies. Consider adding corn, green beans, or peas. You can even use a frozen bag of mixed vegetables to reduce the preparation time.
- More than tots. While most hot dish recipes use tater tots, that’s not always the case. Finish the meal with cooked pasta, hash brown squares, French fries, creamy mashed potatoes, regular hash browns, and even jalapeno mashed potatoes for extra heat.
How to Make Minnesota Tater Tot Hotdish
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Boil water in a large pot over medium heat. Reduce the heat to medium and add the beer and brats. Cook for 10 minutes, and carefully remove the brats and set them aside.
Step 2: Prepare a baking dish with butter and preheat the oven to 350℉(176℃). Combine the chopped veggies, canned soup, milk, one cup of shredded cheese, and spices in a mixing bowl.
Step 3: Cut the bratwurst into bite-sized pieces and stir them into the bowl.
Step 4: Pour the mixture into the dish and arrange a layer of tater tots over the top in an even layer.
Step 5: Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 50 minutes. Sprinkle more sharp cheddar cheese over the top of the tater tots and cook for 10 minutes.
Step 6: Remove the baking dish from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes before serving.
If you enjoy Tim Waltz’s hotdish recipe, try more comfort meals!
Serving Suggestions
Minnesota tater tot hotdish is a cozy dinner all on its own, but pairing it with the right sides can make it even better. Serve it with a simple arugula spinach salad or with vegetables like green beans, corn on the cob, carrots, asparagus, or air fryer Brussels sprouts.
Want to make it extra cozy? Spoon the casserole over baked or grilled sweet potatoes. Try buttery dinner rolls, flaky biscuits, or a side of vinegar coleslaw for a Midwestern touch.
What To Do With Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- Freeze: Let the dish cool and transfer it to a freezer-safe container. Freeze the Minnesota tater tot hotdish for 2-3 months, though the texture may change once frozen.
- Thaw: Defrost the casserole in the refrigerator overnight
- Reheat: Warm individual servings in the microwave or bake uncovered in the oven at 375°F (190°C) for 20-30 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between a hotdish and a casserole?
Midwesterners will tell you that a casserole refers to the casserole dish it’s baked in, not the meal itself. The difference with hotdish is that it’s always a complete meal, packed with vegetables, meat, carbs, and a creamy sauce that brings everything together into one classic comfort food.
Minnesota Tater Tot Hotdish
- 9×13 Baking Dish
- 2-3 cups water
- 1 bottle (12 ounces) beer
- 1 package bratwurst (about 5 links)
- 1 tablespoons butter
- 2-3 celery stalks, diced
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 1 can (10.5 ounces) cheddar soup
- 1 can (10.5 ounces) cream of mushroom soup
- ½ cup whole milk
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, divided
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 package tater tots
- Boil water in a large pot over medium heat. Reduce the heat to medium and add the beer and brats. Cook for 10 minutes, and carefully remove the brats and set them aside.
- Prepare a baking dish with butter and preheat the oven to 350℉(176℃). Combine the chopped veggies, canned soup, milk, one cup of shredded cheese, and spices in a mixing bowl.
- Cut the bratwurst into bite-sized pieces and stir them into the bowl.
- Pour the mixture into the dish and arrange a layer of tater tots over the top in an even layer.
- Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 50 minutes. Sprinkle more sharp cheddar cheese over the top of the tater tots and cook for 10 minutes.
- Remove the baking dish from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes before serving.