Taco Tater Casserole

Buyer beware!  As I'm looking for meals and such, I'm paying even closer attention to prices.  I'm surprised at what I will find sometimes.  I have found some great deals, for example, butter, a week or so ago I found a 1/2 package (2 sticks) of butter for $.88!  This is a fantastic price since a full package is usually $1.99 for store brand and even more for the fancy brands.  I know that's a good deal.  But other deals look good but really aren't.  For example, buy 1 get one free.  Sometimes it's even buy 1 get 2 free.  Be knowledgeable about your prices because what the grocery stores will do here is tricky.  They jack the price per pound way up, so in reality, you're really not saving anything.  For example, the usual price for chicken breasts is $3.99 per pound, but when it's on a 2 for 1 sale, the price per pound is $7.49, you aren't saving anything.  So know your average, everyday prices then you'll know if you are truly saving.

So I picked this meal, thinking it would be an easy and inexpensive meal but I was told by the checker at the grocery store that there is a beef shortage and so hamburger prices are soaring.  I usually pay $1.99 per pound for 85/15 ground beef and now it's up to $3.49.  This is a recipe where the meat could easily be swapped out with ground turkey or ground pork or black beans, if that helps cut the cost.

So enjoy this comforting, easy casserole!

Taco Tater Casserole

Ingredients:

Tater Tots (1 pound bag)

1 lb. Ground Beef

1 tsp. Cumin

1 tsp. Cayenne

1 tbsp. Garlic powder

1 tbsp. Onion powder

1 tsp. Red Pepper flakes

1 can cheese soup

1 cup milk

1 cup shredded cheese

Broken up tortilla chips or tostada shells

Directions:

Pre-heat the oven to 375.

In a 9x13 pan, layer the bottom with the tots. 

On the stove in a pan, brown the hamburger over med. high heat.  Add the cumin, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, & red pepper flakes, cook until brown all the way through.

While the hamburger is browning, heat the soup & milk up together in a sauce pan, stirring occasionally.

Once the meat is done, spread it evenly over the tots, then pour the cheese soup over the tots and meat.  Sprinkle the cheese on top of that. 

I like to add jalapenos to mine but you could also add olives and/or tomatoes.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.  Remove the foil, add the crushed tortilla chips and bake for an addition 10 minutes.   Let sit for about 5 minutes and serve.

Makes 4 to 6 servings

Price breakdown:

Tater tots (2 pound bag) - $2.29 (used 1/2 the bag = $1. 15) 

Ground beef - $3.49

Cheese soup - $1.99

Milk (1/2 gallon) - $2.69 (used 1 cup = $.34)

Cheese – $3.07 (used 1/2 of this = $1. 54)

Tostada shells -$2.29 (Used 4 @ $.10 ea. = $.40)

Total price - $8.91.  4 servings is $2.22
Of course adding jalapenos or whatever else will add to the cost but it's still a fairly  inexpensive and filling meal.

Enjoy!