Description
Craving comfort? This Hearty Vegan Tater Tot Casserole bakes up golden with savory ground crumbles, sweet peppers, and creamy plant milk.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 12 oz package vegan ground crumbles (or cooked lentils)
- 2 cups unsweetened plant-based milk (e.g., soy, almond, oat)
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 (32 oz) bag frozen tater tots
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Step 2: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and bell pepper and sauté for 5-7 minutes until they are softened. Stir in the vegan ground crumbles and cook for another 5-8 minutes, breaking them up, until heated through and lightly browned.
- Step 3: In a separate bowl, whisk together the plant-based milk, nutritional yeast, all-purpose flour, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper until smooth. Pour this mixture into the skillet with the cooked vegetables and crumbles. Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly, and cook for 2-4 minutes until the sauce has thickened.
- Step 4: Spread the creamy vegetable and crumble mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer over the top of the mixture.
- Step 5: Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy, and the casserole filling is bubbly around the edges. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Leftovers are a delight! Store any extra casserole tightly covered in the fridge for up to 3-4 days for a quick and easy meal later.
- To bring back that glorious crispness, reheat individual servings in a toaster oven or air fryer until piping hot and the tots are perfectly golden once more.
- Elevate this hearty bake with a drizzle of your favorite hot sauce or a dollop of vegan sour cream for an extra layer of flavor and creaminess.
- For the absolute best texture, make sure to whisk your plant-based milk mixture thoroughly and let it thicken nicely on the stovetop; this ensures a perfectly creamy, non-watery filling.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6th of casserole (approx. 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 560
- Sodium: 730mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0.2g
- Protein: 8g