Vegan Tater Tot Hotdish

Last Updated on April 13, 2022

It’s that time of year to start the hot dishes, and our families’ favorite is a vegan spin on a classic, the Vegan Tater Tot Hotdish!

You will see this dish served at many functions around Minnesota from family reunions to church gatherings, and all types of picnics.

This is one of the reasons I look forward to fall in Minnesota!

Not to mention the brilliant bright colors of the changing leaves and the crisp autumn air.

The cooler nights for restful sleeping, and finally pulling out those sweatshirts and sweaters.

The abundant fruits and vegetables, such as apples, squash, and pumpkins.

And of course, throwing together a dish and heating up your families’ favorite hotdishes for a filling meal!

I have lived in Minnesota all my life, I have had and made countless varieties of this comfort meal.

They have used different meats, condensed soups, cheeses, and veggies.

Most of the time I have made this hotdish vegetarian, but after some experimenting, I have finally come up with a vegan version.

Hotdish or Casserole

First of all, yes, hotdish is one word.

A Hotdish and a casserole are similar, but there is a slight difference.

The casserole usually is made as a lighter side dish, where as the hotdish is made as the heavier main dish, but of course if you live in Minnesota it’s all just Hotdish.

This is why I never say the word casserole when referring to a hotdish, even if the recipe is for a casserole, it just does not sound right.

I am not sure if there is a certain era that this term, hotdish came or started from, but it did originate in the Upper Midwest of the United States.

Let me help you all understand the reasons I believe Minnesotans call these dishes a hotdish and not a casserole.

One of the main reasons is that it’s just a simple name for a simple meal that’s tossed together and thrown into the oven for the family.

You serve this dish as soon as it comes out of the oven, this is a hot dish (get it?) for the family.

As I said above, I never call any hotdish a casserole, but then we all can argue over whether it is grey duck or goose. (Ha ha!)

What ingredients are needed for this hotdish

• Vegetables – In this dish, I add frozen corn and green beans, but canned will work just as well. If using frozen, cook up the vegetables before adding to the dish and if adding canned, drain the vegetables. I also added fresh chopped celery, onion, and carrots. These fresh vegetables can be added to the dish raw or they also can be sauteed before adding to the dish.
• Mushrooms – I have used both canned and fresh mushrooms for this recipe. If using the canned, drain before adding to the dish. But if using fresh mushrooms, saute with the onion, celery, and carrots before adding to the dish.
• Plant Based Milk – This plant milk can be your choice, I used an unsweetened plain almond milk.
• Soy Sauce or a Liquid Amino – A little will go a long way, soy sauce will give this dish the saltiness and sweetness that it needs, with just the right amount of seasoning.
• Cornstarch – Cornstarch is used as a thickening agent for this dish.
• Rice – In this recipe I used a white Basmati rice, I love the taste and texture of this rice, but use your favorite rice for this dish, white or brown will both work in this recipe.
• Tater Tots – This is what makes this dish perfect! For my family I always use a organic potato tater tot. There is so many different types of tater tots available today, but I always stick with the plain potato tots.
• Vegan Cheese – Either shredded or as a sauce. I prefer to make my own vegan cheese, but any vegan cheese will work with this dish, pick your favorite.

How to make this Vegan Tater Tot Hotdish

Prepare a medium sized frying pan with oil.

Clean and chop the onion and celery, toss into the medium sized frying pan, saute until they are slightly brown.

If adding fresh mushrooms to the dish, clean and chop and add to the frying pan with the other vegetables.

In a couple sauce pans, cook the green beans and corn until done, do the same with the carrots, drain and add to the sauteed vegetables.

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While the vegetables are cooking preheat the oven to 350° F.

In a 1 cup measuring cup, add the plant milk, soy sauce, salt, pepper, and cornstarch, then blend well.

Then add to the fry pan with all the vegetables, cook over medium heat until the sauce thickens.

Add the cooked rice, stir, and then pour the mix into a 2 1/2 Quart baking dish.

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Lay the frozen tater tots in a single layer on top.

Spread or sprinkle the vegan cheese over the top of the tater tots. Try my recipe for this Creamy Vegan Cashew Cheese.

Cover the dish and place into the oven, bake for 45 minutes.

Uncover the dish and continue baking for another 5 to 10 minutes.

Once the hotdish is done, remove from the oven and let it set for about 10 minutes before serving.

Serve with your favorite vegetables, and enjoy!

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