My oldest sous-chef had the stomach bug this past weekend, and now that she’s finally feeling better, she’s starving. Like eat everything that’s not nailed down and she might be going to the electric chair famished.

She’s been hankering for tater tots, but since they alone are not a dinner food, I decided to make a casserole. Enter ground turkey, lots of veggies and spices and voila! Dinner that didn’t make my arteries harden upon looking at tater tots, but was still relatively healthy and delicious. Needless to say she had 2 helpings and took some for her lunch today. I call that success. And hunger. Bonus? It’s all made in one pan so dishes are nominal!

Recipe

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1 cup mushrooms – chopped
• 1 onion – diced
• 3 cloves of garlic – minced
• 1/2 – 1 cup shredded cheese (I used a reduced fat Mexican mix, but you can use cheddar, gouda, or whatever you have on hand.)
• 2 tbs fresh Thyme
• 2 tbs fresh Sage
• 3 tbs fresh Tarragon
• 2 tbs flour
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1 cup kale – washed and torn into pieces
• 1 cup riced cauliflower (optional)
• 1-2 cups milk
• 1-2 cups of frozen tater tots – enough to go around your pan!

Preheat your oven to 400.

Using an oven safe skillet (a cast iron is perfect) brown your turkey (you can also use ground chicken, beef or pork) and throw in your onions and mushrooms. Sauté until soft then add in your garlic and spices. Cook until fragrant then drop in the flour. Stir to combine and cook for 2 minutes to bleed out the flour taste/smell. Slowly add in your chicken broth, then the milk. Begin with 1 cup of milk and if needed add more. You want the casserole to be creamy but not soupy otherwise the tots won’t crisp up.

Add in your riced cauliflower and kale then stir to combine. Cook over low heat for about 10 minutes to fully incorporate all the deliciousness!

Once everything is nice and bubbly, add your cheese, and then the tots! I started on the edge of the pan and just laid them down in a circle until I reached the middle.

Pop the pan in the oven for 25-30 minutes or until tots are a crispy golden brown. Let sit for 5 minutes then devour!

Bon Appetit!