Ground beef, tater tots, cheddar, and tangy pickles create a flavorful, satisfying main dish in one skillet.
# Components:
→ Meats
01 - 1 lb ground beef (80/20)
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 cup chopped dill pickles, plus extra slices for topping
05 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
→ Dairy & Cheese
06 - 1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
07 - ½ cup whole milk
08 - 2 tbsp cream cheese, softened
→ Pantry & Sauces
09 - 2 tbsp ketchup
10 - 1 tbsp yellow mustard
11 - 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
12 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
13 - ½ tsp kosher salt
14 - ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
→ Frozen
15 - 1 bag (28 oz) frozen tater tots
→ Topping
16 - ½ cup shredded iceberg lettuce
17 - Extra chopped dill pickles or pickle chips
# Preparation Steps:
01 - Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
02 - In a large oven-safe skillet, cook ground beef over medium-high heat until browned, about 5–6 minutes. Drain excess fat as needed.
03 - Add chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté for 2–3 minutes until softened.
04 - Stir in ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, kosher salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
05 - Add cream cheese and whole milk to the skillet. Stir until the mixture is creamy and slightly thickened, approximately 2 minutes.
06 - Stir in half of the chopped dill pickles. Remove the skillet from heat.
07 - Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese evenly over the beef mixture.
08 - Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single, even layer over the top of the beef mixture.
09 - Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown and crisp.
10 - Remove the skillet from the oven. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of cheddar cheese over the tater tots. Return to the oven for an additional 3–5 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted.
11 - Allow the skillet to cool for 5 minutes. Garnish with shredded iceberg lettuce, the reserved chopped pickles or pickle chips, and thinly sliced green onions before serving.
