Chili & Tot Casserole

You know those winter nights when you want to curl up with your significant other/dog/cat/favorite pillow/all-of-the-above and watch TV? We had one here recently and the Dirty Hippie has pretty much perfected his Chili & Tot Casserole by adding Beyond Meat. We’ve made the casserole before many times, but the texture and chewiness of the meatless chicken added another level of yumminess. As you know, we’re partial to Beyond Meat, having scored a free year of it. But even if we hadn’t we still would buy it all the time. It’s so dang good.

This recipe is one of the vegan meals that is not health food. It’s casual, comfortable and a little greasy. On TV night, it’s the ideal substitute for pizza, or chips and dip.

two-lb. bag of frozen tots

1 cup onions, choppped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp. olive oil

2 chipotles in adobo sauce (available in a can from Goya), minced

1 cup fresh tomato, chopped

2 cups broccoli, chopped

2 cans of seasoned chili beans (we used Bush’s Chili Beans)

1 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. cumin

1 tsp. smoked paprika

1 pack SouthWest Beyond Meat strips, cubed or shredded

1 cup Daiya Shreds, pepperjack flavor

salt and pepper, to taste

Heat oven to 450. Spread all tots on a baking sheet and bake about 15 minutes, until warm and crispy. When done, remove and set aside. Turn oven to 375.

Saute chopped onions and minced garlic in olive oil over medium-high heat about 3-5 minutes until lightly browned. Mix in a large oven-safe baking dish/casserole with minced chipotles, chopped tomato, chopped broccoli, 2 cans of chili beans with sauce, chili powder, cumin, paprika and Beyond Meat. Season as desired with salt and pepper and mix all ingredients well. Top with baked tater tots and cover with 1 cup Daiya shreds. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes until broccoli is tender and casserole is warmed through.

Cook’s Notes: This recipe is flexible, as is the nature of a casserole. Try cauliflower instead of broccoli. Add carrots if you like. Skip the Daiya/cheese to save a few calories. Make it less spicy by using less chili powder or eliminating the chipotles in adobo – sweet peppers will work fine, too! Or add more heat by tossing in a few chopped jalapeños. Basically, you can really make this recipe your family’s next favorite by truly customizing it to your TV night preferences!

Want to try Beyond Meat? Get a coupon here for $2 off! (the link will give you a coupon you can print out!)