Hotdish and similar casseroles are not usually on my menu. Maybe 3 times a year we will make some sort of casserole type meal. And almost always in the cooler months.

When Tim Walz, governor of Minnesota and current VP candidate, posted his prize winning hotdish recipe on X, I laughed. I had to try this.

https://x.com/GovTimWalz/status/1822010315938394427

A reason he was chosen to be the VP candidate for Kamala Harris was his down home persona. Posting a casserole recipe is not only hilarious, but not surprising.

One thing I really liked about this recipe is it calls to make it all from scratch. Shred the cheese instead of using store bought shredded. Make a Béchamel with cheese, not a can of cream soup.

I had to give it a shot. If you Google this recipe, the top hit is actually behind a paywall at the Washington Post. Other links are variants of the original recipe Tim posted.

Someone needs to make the real deal and document it with plenty of photos and post it for free viewing.

So here it is.

The photos below are during the major steps of this and the recipe itself is below the photos. I did not want to break the recipe up to make it easy to follow.

After trying it, I understand how this won a prize at a state fair. Great balance of flavors and satisfying.

Here goes!

MAKES 8 SERVINGS

TIM WALZ’S TURKEY TROT TATER TOT HOT DISH

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 1/2 tsp sage
• 1/2 cup green onions
• 1 egg
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 lb green beans, diced
• 4 slices bacon
• 6 tbsp butter
• 1 1/2 cup mushrooms chopped
• 5 tbsp flour
• 2 1/2 cups milk
• 1/2 cup half & half
• 3 cups shredded sharp cheddar
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 package tater tots

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Put ground turkey into bowl and add garlic, sage, green onions, egg, pepper, and salt

Add olive oil to skilled and cook turkey mixture until done. Place turkey in 9 x 13 baking dish

Blanch and mix in green beans if using fresh. (If frozen, use the chopped beans.)

Fry bacon until crisp. Chop and add to baking dish.

Heat 2 tbsp butter. Add mushrooms and cook for 4.5 minutes. Add to baking dish

In sauce pan, add 4 tbsp butter and sprinkle flour in. Cook for 2 minutes on medium. Slowly whisk in milk and half and half. Cook for 2 minutes. Add diced onion and slat and pepper. After another minute, stir in 2.5 cups grated cheese until melted.

Pour cheese mix over ingredients in baking dish

Put tater tots over it all and top with remaining cheese.

Bake for 45 minutes.

OPA!