Tater Tot Hotdish

1-1.5 lbs ground beef

1 onion, chopped

4 garlic cloves

1 Tbs minced fresh thyme

1.5 tsp salt

1.5 tsp pepper

3 Tbs flour

1.5 c whole milk

1.5 c chicken broth

1.5 c grated Parmesan cheese

1 c frozen peas

1 c frozen corn

2 lbs. frozen tater tots

Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees.  Combine beef, onion, garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper in a Dutch oven.  Cook over medium-high heat until nearly all the liquid has evaporated, 25-28 minutes, stirring occasionally and breaking up meat with a spoon.

Stir in flour until fully incorporated and cook for 1 minute.  Stir in the milk and broth and bring to simmer, scraping up any browned bits.  Cook until mixture is slightly thickened, about 3 minutes.  Off heat, stir in Parmesan.  Transfer mixture to a 9 x 13 baking dish.  Sprinkle peas and corn evenly over the beef mixture.  Lightly arrange tater tots in an even layer over top, but do not press in the mixture.  Bake until tater tots are deep golden brown and filling is bubbling, 35-38 minutes, rotating dish halfway through baking.  Let cool for 15 minutes before serving.  Eat with ketchup or BBQ sauce.

From Cook's Country