This Vegan Tater Tot Casserole is full of veggies, lower in carbs, and completely meat and dairy-free too! The ultimate comfort food made a little bit more nutritious!
I’m pretty excited to share this Vegan Tater Tot Casserole recipe with you! Growing up my mom always made casseroles for dinner, and she made a delicious tater tot casserole with veggies I have never forgotten. So, I decided to make my own gluten-free tater tot casserole that’s dairy-free, full of veggies, and the ultimate vegan comfort food.
I came across Strong Roots products and was super excited to try them out! You see, my mom actually can’t eat potatoes anymore so when we saw that their broccoli tots do not contain potatoes, we were so excited to make the ultimate vegan tater tot casserole full of veggies!
I partnered with Strong Roots to create this post. While I was compensated for my time, all opinions are my own.
What’s a hot dish?
As I was researching more about tater tot casseroles, I learned that in Minnesota they’re called hot dishes. Rumor has it, that’s where the tater tot hot dish originates. So, this classic comfort food goes by a few different names but, all of them are equally as delicious!
Is vegan tater tot casserole healthy?
I am a firm believer in a balanced life, so there is always room for a good ol’ tater tot casserole. But, this vegetarian broccoli tot casserole is actually full of veggies, lower in carbs, and completely meat and dairy-free too. Which just means a double win!
This recipe calls for broccoli and purple carrot tots from Strong Roots. These broccoli tots contain more nutritional benefits and contain significantly less fat than traditional tater tots. Not to mention they are delicious! What I will say is that they remain softer than other tater tots I’ve tasted before. I actually liked this because I enjoyed the flavor so much.
Ingredients
I wanted to keep the rich flavor from my mom’s tater tot casserole recipe, but make it dairy-free so I used coconut cream to keep it a dairy-free tater tot casserole. Here’s a list of the main ingredients you’ll need to make this tater tot casserole with veggies. For the full recipe, see below.
- Coconut Cream- The solid at the top of a can of coconut milk. A great way to separate the cream from the milk is to place a can of coconut milk in the fridge overnight. Then open the can and scoop the solid coconut cream off the top discarding the liquid.
- Broccoli and Purple Carrot Tots- I used Strong Roots for this recipe.
- Impossible Plant-based Meat- You can use this meat alternative or any protein you choose.
- Carrots & Peas- The classic homecooked dinner veggies had to be included in this ultimate vegan comfort food.
- Smoked Paprika- This is one of my top 10 favorite spices! We put it on everything!
- Vegan Cheddar Cheese- We used Violife shredded cheddar cheese.
As you can see, some of the ingredients are timeless, while others are a spin on this classic comforting dish We think you are going to love this recipe, and we hope it’s just as comforting as the original for you and your family.
FAQ & Substitutions
Can it be made gluten-free?
Yes because this recipe is naturally gluten-free. So you won’t even need to make substitutions!
Whats the best bakeware for baking casseroles?
Jeeze! Asking all the tough questions! Kidding, but really this is a personal preference and I feel it depends on the dish. For this recipe, I used a ceramic baking dish like this one. I couldn’t find the exact one I have because I have had it forever! I also love my skillet. You can never go wrong with a skillet dish. I repeat never.
What’s the best way to reheat left overs?
If you like the crispy outer layer like it’s fresh out of the oven for the first time, then you need to bake it again. Turn on the oven to 375 degrees and once it’s preheated, toss the “vegan hot-dish” (sorry I had to try it out) in the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes or until fully reheated. When the middle has reached 165 F then turn on the broil feature and cook for another 2 minutes to crisp the tops of the broccoli tots.
More Vegan Comfort Foods:
Vegan Tater Tot Casserol Recipe
Print
Vegan Tater Tot Casserole
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 25
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 5 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
A healthier twist on classic comfort food, this vegan tater tot casserole is gluten-free, dairy-free, and meatless but that doesn’t mean it is lacking in flavor! This tater tot casserole with veggies is cheesy and delicious!
Ingredients
- 1 cup coconut cream*
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 2 packages Strong Roots Broccoli and Purple Carrot Tots
- 1/2 package of Impossible plant-based meat or 1 cup of chickpeas*
- 1/2 cup celery, chopped
- 3/4 cup vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup of mushrooms, sliced
- 1/2 cup carrots, sliced
- 1/4 cup onions, chopped
- 2 tsp. sriracha or spicy salsa
- 2 tsp. garlic powder
- 2 Tbsp. Italian seasoning
- 1/4 tsp. smoked paprika
- 2 Tbsp. nutritional yeast
- 2 Tbsp. tapioca flour
- 1 cup shredded vegan cheddar cheese
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1/8th tsp. black pepper
Instructions
- First, preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
- Next, wash and chop all the veggies and set them aside.
- Heat 2 Tbsp. olive oil in a large pan and then sautee 1/4 cup of onions until translucent and fragrant. Then add 1/2 cup of carrots, 1/2 cup of mushrooms, and 1/2 cup of celery to the pan.
- Next, add in the ground plant-based meat or protein source to the pan and spice it with 1/4 tsp. smoked paprika, 2 tsp. garlic powder, 1/4 tsp. salt, and 1/8th tsp. black pepper. While the protein is cooking combine the liquids in a medium bowl.
- Combine 1 cup coconut cream, 3/4 cup vegetable broth, 2 tsp. sriracha, and 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast, and set aside.
- When the protein is nearly finished cooking pour the coconut cream mixture into the pan and bring to a simmer.
- When it’s hot, whisk in 2 Tbsp. tapioca flour making sure there are no clumps. Continue stirring until the sauce thickens and then remove from heat.
- Transfer the creamy meat sauce to an oven-safe dish and sprinkle a layer of cheese over the top. Then layer on the tater tots.
- Bake the casserole for 20-30 minutes or until the tops of the tots are crispy.
- Allow cooling for 5-10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
The best way to separate the coconut cream from the coconut milk to place the can of coconut milk in the fridge overnight. The solid cream will rise to the top and then you can easily scoop it off.
This recipe calls for a plant-based beef alternative but I also made it with chickpeas and that was delicious too! Feel free to substitute your favorite protein source and make this dish your own!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 large scoop
- Calories: 280
Keywords: tater tot casserole, veggie casserole, hot dish, vegan dinner recipes
This post contains affiliate links which means I will make a small commission if you purchase through those links. I only recommend products that I know, trust, and love!
This looks so delicious and I love tater tots, I’m going to have to try the broccoli and carrot version. Yum!
★★★★★
Thank you so much Brandi! I would love to hear how yours turns out if you make it! You can totally make it with regular tot’s too!