# Bad, bad bad Casseroles **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 6, 2024, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-casseroles/995711 "2024-01-06T20:50:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2024, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-casseroles/995711/1 "2024-01-06T20:50:52Z")
Good lord. My DIL was coming with one of her phenomenally bad Casseroles tonight. The dreaded tater-tot thing. The girl just cannot cook. And she tries to fancy things up with results that boggle the mind. Thank heaven the twins have decided to have terrible allergy symptoms today. So the plan has been scrapped. I can’t be the only person who has to fend off terrible casseroles. I look on recipe sites and they’re always full of one pan meals, casseroles and mix-up covered dishes. Is it just me? Tell me yours. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2024, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-casseroles/995711/2 "2024-01-06T21:15:13Z")
I hate cooking, really. I love to bake, but the necessity of coming up with a palatable, reasonably healthy meal that everyone is willing to eat _every single night_ just depresses me. When I just can’t face messing with it, I turn to casseroles, and I bet they’re not all that great. I don’t know, because they have meat in them, and I don’t eat meat. My family chokes them down, because if they didn’t, they’re afraid they’d find themselves having to make dinner (they would). I’ve never put a tater tot in a casserole, though. And no Doritos (I’ve seen some things at potlucks). ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2024, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-casseroles/995711/3 "2024-01-06T21:26:52Z")
Heh, I lived in fear of the nights my mom would make tater tot casserole. I wasn’t going to even pretend to eat it. Heck, I thought I didn’t like enchiladas until I was in my late 20s. I had eaten my mom’s enchilada casserole, and wondered why on earth my girlfriend was ordering them at a restaurant. So I asked to try a bite of hers. Turns out if you’re not cooking them a dozen at a time, they’re not a big wad of mush! ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2024, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-casseroles/995711/4 "2024-01-06T21:34:12Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > The dreaded tater-tot thing Minnesotans are feeling attacked just now. > **[Hotdish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotdish)** > > A hotdish or hot dish is a casserole dish that typically contains a starch, a meat, and a canned or frozen vegetable mixed with canned soup. The dish originates in the Upper Midwest region of the United States, where it remains popular, particularly in Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and eastern Montana. Hotdish is cooked in a single baking dish, and served hot (per its name). It commonly appears at communal gatherings such as family reunions, potlucks, and church suppers. A cla... ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2024, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-casseroles/995711/5 "2024-01-06T21:35:27Z")
It’s not Minnesota folks. It’s DILs take on it. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2024, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-casseroles/995711/6 "2024-01-06T21:58:06Z")
I actually have a recipe on hand for a tater tot casserole DH and I like, but foodie gourmet snob types we are not. From what I’ve heard of Minnesota cooking, we could get along with it. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2024, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-casseroles/995711/7 "2024-01-06T22:13:19Z")
OK. I know I’m going to make a lot of enemies with this. But as a New Englander, I just don’t understand casseroles I call them Midwest Cooking. This involves making a recipe that appears on the back of a box, which requires you to use almost entirely ingredients from the conglomerate that printed said box. 3 cups RITZ brand crackers 1 cup HEINZ ketchup 1 can CAMPBELLS cream of mushroom soup and so on. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2024, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-casseroles/995711/8 "2024-01-06T22:27:58Z")
I don’t blame big biz for promoting their products. That’s fine. I have no problem with pro-kitchen tested recipes on boxes. It’s just how horribly wrong a bad cook can go. Hamburger Helper can be screwed up. (Hey, I kinda HH but no, I won’t be making it with hot dog weenies, yes it’s actually on the box as a alternative method😳) ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2024, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-casseroles/995711/9 "2024-01-06T23:05:23Z")
OK, that just sounds gross. There are some HH flavors that do well with bulk sausage instead of beef (e.g. the cheesy hash brown). ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2024, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-casseroles/995711/10 "2024-01-06T23:14:14Z")
I made a lot of casseroles when I was feeding four kids on a military salary. Yes, including a version of tater-tot. I even did the Hamburger Helper thing until I realized that I could make it better and cheaper by buying the ingredients. Also made a lot of soups and stew to feed the hungry mouths. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2024, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-casseroles/995711/11 "2024-01-06T23:18:44Z")
If it’s not to much trouble could we get the rest of that recipe please. > [@OldOlds](#): > > 3 cups RITZ brand crackers > 1 cup HEINZ ketchup > 1 can CAMPBELLS cream of mushroom soup Or is that all of it? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2024, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-casseroles/995711/12 "2024-01-06T23:21:00Z")
Yeah. I understand that need to feed the crowd. It’s kinda our lives. Mid-dau who’s actually my assigned first line cook has gotten really good at doing the big pot stuff. Casseroles can be great. She does a couple we really like. Still, bad is bad. We ALL hate when DIL decides to contribute. I think she feels bad cause I’m feeding her family a lot at my house. I worry the poor things will starve if I didn’t. And you just can’t say “Girl, you an awful cook. Please stop. Please!” ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2024, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-casseroles/995711/13 "2024-01-06T23:34:20Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > Or is that all of it? Yeah, mush it all together in a 9x9 and bake at 350 for 30 minutes ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2024, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-casseroles/995711/14 "2024-01-06T23:58:32Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > Minnesotans are feeling attacked just now. > > [Hotdish - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotdish) When did the practice of calling a casserole a hotdish start? My mother and grandmother were from North Dakota and while they often made casseroles, I never heard them once call it a hotdish. They also never used tater tots as the starch. It was usually homemade biscuit dough that topped a mixture of creamed chicken (or turkey), peas, and carrots. They could’ve taken a shortcut and used Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom soup but the sodium content was sky-high and too many people in the family hated mushrooms (e.g., me). ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-casseroles/995711/15 "2024-01-07T05:10:54Z")
Jesus H Christ, just tell DIL to make a big ol’ honking oven of tater tots with catsup. Don’t ruin them with being in a casserole. And on another rack, make wings. Or frozen breaded shrimp, corn dogs or somesuch. It don’t have to be 5 star, but avoid making the worst of all worlds. And a big ol batch of biscuits is just fine (sans white gravy) or even waffles by the truck load. There be all sorts of corner cutting food items that ain’t bad, but don’t throw em together into some nasty as hotdish casserole. Jus’ sayin’ ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-casseroles/995711/16 "2024-01-07T05:24:15Z")
Well, it kinda hard to tell someone what to cook when they’re donating and a little touchy about her feels. We missed the mess tonight. Meanwhile…Mid-dau decided to check out the tater tot casserole recipes online and found one she thought sounded ok. And damn if she didn’t make it tonight. It wasn’t bad at all. Browned ground beef, onions, garlic, celery, mushroom soup, milk, topped with tater tots. She sprinkled shredded cheese on top and melted that. She wished for a little bell pepper in it. I wouldn’t want it too often. But I liked it. It was all gone at the end of the meal. As I thought, it’s DIL. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-casseroles/995711/17 "2024-01-07T05:30:48Z")
I love tater tot casserole, but I make it the same way my mother did, with 3 ingredients: hamburger, cream of mushroom soup, and Tater Tots. Nothing exotic whatsoever. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-casseroles/995711/18 "2024-01-07T05:43:31Z")
Sounds like it might be a little dry. My preferred recipe ([MyFridgeFood - Beefy Tater Tot Casserole](https://myfridgefood.com/recipes/entree-beef/beefy-tater-tot-casserole/)) includes a little milk (I tend to use more than specified) and cheese. I frequently use a mixture of ground beef and bulk pork sausage as the meat in this to liven it up (using straight sausage seems to wind up being overkill, to hear my husband tell it). ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-casseroles/995711/19 "2024-01-07T05:49:21Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > And you just can’t say “Girl, you an awful cook. Please stop. Please!” My mother-in-law took me in hand and taught me how to cook, because I sure never learned it at home. My mother had numerous sterling qualities she passed on to me, but cooking was not one of them. I wish I could remember how MIL managed to do it without hurting my feelings so I could tell you. It probably helped that I was barely out of my teens and knew I didn’t know how to cook. There’s a casserole that I used to make with ground beef, a can of tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, and rice, and some cubes of cheddar cheese stirred in at the end. I should try that one again. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-casseroles/995711/20 "2024-01-07T05:58:12Z")
I’ve tried to gently steer her. Her Mother is still alive and from all accounts can’t cook either. I’d feel like I was intrusive if I just out and said it to her. Of course when she asks I explain things to her. She’s a damn good prepper. We always compliment her on it when cooking together. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-casseroles/995711.md?page=2)