Waffle Fries Hamburger Hot Dish

One afternoon while grocery shopping, I came across a package of Ore Ida Extra Crispy Waffle Fries and thought they sounded delicious, so I decided to purchase them. I brought them home and placed them in the freezer. Needless to say, they have been in the freezer for about a month or so, and I re-discovered them.

They didn't sound appealing anymore. I likely wasn't in the mood for "fast food," but I thought I should find a way to use them, so I decided to put a spin on the classic "Tater Tot Hot Dish," and this is the result.

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef

1 medium onion, finely chopped

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup (or cream of chicken soup)

1/2 cup milk or broth

1 bag (28 oz) frozen French fries

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (or any cheese blend of your choice)

1/2 cup sour cream (optional for extra creaminess)

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Set your oven to 375°F. Coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray or butter to keep the casserole from sticking.

In a large skillet, add the ground beef and cook until it is browned, using a spatula to break it into small pieces.

Drain any excess fat.

Add the onions and cook 3-4 minutes, until the onions are translucent.

In a small bowl, add your spices together and mix well.

Season with the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.

Stir well to fully encorporate.

Add the frozen corn, and stir to combine.

Next, add the cream soup, and stir well.

Add 1 cup of the cheese and mix to combine.

Pour the hamburger mixture into your baking dish (I used two, so I could make a freezer meal for later)

Top with the waffle fries.

Top with the remaining cheese.

Bake for 30-35 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the fries turn golden and crispy, and the mixture is bubbly hot.