Grab some tator tots & copy these recipe ideas

If I'm ever feeling overwhelmed about putting dinner on the table, I turn to tater tot casserole. I keep a bag in the freezer at all times, so it's easy to build a meal around them. I look around the kitchen to fill in the rest. Any protein will work: ground beef, a can of tuna fish or leftover shredded chicken.

Tater tots remind us of childhood. On Friday nights my dad would make a batch that we'd eat with ketchup and sour cream while we watched movies. They are the perfect snack food — crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. They are just so satisfying. What better way to top a casserole than with tater tots?

You can make so many versions of tater tot casserole, but this version has certainly become a family favorite. It is a little bit spicy from the chili powder and a little bit sweet from the baked beans. The hot dogs are already perfectly spiced so you don't really need to do anything to make them taste good! It's a great, quick-and-easy weeknight dinner. Get the recipe here.

This is not just a tater tot casserole; this is a taco tater casserole. Ground beef cooked with taco seasoning pairs with cheese, corn, more cheese and a layer of tater tots. And did I mention cheese? This is a perfect recipe for a lazy Friday night, after-school snack or the next big game. Get the recipe here.

Much like fish sticks or chicken nuggets, tater tots often get generalized as children's food. The tiny, crispy, deep-fried morsels of potato goodness are anything but childish to eat. They may not be the fanciest way culinary invention, but they sure are tasty. With a little bit of help, they can be transformed into quite the delicious dish. This recipe takes tater tots and elevates them to a hearty ranch-style dish that any cowboy or cowgirl would love to sample. Get the full recipe here.

Start this recipe by baking the tater tots until they are super crispy – about five minutes longer than the package directions indicate. Then they get topped with all the essential nacho toppings before getting another quick bake. When they come out of the oven that second time, customize them to make your own perfect tater tot nachos. Salsa, sour cream and avocado on top taste terrific, but guacamole would be delicious too. Get the recipe here.

Why would you use tater tots when craving a bacon cheeseburger? Because, as this recipe points out, it's delicious. And using tater tots in place of a bun fits all of those flavors neatly on a fork. This dish is also a tasty make-ahead meal; you can make it on a Sunday and freeze it until later that week when you need a quick and easy dinner. Get the full recipe here.

Sloppy Joes are a big favorite around dinnertime, but let's face it, they're sloppy. And as such, they can leave a big mess around (and on and under) the dinner table. On nights when I just don't want to deal with the mess, I make the recipe below. It fits into a bowl, is eaten with a fork and includes all the delicious goodness of sloppy Joes. Easy on the slop. Get the full recipe here.

There are some dishes that you just know the little ones are going to love! That is definitely the case with this child-friendly recipe for cheesy tater tot and green bean casserole. This yummy dish is packed with tender ground beef, cream of chicken soup, crispy tater tots, and fresh green beans, all topped with a sprinkling of shredded cheddar cheese for a wholesome meal built to delight the whole family. Get the full recipe here.