Taco Tots Ree Drummond Recipes

BREAKFAST TOTCHOS SKILLET

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Cook the tots in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet in one layer in the oven according to the package instructions. Remove from the oven and pile into a small mound in the center of the skillet. Sprinkle with the cheese, jalapenos, bacon and green onions.
• Place in the oven and cook until the cheese is melted, about 6 minutes. Meanwhile, cook the eggs.
• In a nonstick skillet, heat the olive oil. When the oil is hot, crack in the eggs, then sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook to desired doneness, gently spooning the hot oil over the eggs to cook the yolks, about 4 minutes for sunny-side up.
• Remove the totchos from the oven. Top with the pico de gallo/salsa, guacamole, sour cream and the eggs, then garnish with the cilantro.

CHORIZO BURGERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Put the bacon on a sheet pan lined with foil. Bake until crispy, 18 to 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the cilantro mayo: Mix the mayo with the chopped cilantro and a pinch of salt and pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Preheat a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat.
• For the patties, mix the chuck, chorizo, green chiles, a pinch of salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper in a large bowl until combined well. Pinch off a fourth of the meat mixture, forming it into a disc. Repeat with the remaining meat to make 3 more discs. Put 2 tablespoons olive oil in the preheated skillet, then add the patties. Using the bottom of a spatula, smash the patties until they are about 1/2-inch-thick. Fry until cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes per side, then remove to a plate.
• Meanwhile, start the eggs. Heat the remaining olive oil and the butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the eggs and cook sunny-side up, 5 to 6 minutes for a slightly runny yolk. Remove the eggs with a slotted spatula to drain or remove the eggs to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
• Spread the bottom of each bun with some of the cilantro mayo and place on plates or a serving dish. Top each with a patty and 2 pieces of bacon. Top each with lettuce, tomato and an egg; drizzle with some hot sauce. Spread the remaining cilantro mayo on the bun lids, then place them carefully on top of the burgers.
• Serve alongside the Taco Tots.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Toss the potato tots and taco seasoning on a sheet pan. Bake until crisp, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, sprinkle over the cheese and return to the oven to melt the cheese, 5 minutes more.

TATER TOTS

Steps:

• Cook the potatoes in boiling water until tender. Then process them using a ricer or food mill OR mash them with a fork for a more lumpy texture.
• Add the flour, egg, some seasoned salt and pepper and combine.
• Form into balls, and then slightly flatten into discs. Let them cool completely.
• Heat some canola oil in a cast-iron skillet and fry the cooled tots until golden. Drain on a paper towel.
• You can freeze the tots after frying. Remove from the freezer when you need them and reheat in a 400 degree F oven for 10 to 12 minutes.

BEEF TACOS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• For the beef: In a skillet over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and onions. Cook until starting to soften, then add the ground beef. Cook the meat until it's totally browned, then drain the fat. Add the chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, black pepper and crushed red pepper and stir to combine. Add 1/2 cup hot water and stir. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes.
• For the fixins: Meanwhile, wrap the flour tortillas in foil and warm in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes. Right before serving, crisp the taco shells in the oven according to package instructions.
• Serve with the grated cheese, diced tomatoes and shredded lettuce.

MEXICAN TORTILLA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Add the tomatoes, onion and garlic, stir and cook for a minute or two to soften the onion. Add 2 teaspoons of the chili powder, 1 teaspoon of the paprika and 1 teaspoon of the cumin. Stir and cook the mixture for another minute or two to release the flavors of the spices. Remove the mixture to a bowl and set aside.
• In the same skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the chicken along with the remaining 2 teaspoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon cumin and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Saute the chicken until it's deep golden brown and done in the middle, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add 1 cup water and stir to make a sauce. Bring the sauce to a boil and cook until it's reduced by half, about 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the beans and set aside.
• To assemble the casserole, pour half a jar (about 1 cup) of salsa verde into the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch casserole dish or disposable foil baking pan. Add a layer of half the tortillas on top of the salsa verde, overlapping the edges. Spoon the rice over the tortillas, spread the tomato mixture over the rice, then sprinkle the corn over the tomatoes. Next, add the chicken and bean mixture, then sprinkle on half the cheese and pour over half the enchilada sauce. Next, add the rest of the tortillas, then pour on the rest of the salsa verde and the rest of the enchilada sauce and sprinkle on the rest of the cheese.
• If you're baking the casserole right away, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and bake, covered with foil, for 20 minutes. Then remove the foil and continue baking for 15 to 20 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. Serve with sour cream and cilantro.
• Find this recipe and more in Ree's new book, The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime ($30, William Morrow Cookbooks).

TACO TOMATOES

Steps:

• For the beef taco mix: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over a medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the scallions and garlic. Stir and cook briefly, 30 to 60 seconds, then add the ground beef. Break the beef up and cook until it is totally browned, 3 to 4 minutes, then drain most of the fat. Add the taco seasoning, salt, salsa and hot sauce, then stir to combine. Add 1/4 cup hot water and stir. Cook for 3 to 4 more minutes to thicken.
• To serve: While the beef taco mixture cooks, place the tomatoes on a cutting board, with the tops facing down. Using a sharp knife, cut the tops of each into 6 wedges, making sure to not cut all the way through to the bottoms. Gently pull the tomato wedges apart, opening up the centers so they can be filled.
• Taste and adjust the beef taco mix as needed. Fill each tomato with the mix, then top each with lettuce, cheese, sour cream, cilantro, jalapenos and hot sauce. Garnish with the lime wedges.

BUFFALO CHICKEN TOTCHOS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Toss the tots with the chili powder and cumin in a large mixing bowl until evenly coated. Arrange the seasoned tots on a baking sheet. Bake until golden and crisp, about 35 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Melt the butter in the skillet and add the chicken pieces. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper and cook for 3 minutes. Add the celery, garlic and half of the green onions. Continue to cook, stirring, until the chicken is cooked through, another 2 minutes. Add the hot sauce and allow to simmer and thicken slightly, 1 additional minute.
• When the tots are crisp, remove from the oven and set the oven to broil. Top the tots with half of the cheese. Spoon the chicken over the tots. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top of the chicken. Place the baking sheet under the broiler and broil until the cheese has melted and begun to brown, about 3 minutes.
• Carefully remove the pan from the broiler. Drizzle over the Blue Cheese Ranch and any remaining sauce from the skillet. Garnish with the celery leaves and remaining green onions. Serve on the baking sheet.
• Add the ranch dressing and blue cheese crumbles to a bowl. Season with a pinch of salt and a pinch of pepper and stir until combined.