↑

The Creative Bite

Recipes with fresh ingredients and bold flavors!

  • Home
  • About
    • About Danielle
    • Press
    • Terms
    • Contact
  • Lifestyle
    • Life Lately
    • Home & Kitchen
    • Gift Ideas
    • Projects & Printables
    • Meal Delivery Services
    • Amazon Store
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Index
      • All Recipes
      • Appetizers
      • Beverages
      • Breakfast
      • Casserole
      • Dressings & Sauces
      • Desserts
      • Lunch Idea
      • Main Dishes
        • Beef Dishes
        • Chicken Dishes
        • Fish & Shrimp Dishes
        • Pasta Dish
        • Pork Dishes
        • Sandwiches & Burgers
      • Pressure Cooker
      • Salads
      • Side Dishes
      • Snacks
      • Soup
    • Healthy Meals
      • Meal Prep & Plans
      • Low Calorie
      • Low Carb
      • Low Fat
      • Keto
    • Dietary
      • Dairy-Free
      • Gluten-Free
      • Vegetarian
    • Method
      • Air Fryer Recipes
      • Crock Pot
      • Pressure Cooker
    • Recipe Video
  • Contact
Home » Recipe » Light Taco Cauliflower Tot Hotdish

Light Taco Cauliflower Tot Hotdish

December 14, 2017 by Danielle Green 5 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
332shares

Light Taco Cauliflower Tot Hotdish is a healthy version of the traditional tator tot casserole recipe your mom made with a Mexican twist!

Light Taco Cauliflower Tot Hotdish casseroleLight Taco Cauliflower Tot Hotdish

Let’s talk about Tator Tot Hotdish for a minute. Did you grow up with it as a staple at your dinner table? Here in the midwest, it is definitely a go-to recipe for an easy comfort food. Personally, I didn’t grow up eating much of it which is unusual for a farm family. My mom wasn’t a fan of it though so she didn’t make it much and when school served it for lunch, it was awful. In the beginning of my pregnancy I started to crave classic comfort food.  From chili to casseroles, I was all about them. This Light Taco Cauliflower Tot Hotdish was my healthy take on this traditional recipe.

Light Taco Cauliflower Tot Hotdish spoonful

Instead of a traditional gravy base that most tator tot hotdishes use, I opted for Mexican flavors using Pace taco cooking sauce. This isn’t traditional taco sauce that you would top your tacos with, but instead a richly flavored cooking sauce perfect for casseroles and bakes. I love using this sauce to toss with meat quick for great flavor in a quick recipe.

Light Taco Cauliflower Tot Hotdish casserole

The other obvious swap is the tator tots being traded in for Green Giant Veggie Cauliflower Tots. This lowers the carbs and fat and still offers a similar texture to the classic potato tots. I didn’t tell my husband that I was making this with Cauliflower Tots and served it up for dinner. He didn’t even comment on the difference! I told him at the end and he said he could tell there was a slight difference, but he still cleaned his plate and enjoyed the recipe. Overall, this Light Taco Cauliflower Tot Hotdish is a great dinner for the whole family!

Light Taco Cauliflower Tot Hotdish Light Taco Cauliflower Tot Hotdish scoop

Light Taco Cauliflower Tot Hotdish spoonful
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Light Taco Cauliflower Tot Hotdish

Light Taco Cauliflower Tot Hotdish is a healthy twist on the traditional tator tot casserole recipe your mom made with a Mexican twist!
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time50 mins
Total Time1 hr
Course: Dinner, Entree
Servings: 6
Author: Danielle Green

Ingredients

  • 1 lb lean Ground turkey or beef
  • 10 oz. package frozen southwest style blend vegetables roasted corn, black beans, peppers
  • 1 medium onion diced
  • 4 oz can diced green chiles
  • 1 pkg. taco seasoning mix
  • 1 c. Reduced fat mexican blend cheese
  • 16 oz pkg. Green Giant cauliflower tots frozen
  • 3/4 c. Pace taco cooking sauce NOT taco sauce
  • Plain Greek yogurt or Fat Free Sour Cream
  • Tomatoes
  • Cilantro

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 425°.
  • In a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground meat for 2-3 minutes as you break it up. Add the frozen vegetables and diced onion and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes. Add the taco seasoning and green chiles to the skillet and stir until well combined and the meat is cooked through.
  • In a sprayed small casserole pan, layer the meat mixture on the bottom and top with the shredded cheese. Arrange the frozen cauliflower tots over the cheese and drizzle with the taco cooking sauce.
  • Bake at 425° for 40 minutes or until the cauliflower tots are crispy. If you like your tots extra crispy, turn the broiler on for the last few minutes.
  • Serve garnished with Greek yogurt, tomatoes and cilantro.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1/6 pan
Servings Per Container 6

Amount Per Serving
Calories 327 Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 11g 17%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 56mg 19%
Sodium 1279mg 53%
Total Carbohydrate 24g 8%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Sugars 5g
Protein 27g 54%

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

More light casserole dinner ideas!

Light Turkey Noodle Casserole is a hearty and healthy dinner idea the whole family will love! All of the traditional flavors of noodle casserole are lightened up with whole wheat spaghetti, zucchini noodles and lean ground turkey.

Light Turkey Noodle Casserole

Light Taco Rice Bake is an easy and hearty casserole full of lean ground beef, brown rice, corn and cottage cheese for a protein packed dinner that tastes amazing!

Light Taco Rice Bake

332shares

Keep in touch!when you subscribe for the latest recipes

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

.

Filed Under: Beef Dishes, Healthy Recipes, Low Calorie, Low Carb, Low Fat, Main Dishes, Recipe, Turkey Dishes


This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Comments

  1. 2pots2cook says

    December 15, 2017 at 7:31 am

    5 stars
    Love your amazing photographs ! I have never had any tots ever but it seems the time has come ! Thank you so much for this lovely idea !

    Reply
  2. Erin @ The Speckled Palate says

    December 15, 2017 at 12:40 pm

    WHOA! This tot casserole looks absolutely amazing! Loving the TexMex flavors you’ve got going on in it and cannot wait to make it for my family!

    Reply
  3. Melissa Howell says

    December 15, 2017 at 1:08 pm

    What? Cauliflower tots? I didn’t even know there was such a thing! My friend made tater tot casserole while I was visiting. It was delicious, but so unhealthy! I love your version and am going to be on the lookout for those cauliflower tots!

    Reply
  4. Julie Evink says

    December 18, 2017 at 1:49 pm

    5 stars
    What a great twist on a traditional Midwest “Hotdish” love this… Do you think my husband will know if I substitute the normal with this??? This looks amazing! I can’t wait to try it!!!

    Reply
  5. Malinda says

    December 24, 2017 at 1:19 pm

    I grew up eating tater tot casserole too and I love making twists on classics. I haven’t tried replacing cauliflower for potatoes or rice yet because I know my husband would know. But if yours couldn’t tell much difference I might have to give it a try!!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Welcome to The Creative Bite, where I love sharing my favorite recipes for everyday healthy meals and occasional twists and treats!

About Danielle

Keep in touch!when you subscribe for the latest recipes straight to your inbox

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

.

The Latest

variety of hot cocoa bombs in muffin tin with hot chocolate mix

How to Make Hot Cocoa Bombs

scalloped circle hot cocoa bomb label

Free Printable Hot Cocoa Bomb Labels

Raspberry Rosé Spritzer on table with bottle of vodka

Raspberry Rosé Spritzer Cocktail

Greek meatball bowls with tomatoes and yogurt sauce

Easy Greek Freak Meatballs

pressure cooker chicken fajita bowls on table with napkin and spoons

Instant Pot Chicken Fajita Bowls

syrup being poured on cornmeal pancakes

Buttermilk Cornmeal Pancakes

Keep in touch!when you subscribe for the latest recipes

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

.
Copyright ©2021, The Creative Bite / Design by Pixel Me Designs / Privacy Policy