Step 1

Preheat the oven to 375° and have ready a greased 9x13" casserole dish

Step 2

Add the ground beef, 1 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper to a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Break apart and cook until the pink no longer shows (about 10 minutes).

Step 3

Have ready a colander place over a large bowl, pour the contents of the pan into the colander, and set aside. Wipe the pan clean and return to the stovetop over medium heat.

Step 4

Add the butter and allow it to melt. As soon as the butter has melted, add the chopped onion and mushrooms and stir. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally until softened. Stir in the flour, then, add the chicken broth one big splash at a time, stirring well after each addition. Stir in the half-and-half and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 3-4 minutes, or until slightly thickened.

Step 5

Remove the pan from the heat and add 1 cup Cheddar, soy sauce, 1 teaspoon Kosher salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, garlic powder, and stir to combine. Add the green beans, half of the tater tots, and the strained ground beef to the mixture and stir once more.

Step 6

Transfer the mixture to the prepared casserole dish, top with the remaining tater tots, and bake for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven, add the remaining 1 1/2 cup of Cheddar cheese and bake for an additional 10 minutes.

Step 7

Remove from the oven, allow to cool slightly, serve and enjoy!