Step 1

Cook the bacon in a skillet or in the oven on a sheet pan until it’s very crispy. Reserve the grease for later uses, like frying fish. Set aside the bacon for finishing the hotdish.

Step 2

In a cast iron skillet or saucepot over medium-high heat, add the oil or butter and coat the pan. Add the venison and cook until thoroughly browned; season with salt, pepper, and paprika. Remove the meat and set aside. If using meat with high fat content, make sure to drain the fat before adding the spices.

Step 3

In the same skillet or pot that you browned the meat, add the stick of butter with the garlic, onion, and cook until the onions begin to caramelize on the edges. Add the mushrooms, salt, pepper, thyme, and sauté the ‘shrooms until they’re thoroughly cooked. Stir in the flour evenly and cook until the mixture begins to bubble and turn a golden brown (this is the roux or thickening agent that will help make the gravy thick and rich). When the butter/flour mixture turns golden brown, stir in the stock and bring it to a boil. Lastly, stir in the heavy cream and bring to a boil. Reduce the gravy to a simmer, occasionally stirring, allowing it to get very thick (you’re looking for condensed soup-thick). Check for taste and remove from the heat to cool. Alternately, you can skip this step and use the canned cream of mushroom or celery soup_._

Step 4

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground venison, gravy, 6 ounces of cheese, Top the Tater Dip, sweet corn, green beans, and jalapeño. Dump the hotdish filling into a greased casserole dish and spread evenly. Add a single layer of the tater tots on top of the filling.

Step 5

Bake the hotdish for one hour or until the tater tots are crispy and the filling is  bubbly. Spread the remaining cheese evenly on top and place back in the oven. Cook for 10 minutes more or until the cheese melts and gets golden brown on the edges. Remove and let the dish stand for 15-20 minutes. Crumble the bacon and sprinkle on top. Scoop out a nice chunk and dig in.