Cooking your Tater Tot Casserole can be a breeze if you follow these clear steps:

1. Preheat the Oven: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Brown the Meat: In a large skillet, cook the ground beef or turkey over medium heat until fully browned. Drain excess fat.
3. Mix the Filling: In a bowl, combine the cooked meat, cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, garlic powder, onion powder, mixed vegetables, and half of the cheddar cheese. Mix well and season with salt and pepper.
4. Prepare the Baking Dish: Spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
5. Spread the Mixture: Pour the meat and vegetable mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly across the bottom.
6. Layer the Tater Tots: Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer over the meat mixture.
7. Add Cheese: Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese on top of the tater tots.
8. Bake the Casserole: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the tater tots are crispy and golden brown.
9. Cool Slightly: Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving.

By following these steps, you will have a delectable Tater Tot Casserole that will impress everyone at the dinner table!