Here is an alternative to your Tater Tot casserole if you can't afford ground beef!

In 1965 my husband (newly weds) started making this because you could make it for $1.00. Making it tonight, and the cream of mushroom soup was a little over $2.00.
We cut up the hot dogs and put it around the side of the casserole (that was the original version) so it looks kind of like a picture of a crown roast and then bake it.

It still tastes good after all these years.

It is snowing out today and we decided to have our old meal as we have not made it in a long time.

That's exactly how I remember it. Hot dogs cut in half and sliced, standing up around the casserole dish, potatoes sliced in the middle and I put string beans in with it, then the mushroom soup on top. Baked it in the oven, haven't made that in years, but will tonight.