Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 cup pizza sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots
- ½ cup sliced pepperoni
Directions:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish or spray with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Brown the beef: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef until fully browned, about 6–8 minutes. Break it up into crumbles as it cooks. Drain any excess fat.
- Add the sauce: Reduce heat to low and stir in the pizza sauce. Simmer for 2–3 minutes to let the flavors meld. Remove from heat.
- Layer the casserole: Spread the beef and sauce mixture evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese over the meat.
- Add the tater tots: Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer on top of the cheese. You can line them up neatly or scatter them for a rustic look.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 30–35 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden and crispy.
- Top and finish baking: Remove the casserole from the oven, sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and the sliced pepperoni over the tater tots. Return to the oven and bake for another 5–8 minutes, until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
- Cool and serve: Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to make slicing easier. Enjoy the crispy top and gooey cheesy layers!
Nutritional Information:
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 40 minutes | Total Time: 55 minutes
Calories per serving: ~450 | Serves: 6
