Description
A comforting bake that combines pizza night and childhood diner plates, featuring layers of browned beef, marinara, mozzarella, and crispy tater tots.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots
- Optional toppings: pepperoni, olives, bell pepper, green onions, mushrooms
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef and diced onion for about 5–7 minutes.
- Drain excess grease from the skillet.
- Add marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Let simmer for a couple of minutes.
- Spread the beef mixture in the baking dish, then sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella cheese on top.
- Arrange frozen tater tots on top of the cheese layer, covering as much surface as possible.
- Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella over the tater tots.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and the tots are golden. If using convection, check at 20 minutes.
- If adding optional toppings, scatter them over the casserole and bake for an additional 3–5 minutes.
- Let sit for 5–10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Use lean ground turkey or plant-based meat for a lighter or vegetarian option. Shredding mozzarella from a block enhances gooeyness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American