1 cup Thousand Island dressing (plus extra for drizzling)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1 bag frozen tater tots (approximately 32 oz)
2 cups shredded lettuce
Instructions:
Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Prepare the Ground Beef Mixture:
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef until fully cooked, breaking it apart with a spatula as it cooks.
Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté until the onion becomes translucent and the garlic is fragrant, about 3-4 minutes.
Season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste.
Stir in the diced pickles and 1 cup of Thousand Island dressing. Mix until everything is well combined. Remove from heat.
Assemble the Casserole:
Transfer the ground beef mixture into a 9×13-inch baking dish, spreading it out evenly.
Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the beef mixture.
Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer on top of the cheese.
Bake:
Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the tater tots start to turn golden brown and crispy.
Add More Cheese:
Remove the baking dish from the oven and sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the tater tots.
Switch the oven to broil and return the baking dish to the oven. Broil for 2-3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the tater tots are nicely browned.
Finish the Casserole:
Carefully remove the baking dish from the oven.
Drizzle additional Thousand Island dressing over the top of the casserole.
Sprinkle the shredded lettuce evenly over the top.
Serve:
Allow the casserole to cool slightly before serving.
Serve warm and enjoy the delicious Big Mac flavors in casserole form!
Notes:
For an extra kick, you can add a dash of hot sauce to the ground beef mixture.
Feel free to customize the toppings with additional Big Mac-inspired ingredients like diced tomatoes or extra pickles.