Cheesy Pepperoni Buns

Name: Cheesy Pepperoni Buns
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 12 servings.
Ingredients: 1 pound lean ground beef (90% lean); 2 cups pizza sauce or pasta sauce; 1 package (3-1/2 ounces) sliced pepperoni, chopped; 4 slices process American cheese, chopped; 12 mini buns, split; 2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Like a pizza version of a sloppy joe, this open-faced sandwich is a surefire kid-pleaser! —Tanya Belt, Newcomerstown, Ohio

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground beef (90% lean)
2 cups pizza sauce or pasta sauce
1 package (3-1/2 ounces) sliced pepperoni, chopped
4 slices process American cheese, chopped
12 mini buns, split
2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink, 5-7 minutes, breaking into crumbles; drain. Stir in pizza sauce, pepperoni and American cheese. Cook and stir until cheese is melted, 4-5 minutes.
Place buns on a baking sheet, cut sides up. Spoon meat mixture onto buns; top with mozzarella cheese. Bake until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes. If desired, serve with additional warmed pizza sauce.

Nutrition Facts

2 open-faced sandwiches: 280 calories, 14g fat (6g saturated fat), 46mg cholesterol, 612mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 1g fiber), 18g protein.

Originally published as Pizza Buns in Taste of Home Christmas Annual 2019