Description
Weeknight dinner just got easier with Pizza Tot Casserole, a crowd-pleasing dish that brings together crispy tater tots, zesty pepperoni, and melted cheese in one comforting pan. Grab your favorite toppings and get ready to create a meal that’ll make your family cheer with delight.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 (32 ounces / 907 grams) bag of frozen tater tots
- ½ pound ground beef or Italian sausage, cooked and crumbled
Cheese & Sauce:
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup pizza sauce
Seasonings & Toppings:
- ½ cup pepperoni slices
- ½ cup bell peppers, diced
- ½ cup black olives, sliced
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare your oven and baking vessel by heating to 400°F (200°C) and coating a 9×13-inch dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Spread the entire 32 oz bag of frozen tater tots across the bottom of the dish in a single, even layer. Dust the tots with ½ teaspoon garlic powder and ½ teaspoon dried oregano for initial seasoning.
- Drizzle 1 cup of pizza sauce uniformly over the tots, ensuring complete coverage. Distribute ½ pound of cooked, crumbled ground beef or Italian sausage across the sauce layer.
- Sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella and ¼ cup of cheddar cheese over the meat. Arrange ½ cup of pepperoni slices, and if desired, add ½ cup diced bell peppers and ½ cup sliced black olives.
- Slide the dish into the preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes until the tots turn golden and crisp around the edges.
- Remove the casserole and top with remaining 1 cup mozzarella and ¼ cup cheddar cheese. Return to the oven for an additional 5-10 minutes until cheese melts completely.
- After removing from the oven, let the casserole rest for 3-4 minutes. Scatter fresh basil or parsley on top for a burst of color and flavor before serving.
Notes
- Swap tater tots for cauliflower tots if avoiding potatoes, creating a lower-carb alternative.
- Prep ingredients ahead of time to make assembly quick and streamline weeknight cooking.
- Use fresh herbs like basil right before serving to boost the bright flavor and add a pop of color.
- Choose lean ground beef or turkey to keep the casserole lighter without sacrificing protein content.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 416 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg