Description
Tater Tot Pizza Casserole brings all the cheesy, meaty goodness of pizza to a comforting casserole that your family will devour. Layers of crispy tots, zesty sauce, and melted cheese make this weeknight dinner a total crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 package (28 oz) frozen tater tots
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 can (15 oz) pizza sauce
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Cooking spray or oil (for greasing)
Instructions
- Crank your oven to a toasty 375°F and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Grab a large skillet and brown 1 lb ground beef over medium heat, crumbling it into small pieces while cooking.
- Drain excess fat from the beef and toss in 1 small finely chopped onion, sautéing for 2-3 minutes until the onion softens.
- Pour 15 oz pizza sauce into the skillet and mix in 1 teaspoon each of garlic powder and dried oregano, plus ½ teaspoon salt and pepper.
- Let the sauce simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to blend the flavors.
- Spread the seasoned beef mixture across the bottom of your greased baking dish in an even layer.
- Carefully arrange the entire 28 oz package of frozen tater tots in a single uniform layer over the beef.
- Sprinkle 2 cups mozzarella and 1 cup cheddar cheese evenly across the tater tot surface.
- Slide the dish into the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until the tots turn golden and the cheese melts completely.
- Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for 3-5 minutes before serving to help it set.
Notes
- Drain ground beef thoroughly to prevent a soggy casserole base that can make your tater tots lose their crispy texture.
- Choose lean ground beef to reduce excess grease and keep the dish from becoming too heavy or oily.
- Swap ground beef for ground turkey or plant-based crumbles if you prefer a lighter protein option that works great for different dietary needs.
- Customize toppings by adding sliced pepperoni, diced bell peppers, or sliced mushrooms to create your personal pizza-style variation.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 567 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 31 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg