Description
Pizza tot casserole brings pure comfort right to your dinner table, blending crispy tater tots with zesty pizza flavors that make family mealtime super delicious. Hearty, cheesy, and packed with simple ingredients everyone adores, this crowd-pleasing dish comes together fast for a weeknight winner.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup pizza sauce
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup pepperoni slices
- ½ cup bell pepper
- ½ cup mushrooms
- ½ cup onion
Seasonings and Extras:
- ¼ cup black olives
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt
- Black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter, ensuring complete surface coverage.
- Place a large skillet over medium heat and pour 1 tablespoon olive oil, warming until shimmering.
- Add ½ cup diced onions to the skillet and sauté for 3-4 minutes until translucent and soft.
- Incorporate 1 lb ground beef into the skillet, breaking it into small crumbles while cooking for 6-7 minutes.
- Drain any excess fat from the meat, then return skillet to heat.
- Sprinkle 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper over the meat, stirring to distribute evenly.
- Pour 1 cup pizza sauce into the skillet and mix thoroughly with the seasoned meat.
- Transfer the meat mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it in an even layer.
- Scatter 1 cup shredded mozzarella and 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese across the meat surface.
- Distribute ½ cup diced bell peppers, ½ cup sliced mushrooms, and ¼ cup sliced black olives over the cheese.
- Optional: Arrange ½ cup pepperoni slices across the top for extra flavor.
- Create a single layer of frozen tater tots, covering the entire casserole completely.
- Slide the dish into the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes until tots turn golden and crispy.
- Sprinkle an additional ½ cup mozzarella cheese on top during the last 5 minutes of baking.
- Remove from oven and let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow flavors to settle.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef to reduce excess grease and keep the casserole from becoming too oily.
- Drain the beef thoroughly after cooking to prevent a soggy bottom layer in your casserole.
- Customize toppings based on your favorite pizza ingredients, making this a flexible family meal for picky eaters.
- For a gluten-free version, confirm your pizza sauce and pepperoni are gluten-free, and the recipe will work perfectly.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 497 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 675 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg