Description
Pepperoni Pizza Tater Tot Casserole delivers comfort straight from your kitchen, melding pizza and potato magic into one hearty dish. Grab your favorite skillet and dive into this crowd-pleasing dinner that brings together crispy tots, zesty pepperoni, and melted cheese in a single satisfying bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 pounds frozen tater tots
- 12 ounces pasta sauce
- 8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
- 3 ounces sliced pepperoni
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1.5 ounces grated Parmesan cheese
Optional Add-Ins:
- 0.5 cups diced cooked sausage
- 0.25 cups chopped bell peppers
- 0.25 cups sliced mushrooms
- 0.25 cups sliced black olives
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F and generously coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Pour 1 cup pasta sauce across the bottom of the dish, creating a thin, even layer.
- Distribute ⅓ of the 3-ounce pepperoni slices evenly over the sauce.
- Arrange 30 ounces of frozen tater tots in a single layer across the bottom of the dish.
- Spread another ½ cup pasta sauce over the tater tots, ensuring even coverage.
- Sprinkle 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese across the sauce layer.
- Add another ⅓ of the pepperoni slices on top of the cheese.
- Create a second layer by adding the remaining tater tots in an even pattern.
- Pour the final ½ cup pasta sauce over the tater tots.
- Top with the remaining 2 cups mozzarella cheese.
- Distribute the last ⅓ of pepperoni slices across the cheese.
- Optionally, sprinkle ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese over the top.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake at 400°F for 20 minutes.
- Remove foil and continue baking for an additional 15 minutes until the top turns golden and pepperoni edges crisp.
- Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before cutting and serving to help the cheese set.
Notes
- Opt for thick-cut pepperoni to get crispy edges that add extra texture and flavor to your casserole.
- Let the dish rest for exactly 5 minutes after baking so the cheese sets and becomes easier to serve without falling apart.
- For a lighter version, swap regular pepperoni for turkey pepperoni and use reduced-fat cheese to cut down on calories.
- Experiment with adding chopped bell peppers or onions between layers for extra vegetable nutrition and a flavor boost.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 1100 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg