Description
This Cheesy & Crispy Pizza Tot Casserole is a delightful twist on traditional pizza, combining crispy tater tots with classic pizza toppings, gooey melted cheese, and a rich tomato sauce, all baked to perfection in a casserole dish. It’s a crowd-pleasing comfort food that’s easy to prepare and perfect for family meals or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 (32 oz) bag of frozen tater tots
- 1 cup pizza sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ lb ground beef or Italian sausage, cooked and crumbled
- ½ cup pepperoni slices
- ½ cup bell peppers, diced (optional)
- ½ cup black olives, sliced (optional)
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to ensure it reaches the optimal temperature for baking the casserole evenly and getting the tater tots crispy.
- Prepare Casserole Dish: Lightly grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish to prevent sticking and make serving easier.
- Arrange Tater Tots: Spread the frozen tater tots in a single, even layer at the bottom of the prepared casserole dish to create a sturdy base for the toppings.
- Season Tater Tots: Sprinkle garlic powder and dried oregano evenly over the layer of tater tots for added flavor and aroma.
- Add Pizza Sauce: Pour the pizza sauce evenly over the seasoned tater tots, ensuring the layer is well covered to mimic pizza sauce on dough.
- Add Cooked Meat: Scatter the cooked and crumbled ground beef or Italian sausage over the sauce layer to add savory depth and protein.
- Sprinkle Cheese: Sprinkle half of the shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese evenly over the meat layer to help bind the toppings and add creaminess.
- Add Toppings: Layer the pepperoni slices, diced bell peppers, and sliced black olives over the cheese. Feel free to customize with your favorite pizza toppings.
- Bake First Round: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes, allowing the tater tots to crisp up and the flavors to meld together.
- Add Remaining Cheese: Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and cheddar cheese over the top.
- Final Bake: Return the casserole to the oven and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until the cheese on top is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden.
- Garnish: Once baked, garnish the casserole with fresh basil or parsley for a pop of color and fresh flavor.
- Rest and Serve: Let the casserole cool for a few minutes to set before slicing and serving to ensure clean portions and optimal taste.
Notes
- You can substitute ground beef with Italian sausage or omit meat for a vegetarian version.
- Feel free to customize the toppings with mushrooms, onions, or other pizza favorites.
- For extra crispiness, broil the casserole for 1-2 minutes at the end, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven for best texture.
- If you prefer less spicy, omit the red pepper flakes.
