Description
Comfort meets creativity in this hearty Tater Tot Pizza Casserole that blends classic pizza flavors with crispy potato goodness. Cheese-covered tots and zesty toppings make this dish an irresistible crowd-pleaser you’ll want to devour again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (1 lb) ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 (28-ounce) bag frozen tater tots
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 cups pizza sauce (or marinara sauce)
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
Optional Toppings:
- ½ cup pepperoni slices
- ½ cup chopped bell peppers
- ½ cup sliced black olives
- ½ cup cooked bacon bits
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Prepare the cooking environment by heating the oven to 400F (200C) and lightly coating a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick spray.
- In a large skillet, transform ground beef and diced onions into a savory mixture, browning thoroughly and eliminating excess grease.
- Infuse the meat with robust flavors by incorporating pizza sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Allow the mixture to simmer and meld together for a few minutes.
- Create the foundational layer by evenly distributing the seasoned meat across the prepared baking dish, then generously sprinkle the first portion of mozzarella cheese over the meat.
- Carefully construct a uniform layer of frozen tater tots directly atop the cheese, ensuring complete coverage of the meat mixture.
- Position the casserole in the preheated oven and bake uncovered, waiting until the tater tots transform into a crispy, golden-brown landscape.
- Extract the casserole and embellish with the remaining mozzarella cheese, then enhance with optional toppings like pepperoni, vibrant bell peppers, or sliced olives.
- Return the dish to the oven for a brief period, allowing the cheese to melt into a luxurious, bubbling blanket.
- After removing from the oven, permit the casserole to rest and slightly cool, then serve alongside a fresh salad or warm garlic bread for a complete meal.
Notes
- Customize tater tot layers by mixing different types of potatoes or using sweet potato tots for a unique twist.
- Reduce fat content by using lean ground turkey or chicken instead of beef, maintaining the same rich flavor profile.
- Accommodate gluten-sensitive diets by selecting gluten-free tater tots and checking pizza sauce ingredients for hidden gluten.
- Boost vegetable intake by adding diced bell peppers, mushrooms, or spinach directly into the meat mixture for extra nutrition and color.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 305
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 871 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 220 mg