Description:
If you love pizza and tater tots, you’re in for a treat! This Pizza Tot Casserole combines the best of both worlds—crispy tater tots, savory pizza toppings, and gooey cheese, all baked together in one hearty dish. It’s the perfect meal for family dinners, game nights, or anytime you need something quick, easy, and delicious.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe?
Who can resist the combination of crispy tater tots and cheesy pizza toppings? This Pizza Tot Casserole takes the classic pizza flavors and turns them into a fun, comforting casserole that’s just as easy to make as it is to eat. It’s filling, family-friendly, and totally customizable with your favorite pizza toppings. Plus, it’s ready in less than an hour, making it the ultimate weeknight dinner solution.
Ingredients
Here are some of the key ingredients you’ll need to get started:
- Frozen tater tots
- Ground beef or sausage
- Pizza sauce
- Shredded mozzarella cheese
- Pepperoni or other favorite pizza toppings
- Bell peppers, onions, or mushrooms (optional)
- Garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning
For the full list of ingredients, check below!
Directions
Step 1: Cook the Ground Meat
Start by browning the ground beef or sausage in a large skillet over medium heat. Use a spatula to break it up into crumbles as it cooks. Season with a pinch of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder for added flavor. Once the meat is fully cooked, drain any excess fat and set it aside.
Step 2: Prepare the Casserole Base
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). In a 9×13-inch casserole dish, spread a thin layer of pizza sauce over the bottom. Then, layer the cooked ground meat evenly over the sauce. If you’re using any additional veggies like bell peppers, onions, or mushrooms, sprinkle them over the meat now.
Step 3: Add the Tater Tots
Next, take your frozen tater tots and arrange them in a single layer over the top of the meat and veggies. Don’t worry about being too perfect here—the tater tots will cook up nicely, even if they’re a little unevenly spread.
Step 4: Add the Cheese and Toppings
Now, sprinkle a generous amount of shredded mozzarella cheese over the tater tots. Add your favorite pizza toppings—whether that’s pepperoni, olives, or even some cooked bacon. Feel free to get creative here. Sprinkle some Italian seasoning over the top to give it that pizza flavor.
Step 5: Bake and Serve
Place the casserole in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy. Once done, take it out of the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving. Slice and enjoy!
Expert Tips and Tricks
- Crispier Tots: For extra crispy tater tots, bake them separately for 10-15 minutes before adding them to the casserole. Then, continue with the assembly and baking process.
- Make it Spicy: If you love a little heat, sprinkle some red pepper flakes or add some sliced jalapeños on top before baking.
- Vegetarian Version: You can easily make this dish vegetarian by swapping the meat for extra veggies or even plant-based sausage.
Recipe Variations and Possible Substitutions
- Cheese: If you prefer a different cheese, you can use provolone, cheddar, or even a blend of your favorite cheeses for a richer flavor.
- Toppings: Add any of your favorite pizza toppings—bacon, sausage, olives, or even pineapple for a fun twist.
- Meat Alternatives: Use turkey sausage or ground chicken for a lighter version of this casserole.
Serving and Pairing Suggestions
This Pizza Tot Casserole is hearty enough to be a full meal on its own, but you can pair it with a side salad or some garlic bread for a more complete dinner. If you’re serving this on game night, it goes wonderfully with a cold beer or a sparkling water with lemon. You could also add a little ranch dressing or marinara on the side for dipping.
Storage and Reheating Tips
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, simply microwave individual servings for 1-2 minutes, or warm it up in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 10-15 minutes until heated through.
4 FAQs
- Can I use fresh potatoes instead of tater tots?
While tater tots give the casserole that crispy texture, you can substitute them with fresh diced potatoes, though they may need a longer cooking time. - Can I make this casserole ahead of time?
Yes! You can assemble the casserole a day ahead, cover it tightly, and store it in the fridge. When you’re ready to bake, just pop it in the oven. - Can I freeze this casserole?
Yes, you can freeze this casserole before baking. Wrap it tightly in foil and freeze for up to 3 months. To bake, simply thaw overnight in the fridge and cook as directed. - What other toppings can I add to this casserole?
The options are endless! Try adding cooked bacon, sausage, bell peppers, olives, or even some fresh basil or spinach for a healthier twist.
Conclusion
Pizza Tot Casserole is the perfect combination of comfort food and convenience. It’s everything you love about pizza, but with the added deliciousness of crispy tater tots. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or just looking for a quick and easy dinner, this casserole is sure to hit the spot. Get creative with your toppings, enjoy it with your favorite sides, and know that this dish is guaranteed to be a new family favorite.
Pizza Tot Casserole – The Ultimate Comfort Food You Didn’t Know You Needed
- Prep Time: 10-15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40-45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Dinner, Comfort Food, Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American, Pizza-inspired
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
If you love pizza and tater tots, you’re in for a treat! This Pizza Tot Casserole combines the best of both worlds—crispy tater tots, savory pizza toppings, and gooey cheese, all baked together in one hearty dish. It’s the perfect meal for family dinners, game nights, or anytime you need something quick, easy, and delicious.
Ingredients
- Frozen tater tots: 1 bag (about 32 oz / 900g)
- Ground beef or sausage: 1 lb (450g) ground beef or sausage
- Pizza sauce: 1 cup (240ml)
- Shredded mozzarella cheese: 2 cups (8 oz / 225g)
- Pepperoni: 1 cup (about 50g), or your favorite pizza toppings (e.g., olives, cooked bacon)
- Bell peppers, onions, mushrooms (optional): 1/2 cup each, chopped
- Garlic powder: 1 tsp
- Onion powder: 1 tsp
- Italian seasoning: 1 tsp
- Salt and pepper: To taste
Instructions
-
Cook the Ground Meat:
- In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef or sausage, breaking it into crumbles as it cooks. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Drain any excess fat and set aside.
-
Prepare the Casserole Base:
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). In a 9×13-inch casserole dish, spread a thin layer of pizza sauce on the bottom. Then, layer the cooked ground meat evenly over the sauce. Add any optional veggies (bell peppers, onions, or mushrooms) on top of the meat.
-
Add the Tater Tots:
- Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer over the meat and veggies. Don’t worry about being too perfect—uneven distribution is fine as the tots will cook evenly.
-
Add the Cheese and Toppings:
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese generously over the tater tots. Add your choice of pizza toppings (e.g., pepperoni, cooked bacon, olives) and sprinkle Italian seasoning over the top for that classic pizza flavor.
-
Bake and Serve:
- Place the casserole in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy. Once done, let the casserole cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- For extra crispy tater tots, bake them separately for 10-15 minutes before assembling the casserole. Then add them to the dish and continue baking.
- To add a spicy kick, sprinkle red pepper flakes or add sliced jalapeños before baking.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute the meat with extra veggies or plant-based sausage.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 50mg