Description
A delicious and easy Tater Tot Pizza Casserole that combines classic pizza flavors with crispy tater tots for a comforting and family-friendly meal. This casserole layers seasoned ground beef, pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and your favorite pizza toppings with a crispy tater tot crust baked to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Sauce
- 1 lb ground beef (or Italian sausage)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (15 oz) pizza sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Cheese and Toppings
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1 cup sliced pepperoni (or your favorite pizza toppings)
- Optional: bell peppers, mushrooms, black olives, or jalapeños
Base
- 1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray or oil to prevent sticking.
- Cook Meat: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef or Italian sausage until browned. Drain any excess fat to keep the casserole from being greasy.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet with the meat. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the onion softens and becomes translucent.
- Add Sauce and Seasonings: Pour in the pizza sauce, sprinkle in the Italian seasoning, and season with salt and pepper. Stir to combine and simmer the mixture for 2-3 minutes to meld flavors.
- Assemble the Casserole Base: Spread the meat and sauce mixture evenly over the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle half of the mozzarella cheese evenly on top.
- Add Toppings and Tater Tots: Arrange the sliced pepperoni and any optional toppings like bell peppers or mushrooms over the cheese. Layer the frozen tater tots evenly over the toppings, then sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese across the tater tots.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown and the cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from the oven and let the casserole cool for about 5 minutes before serving to allow it to set and make serving easier.
Notes
- You can customize this casserole with your favorite pizza toppings such as mushrooms, bell peppers, olives, or jalapeños for added flavor and texture.
- If using Italian sausage, make sure it is fully cooked and drained before layering.
- To save time, you can prepare the meat sauce in advance and refrigerate until ready to assemble.
- For a crispier topping, consider broiling the casserole for the last 1-2 minutes—watch closely to prevent burning.
- This casserole reheats well and is perfect for meal prep or leftovers.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
