Description
This Tater Tot Pizza Casserole is crispy, cheesy, meaty, and ridiculously easy to make. It’s perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or game-day feasts, and let’s be honest—who doesn’t love tater tots?!
Ingredients
For the Base:
- 1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots
- 1 lb ground beef (or Italian sausage)
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt & pepper to taste
For the Sauce & Cheese:
- 1 ½ cups pizza sauce (or marinara sauce)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese (optional, but amazing)
Toppings:
- 20–25 slices pepperoni
- ½ cup chopped bell peppers (optional)
- ½ cup sliced black olives (optional)
- ½ cup sliced mushrooms (optional)
Instructions
Preheat & Prep: Heat oven to 400°F. Grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish.
Cook the Meat: In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef (or sausage) with garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Drain excess grease.
Assemble the Layers:
- Spread the cooked meat evenly in the casserole dish.
- Pour pizza sauce over the meat and spread it out.
- Sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella cheese over the sauce.
Add Tater Tots: Arrange tater tots in a single layer over the top.
Bake First Round: Bake uncovered for 25 minutes, until the tater tots start getting crispy.
Add Final Toppings: Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese and parmesan over the tots. Add pepperoni slicesand any extra toppings.
Final Bake: Bake for another 10-15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Serve & Enjoy: Let it rest for 5 minutes, then dig in!