Description
Tater Tot Pizza Casserole is a savory, comforting dish that combines crispy tater tots with seasoned ground beef, vegetables, and melted mozzarella cheese, baked to golden perfection. This easy-to-make casserole delivers all the flavors of a classic pizza in a fun and hearty casserole form, perfect for family dinners or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Base
- 32 oz frozen tater tots
Meat Mixture
- 1 lb ground beef or sausage
- 1 cup diced bell peppers
- 1 cup diced onions
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 cup pizza sauce (plus extra for topping, optional)
Cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and lightly grease a baking dish to prevent sticking and ensure easy serving.
- Cook the meat and vegetables: In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef or sausage thoroughly. Drain any excess fat, then add the diced bell peppers and onions and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Combine with sauce and seasoning: Transfer the cooked meat and vegetable mixture to a large bowl. Stir in the pizza sauce and Italian seasoning until everything is evenly mixed.
- Assemble the casserole – first layer: Place half of the frozen tater tots in an even layer at the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Then, spread the meat mixture evenly over the tater tots. Sprinkle half of the shredded mozzarella cheese on top of the meat.
- Assemble the casserole – second layer: Add the remaining tater tots in a layer over the cheese. Optionally, drizzle additional pizza sauce over the top layer of tater tots for extra moisture and flavor.
- Add the final cheese layer and bake: Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese evenly over the top. Bake the casserole in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden brown, and the tater tots are crispy.
- Serve and enjoy: Allow the casserole to cool slightly before serving. Cut into portions and enjoy a warm, cheesy, and flavorful Tater Tot Pizza Casserole.
Notes
- Use either ground beef or sausage based on preference; spicy Italian sausage can add a nice kick.
- Feel free to add other pizza toppings such as sliced olives, mushrooms, or pepperoni.
- For a crispier top, broil the casserole for 2-3 minutes at the end of baking, watching closely to prevent burning.
- This casserole can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated before baking; just add a few extra minutes to the baking time if baking from cold.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1/6 of casserole)
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
Keywords: tater tot casserole, pizza casserole, ground beef casserole, easy family dinner, baked tater tots, mozzarella cheese casserole
