Description
Comfort meets creativity in this pepperoni pizza tater tot casserole, blending classic pizza flavors with hearty potato goodness. Crispy tots, zesty pepperoni, and melted cheese create a crowd-pleasing dish you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 (32 ounces/907 grams) bag frozen tater tots
- 1 small bag of pepperoni
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Sauce and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 (24 ounces/680 grams) jar pasta sauce
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the oven at 400F (200C) and thoroughly coat a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Create a thin foundation of pasta sauce across the bottom of the dish, strategically arranging the first third of pepperoni slices.
- Construct the first layer by evenly distributing half of the tater tots across the sauce base.
- Generously sprinkle half of the remaining pasta sauce over the tater tots, followed by a liberal scattering of mozzarella cheese.
- Add another third of pepperoni slices to enhance the flavor profile.
- Repeat the layering process with the remaining tater tots, sauce, and mozzarella cheese.
- Crown the casserole with the final third of pepperoni slices and a dusting of parmesan cheese.
- Shield the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 15 minutes until the pepperoni becomes crisp and tater tots turn golden brown.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 5 minutes before serving, offering optional garnishes like red pepper flakes, chopped parsley, Italian seasoning, or ranch dressing.
Notes
- Customize your casserole by swapping pepperoni with turkey pepperoni for a leaner protein option that cuts down on fat content.
- Enhance the vegetable intake by adding a layer of fresh spinach or diced bell peppers between the tater tot layers for extra nutrition and color.
- Prevent soggy tater tots by ensuring they’re arranged in a single layer and not overcrowded, allowing them to crisp up evenly during baking.
- Create a gluten-free version by using gluten-free pasta sauce and checking that your tater tots and pepperoni are certified gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 506 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 1090 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg