Description
Hearty Midwestern comfort meets pizza passion in this Tater Tot Pizza Casserole, blending crispy potato nuggets with savory meat and melted cheese. Layers of familiar flavors create a crowd-pleasing dish you’ll crave at family gatherings and potluck parties.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (1 lb) ground beef
- 1 (28-ounce) bag frozen tater tots
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup pizza sauce
- 1/2 cup pepperoni slices
Seasonings:
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Optional Toppings:
- 1/4 cup black olives, sliced
- 1/4 cup green bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup mushrooms, sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F (200C) and prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish with a light grease coating to prevent sticking.
- In a large skillet, thoroughly brown ground beef over medium heat, carefully draining any excess fat to keep the dish from becoming greasy.
- Enhance the beef with a robust blend of seasonings, incorporating salt, black pepper, Italian herbs, garlic, and onion powders for a deeply flavored base.
- Fold pizza sauce into the seasoned meat, creating a rich, tangy mixture that will serve as the casserole’s foundation.
- Transfer the meat mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly to ensure consistent coverage across the bottom.
- Generously distribute the first layer of mozzarella cheese over the meat, creating a melty underlayer.
- Meticulously arrange tater tots in a uniform single layer, covering the entire cheese and meat surface.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes until tater tots transform into crispy, golden-brown perfection.
- Quickly top the casserole with remaining mozzarella, pepperoni, sliced olives, bell peppers, and mushrooms for a vibrant, colorful finish.
- Return to the oven for an additional 5-7 minutes, allowing cheese to melt and toppings to heat through.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 5 minutes, helping it set and making serving easier.
Notes
- Opt for lean ground beef to reduce excess grease and create a healthier version of the casserole.
- Swap traditional tater tots with sweet potato tots for a nutrient-dense alternative that adds vibrant color and extra vitamins.
- Experiment with plant-based ground meat substitutes to make this dish vegetarian-friendly without sacrificing protein and flavor.
- Consider using low-fat cheese or dairy-free cheese options for those watching calories or following a dairy-free diet.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 425 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg