Description
Comfort meets creativity in this hearty tater tot pizza casserole, blending classic pizza flavors with crispy potato goodness. Rich layers of ground beef, cheese, and zesty sauce create a crowd-pleasing meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 (28-oz/794 g) bag frozen tater tots
- 2 cups pizza sauce (or marinara sauce)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup pepperoni slices
- ½ cup chopped bell peppers
- ½ cup sliced black olives
- ½ cup cooked bacon bits
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Meat Preparation: Brown ground beef and onion in a skillet over medium heat, draining excess fat after cooking completely.
- Flavor Infusion: Introduce pizza sauce and seasonings to the meat mixture, allowing flavors to meld and intensify for 2-3 minutes over gentle heat.
- Foundational Layer: Distribute seasoned meat evenly across a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, creating a robust base and sprinkling the first layer of mozzarella cheese.
- Crispy Topping Arrangement: Configure frozen tater tots in a uniform layer atop the cheese, ensuring complete surface coverage.
- Initial Baking Phase: Slide the uncovered dish into a preheated 400°F (200°C) oven, roasting until tater tots transform into golden, crisp perfection (approximately 25-30 minutes).
- Final Cheese and Garnish Transformation: Extract the casserole, lavish with remaining mozzarella and optional toppings like pepperoni, bell peppers, or olives, then return to oven for a swift 5-7 minute melting session.
- Serving Presentation: Allow casserole to rest for 5 minutes, permitting flavors to stabilize before serving alongside a fresh salad or garlic bread.
Notes
- Ensure ground beef is thoroughly browned and drained to prevent excess greasiness, creating a crisp and flavorful base for the casserole.
- Arrange frozen tater tots in a single, tight layer for maximum crispiness and even cooking, avoiding overlapping to guarantee a perfect golden texture.
- Experiment with different cheese blends like cheddar or pepper jack, and add fresh herbs like basil or oregano to elevate the pizza-inspired taste and complexity.
- Substitute ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based meat alternatives, use gluten-free tater tots, and opt for dairy-free cheese to accommodate various dietary restrictions without compromising taste.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg