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Cheesy Pizza Tater Tot Casserole

A delightful combination of pizza and tater tots in a hearty, cheesy casserole that the whole family will love.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Comfort Food, Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Calories: 500
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Meat Sauce Base
  • 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage (or a mix of both) Use either or mix both for flavor.
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely diced (about 3/4 cup)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 jar (24 oz) pizza sauce or marinara sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for a little heat)
  • to taste Salt and black pepper Adjust based on preference.
For the Toppings Layer
  • 1/2 cup sliced black olives
  • 1/2 cup sliced pepperoni (about 2 oz)
  • 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
  • 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
  • 1/4 cup sliced banana peppers (optional)
For the Cheese and Tot Crust
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided Use full-fat for best results.
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots Use straight from frozen.
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (for sprinkling on top)
  • to garnish Fresh basil or parsley Adds a fresh touch.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and prepare a 9x13 inch baking dish by lightly greasing it.
  2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground meat, breaking it into small crumbles, for about 6 to 8 minutes until fully cooked.
  3. Drain any excess grease to avoid a greasy casserole.
  4. Add diced onion to the skillet and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  5. Pour in the pizza sauce and add Italian seasoning, oregano, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes. Stir well and season with salt and black pepper. Let simmer for 5 minutes.
Assembly
  1. Pour the meat sauce into the greased baking dish and spread evenly.
  2. Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded mozzarella over the meat sauce.
  3. Layer the toppings: pepperoni, green pepper, mushrooms, black olives, and banana peppers evenly over the cheese.
  4. Top it off with the remaining mozzarella and all of the Parmesan, then arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer over the top.
  5. Sprinkle Italian seasoning over the tater tots.
Baking
  1. Bake uncovered for 30 to 35 minutes until the tater tots are golden brown and the cheese is bubbling.
  2. Check at 25 minutes; if the tots are brown but the center is undercooked, tent with foil and continue baking.
Serving
  1. Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley.

Notes

Use full-fat cheese for better melting. Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 4 days. To reheat, bake at 375°F for 10–12 minutes.