Cheesy Pizza Tot Casserole (Printable Version)
Comforting casserole featuring crispy tater tots, pizza sauce, melted cheese, and favorite pizza toppings in one dish.
# Ingredient List:
→ Base
01 - 1 (32 oz) bag frozen tater tots
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
→ Sauce
03 - 2 cups pizza sauce
04 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
05 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
06 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
→ Cheese
07 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
08 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
09 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Toppings
10 - 1/2 cup sliced pepperoni (optional, or use vegetarian pepperoni)
11 - 1/2 cup sliced black olives
12 - 1/2 cup diced bell pepper
13 - 1/4 cup diced red onion
# How to Make:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or additional olive oil.
02 - Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer in the prepared baking dish. Drizzle evenly with olive oil and toss gently to coat.
03 - Bake for 20 minutes until tater tots are lightly golden and starting to crisp.
04 - Remove dish from oven. Spread pizza sauce evenly over the partially cooked tater tots. Sprinkle with dried oregano, basil, and garlic powder.
05 - Top with half of the shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese. Distribute pepperoni, black olives, bell pepper, and red onion evenly across the surface. Sprinkle with remaining cheeses and Parmesan.
06 - Return to oven and bake for an additional 20 minutes, or until cheese is fully melted, bubbly, and golden brown.
07 - Let casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow cheese to set slightly for easier serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Everything you love about pizza but with the irresistible crunch of golden tater tots underneath
- Feeds a hungry crowd with minimal prep work and maximum cheesy satisfaction
02 -
- Never skip that first 20-minute bake for the tater tots alone. I learned this lesson the hard way and ended up with mushy potatoes under all that glorious cheese.
- Letting it rest for those 5 minutes feels impossible but it makes serving so much neater. The cheese sets just enough to hold everything together.
03 -
- Spread the sauce all the way to the edges so every tot gets that pizza flavor exposure
- If using fresh vegetables, give them a quick sauté first so they do not release too much water into the casserole