Cheesy Pizza Tot Casserole (Printable View)
A comforting dish combining crispy tater tots with pizza flavors and toppings in one delicious casserole.
# What You Need:
→ 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
11 - 1/2 cup sliced black olives
12 - 1/2 cup diced bell pepper
13 - 1/4 cup diced red onion
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or additional olive oil.
02 - Arrange frozen tater tots in a single layer in the prepared dish. Drizzle evenly with olive oil. Bake for 20 minutes until lightly golden and beginning to crisp.
03 - Remove dish from oven. Spread pizza sauce evenly over the partially baked tater tots. Sprinkle with dried oregano, dried basil, and garlic powder.
04 - Top with half of the mozzarella and cheddar cheese mixture. Arrange pepperoni slices, black olives, diced bell pepper, and red onion over the cheese. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and cheddar, then finish with grated Parmesan.
05 - Return casserole to oven and bake for 20 additional minutes until cheese is fully melted, bubbly, and beginning to turn golden brown.
06 - Let casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow cheese to set and make serving easier.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It transforms two comfort foods into something entirely new and irresistible
- The crispy tots stay crunchy underneath all that melted cheese
- Perfect for feeding a hungry crowd without standing over a hot stove
02 -
- Never skip the initial bake of the tots or they will be soggy underneath all that sauce
- Letting it rest for those 5 minutes is crucial for clean servings
- The dish continues to cook slightly as it rests, so pull it when the cheese is just starting to brown
03 -
- Line your baking dish with parchment paper for effortless cleanup
- Use freshly shredded cheese instead of pre-shredded for better melting
- Customize the heat level with crushed red pepper in the sauce layer