Description
Pizza Tot Casserole is a deliciously comforting baked dish combining crispy tater tots, savory ground Italian sausage, tangy pizza sauce, and a melty blend of mozzarella and cheddar cheeses. Layered with classic pizza toppings like pepperoni, olives, bell peppers, and mushrooms, this casserole offers all the flavors of your favorite pizza in a hearty, family-friendly format perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots
- 1 lb ground Italian sausage (or ground beef)
Aromatics & Sauce
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup pizza sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Cheeses
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Toppings
- 1/2 cup mini pepperoni slices
- 1/4 cup black olives, sliced (optional)
- 1/4 cup green bell pepper, diced (optional)
- 1/4 cup mushrooms, sliced (optional)
Garnish
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare it for baking the casserole.
- Cook sausage: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground Italian sausage until fully browned and cooked through, then drain off any excess grease to avoid a greasy casserole.
- Sauté aromatics: Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet with the sausage. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the onion softens and the mixture becomes fragrant.
- Prepare sauce: Stir in the pizza sauce, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes if using, allowing the mixture to simmer for 2-3 minutes to blend the flavors well.
- Layer first tots: Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish lightly. Spread half of the tater tots in an even layer on the bottom of the dish.
- Add meat and cheese: Pour the sausage and sauce mixture evenly over the first layer of tots, then sprinkle with 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Layer remaining tots and cheese: Add the remaining tater tots in a layer on top, followed by sprinkling the shredded cheddar cheese and the remaining mozzarella cheese over that layer.
- Add toppings: Scatter the mini pepperoni slices, black olives, green bell peppers, and mushrooms evenly over the casserole’s top layer.
- Bake: Place the casserole uncovered in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and the tater tots have become golden and crispy.
- Garnish and serve: Let the casserole cool for a few minutes once out of the oven, then garnish with fresh basil or parsley before serving hot.
Notes
- You can substitute ground beef for the Italian sausage if preferred.
- Red pepper flakes are optional and can be adjusted depending on your spice preference.
- Feel free to customize toppings based on your favorite pizza ingredients.
- Make sure to drain excess grease from sausage to keep the casserole from becoming too oily.
- Letting the casserole cool slightly before serving helps it set and makes it easier to cut into portions.
