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Cheesy pizza tater tot casserole topped with crispy golden tater tots, melted mozzarella, mini pepperoni slices, and fresh herbs, baked to bubbly perfection in a white casserole dish.

Pizza Tater Tot Casserole

Crispy, cheesy pizza tater tot casserole combines all your favorite pizza flavors with golden tots for the ultimate family comfort food.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Rest Time 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Comfort Food, Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian-Inspired
Calories: 470
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1.5 lbs Ground beef Can substitute with turkey or sausage
  • 1 small Onion Diced
  • 3 cloves Garlic Minced
  • 1 can (15 oz) Pizza sauce Any preferred brand
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning For flavor
  • 0.5 teaspoon Dried oregano Optional extra herb flavor
  • 0.5 teaspoon Salt Adjust to taste
  • 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper Freshly ground preferred
  • 1 bag (32 oz) Frozen tater tots Unthawed
  • 2 cups Shredded mozzarella cheese Divided
  • 1 cup Shredded cheddar cheese Divided
  • 1 package (6 oz) Pepperoni slices For topping
  • 0.25 cup Grated Parmesan cheese Adds salty flavor
  • 2 tablespoon Fresh parsley Chopped, for garnish
  • Red pepper flakes Optional, for heat
  • Ranch or marinara For dipping

Equipment

  • 1 Large skillet For browning ground beef
  • 1 9x13-inch baking dish For layering casserole
  • 1 Wooden spoon For stirring meat mixture
  • 1 Cheese Grater For shredding cheese
  • 1 Aluminum foil Optional for covering while baking

Method
 

  1. Brown beef with onion in skillet.
  2. Stir in garlic, cook until fragrant.
  3. Add pizza sauce and seasonings, simmer 5 minutes.
  4. Preheat oven to 400°F, grease 9x13 pan.
  5. Spread meat mixture evenly in dish.
  6. Sprinkle half mozzarella and cheddar.
  7. Place tater tots tightly in single layer.
  8. Bake 25 minutes until golden.
  9. Sprinkle remaining cheese, pepperoni, and Parmesan.
  10. Return to oven 10–15 minutes until bubbly.
  11. Rest 5 minutes, top with parsley, and serve warm.

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.