Cheesy Pizza Tot Casserole (Printable)

A comforting dish combining crispy tater tots with pizza flavors, topped with cheese and classic pizza ingredients.

# What You'll 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 Make It:

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, basil, and garlic powder.
04 - Top with half of the shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese. Arrange pepperoni, black olives, bell pepper, and red onion evenly over the cheese. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan cheese on top.
05 - Return casserole to oven and bake for an additional 20 minutes, or until cheese is fully melted, bubbly, and golden brown on top.
06 - Let casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow layers to set and make serving easier.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It transforms humble freezer staples into something that feels like a special treat
  • The crispy tot bottom holds up beautifully under all that cheesy sauce
  • Kids and adults both get excited about the pizza flavors they love
02 -
  • Do not skip the initial bake of the tots or they will turn soggy under all that sauce
  • Room temperature toppings prevent the casserole from cooling down too much while baking
  • A glass baking dish lets you see exactly when the bottom layer is getting crispy
03 -
  • Spraying the baking dish with cooking spray makes cleanup so much easier
  • Use pre-shredded cheese from a bag for the best melt, freshly grated cheese can sometimes turn grainy

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