Cheesy Pizza Tot Casserole (Printer-Friendly)
A comforting dish layering crispy tots, savory sauce, cheese, and classic pizza toppings for a crowd-pleaser.
# 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 across the prepared baking dish. Drizzle evenly with olive oil.
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 partially cooked tots. Sprinkle with dried oregano, basil, and garlic powder.
05 - Sprinkle half of mozzarella and cheddar cheese over sauce. Distribute pepperoni, olives, bell pepper, and red onion evenly. Top with remaining cheeses and Parmesan.
06 - Return to oven and bake for 20 minutes until cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden brown.
07 - Let casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow cheese to set.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It transforms frozen tater tots into something that tastes like it came from a pizza joint
- The crispy cheese edges alone are worth the oven time
- You can customize it with whatever toppings are hiding in your fridge
02 -
- Don't skip pre-baking the tater tots or they'll turn mushy under all that sauce
- Letting it cool for those five minutes prevents the cheese from sliding off when you serve it
03 -
- Use freshly shredded cheese instead of pre-shredded bags for better melting
- Line your baking dish with foil for cleanup that takes literally seconds