Cheesy Pizza Tot Casserole (Printable)
Crispy tots layered with rich sauce, melted cheeses, and traditional pizza toppings for a flavorful meal.
# 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 (optional)
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, even layer across the bottom of the prepared dish. Drizzle olive oil evenly over the tops. Bake for 20 minutes until tater tots begin to turn golden and develop a crisp exterior.
03 - Remove the dish from the oven. Spread pizza sauce evenly over the partially cooked tater tots using the back of a spoon. Sprinkle dried oregano, basil, and garlic powder over the sauce layer.
04 - Sprinkle half of the mozzarella and cheddar cheese over the sauce. Arrange pepperoni, black olives, bell pepper, and red onion across the cheese. Top with remaining mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan cheese.
05 - Return the casserole to the oven and bake for an additional 20 minutes until the cheese is fully melted, bubbly, and beginning to brown on edges.
06 - Allow the casserole to rest for 5 minutes before serving. This helps the cheese set slightly for cleaner portions.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Takes the best parts of pizza and loaded nachitos and mashes them into one irresistible casserole
- Feeds a hungry crowd with minimal effort and maximum cheesy satisfaction
02 -
- Do not skip the first bake for the tots or you will end up with a soggy mess instead of the crispy base you want
- Letting it rest for those five minutes seems pointless but makes the difference between neat servings and a sloppy slide
03 -
- Spend an extra minute arranging the tots in straight lines before the first bake for a prettier presentation
- Let the casserole rest on the counter for 10 minutes before serving so the cheese firms up enough to cut clean squares