Cheesy Pizza Tot Casserole (Printable)
Crispy tater tots topped with pizza sauce, cheese, and classic toppings create a comforting, crowd-pleasing dish.
# What You 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
# Steps:
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 baking dish. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil and toss gently to coat. Bake for 20 minutes until lightly golden and starting to crisp.
03 - Remove dish from oven. Spread pizza sauce evenly over the partially cooked tater tots. Sprinkle dried oregano, basil, and garlic powder over the sauce.
04 - Sprinkle half of the mozzarella and cheddar cheese over the sauce. Distribute pepperoni, black olives, bell pepper, and red onion evenly across the dish. Top with remaining mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan cheese.
05 - Return casserole to oven and bake for 20 additional minutes, or until cheese is fully melted, bubbly, and lightly golden brown on edges.
06 - Let casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow cheese to set. Cut into squares and serve warm.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It transforms humble ingredients into something that feels like a special occasion without any actual effort
- The crispy bottom layer of tots creates this incredible texture contrast that nobody expects but everyone instantly loves
02 -
- I learned the hard way that overcrowding the tots in the pan means steam builds up and they never get properly crispy
- Adding fresh vegetables like mushrooms releases too much water, so stick with the diced ones listed or cook fresh veggies first
03 -
- Broil the top for just 2 minutes at the very end if you want restaurant style cheese blistering
- Let the tots go a full 20 to 22 minutes in that first bake, undercooked tots are the saddest thing