Cheesy Pizza Tot Casserole: A Family Favorite Dinner (Print Version)
Cheesy Pizza Tot Casserole is a comforting weeknight winner! Layers of crispy tots, savory pizza sauce, and gooey cheese make dinner easy and fun.
# Recipe Info:
Prep Time: 15 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 30 Minutes minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings
Difficulty: Beginner
Cuisine: American
Dietary: Gluten-Free
# Ingredients:
→ Main Ingredients
01 -
1 lb lean ground beef
02 -
1 (14.5 oz) bag frozen tater tots
03 -
1 (15 oz) can pizza sauce (or your favorite jarred marinara)
04 -
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (freshly shredded is best!)
→ Flavor Boosters
05 -
1/2 yellow onion, finely diced
06 -
2 cloves garlic, minced
07 -
1 tsp Italian seasoning
08 -
1/2 tsp salt
09 -
1/4 tsp black pepper
→ Finishing Touches
10 -
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (for topping)
11 -
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
# Instructions:
01 -
Alright, first things first! Grab a big skillet and get it heating over medium-high. Crumble in your ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon. You want it nice and browned, no pink bits left. Drain off any excess grease – honestly, I always forget this and end up with a slightly greasy casserole, so learn from my mistakes! Then, toss in the diced onion and minced garlic. Sauté them until they're soft and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Oh, that smell! It always makes my kitchen feel warm and inviting.
02 -
Once the beef is browned and the veggies are tender, it's time to infuse that pizza flavor. Stir in the Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Give it a good mix, letting those spices really wake up in the heat. This is where you can totally adjust to your family's taste – a little more Italian seasoning for extra oomph, maybe a pinch of red pepper flakes if you like a kick! I once added way too much oregano here, and it was a bit overwhelming, so go easy at first. Taste it! That's the secret to good cooking.
03 -
Now for the fun part! Grab a 9x13 inch baking dish. Spread about half of your pizza sauce evenly across the bottom. Next, spoon the seasoned ground beef mixture over the sauce, making sure it’s in a nice, even layer. This is the foundation of our casserole, so make it count! I usually eyeball it, but if you're a perfectionist, you can totally measure. It's okay if it's not perfectly flat; a little rustic charm is good, right?
04 -
Sprinkle about half of your shredded mozzarella cheese over the beef layer. This creates a gooey, cheesy barrier that keeps everything together and adds so much flavor. I always get a little excited at this step, picturing the melted cheese later. Sometimes I accidentally drop a few shreds on the counter, but hey, that's just part of the kitchen adventure! Don't be shy with the cheese; it's a cheesy casserole after all.
05 -
Carefully arrange a single layer of frozen tater tots over the cheese. Try to get them in a somewhat even pattern for maximum crispiness. Then, dollop the remaining pizza sauce over the tots. You don't need to spread it perfectly; it will melt and mingle as it bakes. I've definitely had moments where my tots weren't quite frozen enough, and they clumped, but it still tastes delicious, so don't stress too much!
06 -
Finally, sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese over the top of the tots and sauce. Pop that dish into a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) and bake for about 25-30 minutes, or until the tots are golden brown and crispy, and the cheese is bubbly and melted. You want to see those little browned edges on the cheese – that's when you know it's ready! The whole kitchen will smell incredible. Let it rest for a few minutes before serving, if you can resist!
# Notes:
01 -
Always preheat your oven properly; it makes a huge difference for crispy tots.
02 -
Don't overcrowd the tots, or they'll steam instead of getting crispy—a mistake I've made too often.
03 -
Let the casserole rest for a few minutes after baking to help it set, preventing a runny mess.
04 -
For a bolder flavor, try adding a pinch of red pepper flakes to the ground beef mixture.
# Tools You'll Need:
01 -
9x13 inch baking dish
02 -
large skillet
# Nutrition Facts (Per Serving):
Calories: 480 kcal
Total Fat: 28 g
Total Carbohydrate: 38 g
Protein: 29 g