Pepperoni Pizza Tater Tot Casserole
If you're craving a new twist to classic pizza then this Pizza Tater Tot Casserole will become a new dinnertime favorite that the whole family will love. It's got all the best parts of a classic pepperoni pizza - melty mozzarella, zippy marinara sauce, Italian sausage, crispy pepperoni slices - and the pizza crust are crispy tater tots. This casserole delivers big pizza flavor with zero fuss.
Servings 6 (1.25 cups each)
Calories 797kcal
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground mild Italian sausage
- 24 ounces pizza sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots
- 8 ounces whole milk mozzarella cheese (2 cups shredded)
- 1 package (6 oz) sliced pepperoni
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Add the olive oil into a 9x13-inch casserole dish and spread it around so it coats the bottom and sides. Set aside.1 tablespoon olive oil
- In a large skillet, over medium-high heat, cook and crumble the ground Italian sausage until it is no longer pink and fully browned; about 6-8 minutes. Drain or soak up any leftover grease from the skillet.1 pound ground mild Italian sausage
- Add the pizza sauce, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, kosher salt, and black pepper into the skillet. Stir well, and then let the mixture simmer for 8-10 minutes, until everything is blends together and it slightly thickens.24 ounces pizza sauce, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Evenly spread the pizza sauce meat mixture into the prepared casserole dish.
- Arrange the frozen tater tots in an even layer over top, making sure to keep them snug but not stacked.1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots
- Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over top the tater tots.8 ounces whole milk mozzarella cheese
- Lay out as many pepperoni slices as you like across the top of the shredded cheese.1 package (6 oz) sliced pepperoni
- Bake, uncovered, for 35-40 minutes.*When done, the edges should be bubbling, the cheese will be melted and golden brown, and the pepperoni begins to cup and become crisp at the edges. The casserole should also feel firm and set when gently pressed in the center.
- Remove the tater tot casserole from the oven and immediately sprinkle the grated parmesan cheese over top. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving hot. Enjoy!1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
Notes
- Letting the sausage simmer with the dried seasonings and pizza sauce helps marry the flavors and prevents a watery casserole.
- For extra crispy tater tots, bake the casserole for 20 minutes first, and then add the shredded cheese and pepperoni slices on top and return it to the oven for the remaining cook time. I don't do this because my family loves the crispy pepperoni slices on top. If you do bake for 20 minutes before adding the cheese and pepperoni, the pepperoni slices may not be as crisp; but the tater tots will be crispier so it just depends on what your family prefers.
- Swap the mild Italian sausage for hot or spicy Italian sausage for a spicy kick. You could also add some red pepper flakes in with the other seasonings for some more heat in the casserole.
- For a healthier, lower-fat meat use ground turkey Italian sausage or lean ground beef.
- If you love green pepper and onion on pizza then finely chop one green pepper, and one small onion, and add into the skillet along with the ground sausage.
- Marinara sauce or spaghetti sauce can be used instead of pizza sauce if wanted. Pizza sauce usually comes in smaller jars, so you may have to buy 2 to 3 of them to equal the 24 ounces called for in the recipe.
- If you want extra crispy pepperoni try using mini pepperonis on top of the casserole.
Nutrition
Calories: 797kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 56g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 24g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 105mg | Sodium: 2500mg | Potassium: 1008mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 795IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 287mg | Iron: 3mg