Description
A hearty pizza-inspired tater tot casserole made with seasoned beef, Italian sausage, pizza sauce, melted cheese, crispy tater tots, pepperoni, olives, and bell pepper.
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 2 mild Italian sausage links, casings removed
- 1 medium sweet onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 jar (14 oz) pizza sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 package (32 oz) frozen tater tots
- 1/2 cup sliced turkey pepperoni
- 1/4 cup sliced black olives
- 1/4 cup diced green bell pepper
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and Italian sausage until fully browned, breaking the meat apart as it cooks. Drain excess grease.
- Add the chopped onion and cook for about 4 minutes, until softened.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- Add the pizza sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Stir well and simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Spread the meat mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle 1 cup mozzarella cheese and the cheddar cheese over the meat mixture.
- Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer over the cheese.
- Bake uncovered for 30 minutes, until the tater tots begin to turn golden and crispy.
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle the remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese on top.
- Add the turkey pepperoni, black olives, and diced green bell pepper.
- Return to the oven and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.
Notes
- Add mushrooms, diced tomatoes, jalapeños, spinach, or zucchini for extra vegetables.
- Use hot Italian sausage or crushed red pepper flakes for a spicy version.
- For a lighter casserole, use ground turkey and reduced-fat cheese.
- Do not thaw the tater tots before baking.
- For extra crispy tater tots, bake them separately for a few minutes before adding them to the casserole.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freeze leftovers for up to 2 months and thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 640
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 1420mg
- Fat: 39g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 21g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 31g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
