Description

Pizza Tot Casserole combines America’s favorite comfort foods—pizza and crispy tater tots—into a kid-friendly, texture-engineered dinner that’s quick to prepare and customizable. Featuring a savory Italian sausage and marinara base, gooey mozzarella cheese layers, and a golden, crispy tot crust, this casserole satisfies picky eaters and busy families alike with a fulfilling, homemade meal.

Ingredients

Scale

The Pizza Base

1 lb Italian sausage (sweet or mild, casings removed)
1 jar (14-16 oz) thick pizza/marinara sauce
1 large bell pepper, diced (green for classic supreme look, red for sweetness)
1 small onion, diced (yellow or white)
3–4 oz pepperoni slices, divided (half chopped, half whole)

The Cheesy Core & Crust

32 oz frozen tater tots
2 cups shredded low-moisture, part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp Italian seasoning (dried basil and oregano blend)

Instructions

Preheat and Brown: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the Italian sausage, diced onion, and bell pepper, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon. Cook for 6-8 minutes until sausage is browned and vegetables softened. Drain excess grease thoroughly to prevent an oily casserole.
Add Sauce and Seasoning: Stir in the pizza sauce, chopped half of the pepperoni slices, and Italian seasoning. Let it bubble for about 1 minute, then remove from heat.
Assemble Base Layer: Pour the meat and sauce mixture into a lightly greased 9×13 inch baking dish; spread evenly. Sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella cheese over the hot meat sauce to create a gooey barrier that helps keep tater tots crisp.
Arrange Tater Tots: Arrange frozen tater tots in a single layer over the cheese. Position them neatly in rows to maximize air circulation for crispiness.
Bake the Casserole: Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes until tots are deep golden brown and crispy.
Add Final Toppings and Melt: Remove casserole from oven. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup mozzarella and leftover pepperoni slices on top. Return to the oven for an additional 5 minutes to melt cheese and crisp pepperoni edges. Finish by sprinkling Parmesan cheese and serve hot.

Notes

Bake at 400°F to ensure tots crisp properly; lower temperatures cause sogginess.
Drain grease from sausage mixture well to avoid a greasy casserole.
Add top layer cheese after tots bake to prevent burning and sogginess.
Use thick pizza sauce to avoid watery casserole; simmer thin sauces to thicken.
Reheat leftovers best in an air fryer at 350°F for 5 minutes to revive crispness.
Store leftovers in airtight container refrigerated for up to 3-4 days or freeze baked casserole.
For healthier versions, swap sausage for turkey or chicken sausage, add extra veggies, or use cauliflower/broccoli tots for low-carb.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
Category: Casserole
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: pizza casserole, tater tot casserole, kid-friendly dinner, Italian sausage recipe, easy weeknight meal, comfort food casserole, pizza tot bake