This delicious, cheesy Pizza Tater Tot Casserole recipe is so simple to make and is loaded with zesty pepperoni, shredded mozzarella cheese, pizza sauce and crispy tater tots! It's a casserole that's a no-brainer hit with the kids and kids at heart. A tater tot pizza casserole is a great alternative on pizza night or a dish for parties and sleepovers.
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This is an easy Tater Tot Pizza Casserole Recipe made with simple ingredients. It's loaded with zesty pepperoni, pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese and tater tots, all baked to crispy perfection! This is a fun twist on traditional casserole dinners. While we love our pizza casserole stuffed with pepperoni and cheese, you can include your favorite pizza toppings to make it your own. It's one of our favorite pizza recipes along with tortilla pizzas and pepperoni pizza poppers.
One of the best parts of our recipe is that you don't have to precook any ingredients. There is virtually no preparation other than opening a few bags of ingredients and adding them to your casserole dish. No preparation and no clean up! What more could ask for from a dinner when you've got hungry kids waiting to eat? But it's not just for kids- the adults love it too!
We also love making our pizza tater tot casserole for birthday parties, sleepovers and potluck dinners with a lot of family and friends. It's also a fun dinner on New Year's Eve or while watching the Super Bowl. In fact, we love tater tots when entertaining, and think you should try these tater tot bacon cups next!
Ingredients
- Tater tots: we use a bag of frozen tater tots.
- Pepperoni: we love regular pepperoni, but turkey pepperoni is good too.
- Pizza sauce: again, your favorite jar of pizza sauce makes it simple. Or make your own by combining tomato sauce and Italian seasoning.
- Mozzarella cheese: make it real simple and use a bag of shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Parmesan cheese: a sprinkle of grated parmesan cheese is added to the top of the casserole for a little added flavor, texture and browning.
How To Make It
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce on the bottom of the dish.
Step 2: On top of the sauce, layer with â…“ of the pepperoni slices, followed by half the bag of frozen tater tots, one cup of pizza sauce, then one cup of mozzarella cheese. Repeat with another layer of pepperoni slices, the remaining half bag of tater tots, remaining cup of pizza sauce and remaining cup of mozzarella cheese.
Step 3: Add one more layer of pepperoni slices and sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese.
Step 4: Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove aluminum foil and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, until top is golden brown.
Step 5: Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes prior to serving.
How To Store
Cover your casserole with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. It can be frozen for up to 3 months.
What To Serve With Pizza Tater Tot Casserole
While we think this casserole recipe makes a delicious full meal on its own, it pairs well with these easy homemade garlic knots, garlic bread, Italian bread or a simple side salad.
Variations
This easy casserole recipe also tastes great stuffed with your favorite toppings for pizza. Here are some great ways to customize it:
- Add other meats: make it a meat lovers pizza tater tot casserole by adding different types of meats along with the pepperoni. Ground beef, chicken, Italian sausage, meatballs, bacon bits, Canadian bacon, prosciutto and ground sausage are great additions.
- Add vegetables: add a layer of diced veggies, like green bell pepper, chopped spinach, diced tomatoes or mushrooms.
- Make it spicy: add red pepper flakes or spicy Italian sausage.
- BBQ chicken casserole: replace the pepperoni with shredded barbecue chicken and the pizza sauce with extra barbecue sauce and lots of mozzarella or pepper jack cheese.
- Bacon and cheddar casserole: replace the mozzarella cheese with cheddar cheese and the pepperoni with crispy cooked bacon.
Recipe FAQs
This recipe does not use a can of condensed soup. You can certainly add one if you'd like, like cream of mushroom soup or cream of chicken soup, but the casserole and crispy tater tots will be very soft and more stew like than casserole-ish.
Yes, this recipe can be frozen in freezer safe and airtight containers for up to 3 months for optimal quality. Defrost in the fridge overnight before reheating or do a quick thaw in the microwave.
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Recipe
Pizza Tater Tot Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 32 oz frozen tater tots
- 3 oz pepperoni slices, or ½ bag
- 2 cups pizza sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce on the bottom of the dish.
- On top of the sauce, layer with â…“ of the pepperoni slices, followed by half the bag of frozen tater tots, one cup of pizza sauce, then one cup of mozzarella cheese. Repeat with another layer of pepperoni slices, the remaining half bag of tater tots, remaining cup of pizza sauce and remaining cup of mozzarella cheese.
- Add one more layer of pepperoni slices and sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove aluminum foil and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, until top is golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes prior to serving.
Gwynn Galvin
My grandkids absolutely loved this recipe and have already requested that I make it again for them! It's a winner for sure!
Maddy
I am glad they liked it!
Eileen
The family was so happy with this tater tot pizza casserole. It was easy and the results were fabulous. Quick and easy to assemble. The family wants me to make this tater tot casserole often and I will.
Maddy
I am glad you all enjoyed it!
Lisa
My son is home from college so I made it for him and his friends. It disappeared in 10 minutes. Next time I will make a double batch!
Kristin
Love this recipe to change things up on our Friday pizza nights. The kids love it and ask for it all the time. And it's more affordable than pizzeria pizza too. Great recipe!
Shelby
Loved that this recipe took two of my family favorites (tater tots and pizza) and made this yummy dish! Super easy too!
Amy Liu Dong
The tater crust must be heavy on the stomach but it pays off well by how it is more flavorful with a normal dough of a pizza!
Savita
This Pizza Tater Tot Casserole is a total crowd-pleaser! It's the perfect mash-up of two beloved comfort foods - pizza and tater tots. The cheesy goodness combined with savory toppings creates a dish that's as delicious as it is easy to make.
Amy Liu Dong
I would rather have this instead of the regular pizza because taters are the best and can absorb a great amount of flavors!