Description
This heartwarming Pizza Tater Tot Casserole is the ultimate crowd-pleasing comfort food, blending the nostalgic joy of crispy tater tots with the bold, savory flavors of a classic pizza. Featuring a base of seasoned ground beef, zesty bell peppers, fresh mushrooms, and bubbly mozzarella, this layered bake is a cozy meal that is easy to prepare and perfect for busy weeknights or movie nights with the family.
Ingredients
1.5 pounds lean ground beef
1 medium green pepper, finely chopped
1 medium onion, diced
0.5 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
15 ounces pizza sauce
1 teaspoon dried basil
3 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
32 ounces frozen Tater Tots
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef with the diced onions, green peppers, and sliced mushrooms until the beef is fully cooked and vegetables are softened.
Drain excess fat from the skillet if necessary.
Stir in the pizza sauce and dried basil, simmering for a few minutes until well combined.
Transfer the meat and vegetable mixture into a 9×13 inch baking dish and spread to an even layer.
Sprinkle the 3 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the meat base.
Arrange the frozen Tater Tots in a single layer on top of the cheese.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the tots are nicely golden and crispy.
Remove from the oven, sprinkle with the cheddar cheese, and place back in the oven for 2-3 minutes until the cheese is bubbly.
Notes
You can easily customize this casserole by adding extra vegetables like spinach or zucchini. For a cleaner finish, ensure you drain the ground beef well before adding the sauce. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 85mg