Pizza Tater Tot Casserole

Whether you call them casseroles, covered dishes or hot dishes, one-dish baked meals are quick, easy and perfect for the whole family. This pizza Tater Tot casserole is a fun twist on pizza for Friday night dinner—no dough required! The recipe combines a saucy meat-and-veggie filling with layers of cheese and frozen Tater Tots for a satisfying comfort meal.

To make it, you’ll brown ground beef on the stovetop with chopped onion, bell pepper and mushrooms. Then, stir in jarred pizza sauce, top the dish with creamy mozzarella and Tater Tots, and bake it until the cheese is melty and the potatoes are crisp and golden. The result is saucy, meaty and cheesy, easy to customize with your favorite pizza toppings and great for feeding a crowd at parties, potlucks and game day celebrations.

Ingredients for Tater Tot Pizza Casserole

• Ground beef: You’ll need 1-1/2 pounds of ground beef. If you only have a 1-pound package of meat, you can bulk up the filling with extra veggies.
• Vegetables: Chopped green bell pepper, onion and mushrooms help thicken the meat mixture and give the casserole the same flavor as a veggie-topped pizza.
• Pizza sauce: You can use either store-bought jarred pizza sauce or homemade pizza sauce to coat the beef and veggie mixture. Jarred spaghetti sauce will work in a pinch, but the casserole will be saucier since it’s thinner than pizza sauce.
• Basil: Dried basil makes this dish taste even more like pizza. According to our fresh to dried herb conversion, you can swap in 3 teaspoons of fresh basil to match the flavor of 1 teaspoon dried basil. If you don’t have either, substitute Italian seasoning for basil.
• Cheese: What’s a pizza recipe without mozzarella cheese? This recipe calls for shredded part-skim mozzarella, but mozzarella slices will melt just as well. We also top the Tater Tots with shredded cheddar for extra cheesy flavor and a melty finish.
• Tater Tots: Tater Tots are one of our favorite shortcuts for adding rich potato flavor and an irresistible crispy texture to casseroles. This freezer staple serves as the golden brown crust in our pizza-inspired casserole. No need to thaw them first—the potatoes can go on the casserole and into the oven from frozen.

Directions

Step 1: Cook the beef and vegetables

Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef with chopped green pepper, onion and mushrooms over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink, breaking it into crumbles. Drain and discard excess grease and liquid from the vegetables.

Step 2: Assemble the casserole

Stir the pizza sauce and dried basil into the beef mixture. Transfer to a greased 3-quart or 13×9-inch baking dish and spread it into an even layer. Spread the mozzarella cheese, then arrange the Tater Tots on top.

Editor’s Tip: Cut down on dishes by cooking the beef and veggies in an oven-safe skillet, then layering and baking the casserole in the same pan.

Step 3: Bake the casserole

Bake the pizza Tater Tot casserole, uncovered, until the potatoes are lightly browned, 30 to 35 minutes. Carefully remove the dish from the oven, sprinkle it with cheddar cheese, and bake until the cheese is melted, about five minutes longer.

Pizza Tater Tot Casserole Variations

• Change the cheese: Customize the cheesy flavor by swapping provolone or another good melting cheese for some or all of the mozzarella, or sprinkle Parmesan on top of the potatoes for a salty, nutty flavor.
• Meat lovers: Add chopped pepperoni, diced ham and/or crispy crumbled bacon to make a meat lovers casserole. You could also swap all or half of the ground beef for Italian sausage.
• Get more veggies in: This recipe includes onion, bell pepper and mushrooms, but you can easily add your favorite pizza veggie toppings. Try sliced black olives, small broccoli florets, baby spinach, minced fresh garlic or chopped tomatoes.
• Make it spicy: Add sliced jalapenos or crushed red pepper flakes to the beef filling for a kick of heat. For even more spice, try swapping in pepper jack cheese for the mozzarella, or substituting hot Italian sausage for the ground beef.
• Give it a Hawaiian twist: Satisfy lovers of sweet-and-savory pizza with a Hawaiian pizza casserole. Instead of ground beef and vegetables, combine diced ham and pineapple chunks with pizza sauce.

How to Store Pizza Tot Casserole

Let the pizza Tater Tot casserole cool, then refrigerate leftovers in the baking dish covered with a lid or transfer them to an airtight container. It’ll stay fresh for up to four days.

Can you freeze pizza Tater Tot casserole?

Technically, you can freeze pizza Tater Tot casserole before or after baking, but I recommend freezing the casserole unbaked for the best texture (aka the crispiest tots). After cooking the meat and pizza toppings, let the mixture cool and then assemble the casserole as directed in a freezer-safe dish or disposable pan. Cover the dish tightly with storage wrap and freeze it for up to three months.

Before cooking the casserole, thaw it overnight in the fridge. Bake it as directed in a 350º oven, increasing the cooking time by 10 to 15 minutes if needed.

Can you make pizza Tater Tot casserole ahead of time?

Yes, you can make most of this pizza Tater Tot casserole ahead of time. Cook the ground beef and veggies, add the pizza sauce and spread the mixture in a baking dish. Cover the dish tightly with storage wrap and refrigerate it for up to two days. When you’re ready, let the casserole sit at room temperature while the oven preheats. Add the mozzarella and Tater Tots, then bake as directed.

How do you reheat pizza Tater Tot casserole?

The oven is the way to go if you’re reheating a full or partial casserole. Preheat the oven to 350° and bake the casserole for 20 to 30 minutes or until it’s warmed through. Covering the casserole dish with foil will help it heat faster, but for crispier tots, remove the foil during the last few minutes of baking. You can also warm individual portions in the microwave, but the Tater Tots won’t be as crispy.

Pizza Tater Tot Casserole Tips

Why is my Tater Tot casserole soggy?

A soggy Tater Tot casserole is usually caused by too much liquid or not enough time in the oven. Drain excess grease and moisture from the browned beef and sauteed vegetables, and bake the casserole until the tots turn golden brown. For even cooking, arrange the potatoes in a single layer. Whatever you do, don’t cover the baking dish during cooking—it’ll trap steam inside, making the potatoes soggy.

Can you make pizza Tater Tot casserole in a slow cooker?

You can make pizza Tater Tot casserole in a slow cooker, but the Tater Tots will turn out less crispy than when baked in the oven. Brown the ground beef with your desired pizza toppings on the stovetop, then transfer it to the slow cooker. Stir in the pizza sauce and layer the mozzarella and Tater Tots on top. Slow-cook the casserole on high for two to three hours or on low for four to six hours until everything is hot and the cheese melts.

How do you make a vegetarian pizza Tater Tot casserole?

To make a vegetarian Tater Tot pizza casserole with a meat-like texture, replace the ground beef with plant-based meat crumbles. You could also swap in crumbled tofu, lentils or extra sauteed veggies for the meat.

What do you serve with Tater Tot pizza casserole?

This Tater Tot pizza casserole is a hearty meal in and of itself with plenty of rich flavors, so I recommend pairing it with a light and fresh vegetable, like a side salad or Parmesan roasted broccoli. To replicate the feel of a pizza parlor at home, serve the casserole with a Caesar salad and breadsticks or garlic knots. And if you love to dunk your pizza in a dip, keep some ranch dressing on the table to drizzle over bites of the pizza casserole.