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Home » Recipes » Casserole Recipes

Meat Lover's Tater Tot Pizza Casserole

Published: Mar 21, 2023 Last Updated: May 23, 2023 by Marye 1715 words. | About 9 minutes to read this article.

Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
1 hour hr
Build your favorite pizza on a base of Tater Tots for the easiest casserole ever. Your favorite pizza sauce, lots of gooey cheese, and all the meats make this Tater Tot pizza casserole the best!
Pizza Tater Tot Casserole with text overlay for Pinterest.

Change up your regular Friday night pizza night with this fun casserole recipe!

Don't want to scroll through the page to get to the recipe? Use the table of contents to click on the section you want to go to.

A serving of pizza tater tot casserole being removed from the dish.
Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why you'll love it
  • 🧾 Ingredients
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • 🥫 Storage
  • 📖 Variations
  • 💭 Things to know
  • 👩‍🍳 FAQs
  • 📚 Related recipes
  • 🍽️ Serve with...
  • 🥄 Restless Chipotle recommends
  • 📞 The last word
  • Meatlover's Tater Tot Pizza Casserole
  • 💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love it

  • Quick to prep—we're talking a matter of minutes
  • A fun twist and much cheaper alternative to your typical pizza night
  • Enough delicious meats (3 kinds!) to satisfy the whole family

Meat lover's tater tot pizza casserole is as great on game day as it is for a quick weeknight dinner. Though made with simple ingredients, this easy casserole recipe delivers flavor and satisfaction—no delivery required!

🧾 Ingredients

This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.

Labeled ingredients for this recipe.

🔪 Instructions

This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.

Step by step images of how to make the casserole.
  1. In a large skillet, cook ground beef, bacon, green pepper, onion, and garlic until browned and tender.
  2. Stir in pizza sauce, then spoon beef mixture into a casserole dish.
  3. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and top with tater tots. Bake.
  4. Add pepperoni and remaining cheese. Bake for five minutes more.

🥫 Storage

This tater tot pizza casserole recipe holds up great if you happen to have some leftovers. However, if you've got a hungry family, I wouldn't count on having one morsel of delicious comfort food left in the dish!

First, let the food cool down. Then, carefully spoon the leftovers into an airtight container. I prefer to use storage dishes rather than bags to preserve the layers of flavors.

Refrigerate pizza casserole for three or four days at the most. Heat it up again in the microwave until it's hot. I recommend covering it loosely with a paper towel to prevent pizza sauce splatter!

You can also freeze this. Just cover tightly with plastic wrap then aluminum foil and freeze for up to 3 months. Be aware that the Tater Tots may get a slightly weird texture.

Side view of the casserole with a serving removed showing the inside texture.

📖 Variations

  • Switch up the meat. Feel free to swap ground turkey for beef if you prefer. You can also substitute or add ground Italian sausage. Use hot, mild, or sweet depending on what you like! Another option: swap the pepperoni or bacon for ham if you have some to use up.
  • Say "cheese!" If you don't have mozzarella, provolone works great! Sometimes we'll add a little parmesan on top, too, for extra flavor.
  • Get creative with your favorite pizza toppings! Stir in olives or mushrooms if you like them. Green bell pepper can be swapped with diced yellow or red pepper, or use banana peppers for more spice.
  • Swap the seasoning. If you have fresh herbs (like basil and parsley) use 'em for garnish instead of Italian seasoning. Occasionally, we'll add red pepper flakes or a drizzle of hot honey, too!

💭 Things to know

Expert Tip: Don't let your frozen tater tots thaw. For best results, throw them on top of the casserole straight out of the freezer.

  • Don't have a cast iron skillet? Use the pan you prefer to brown ground beef in. Just make sure it's big enough to hold the yummy ingredients.
  • I prefer lean ground beef (90/10). Otherwise, the tater tot pizza casserole can taste a bit oily. If you use fattier meat, try to drain some of the grease off before mixing in the pizza sauce.
  • Placing the tater tots in a single layer helps them cook evenly, so try to avoid overlapping. It also ensures each tot turns a crisp golden brown.
  • If your casserole dish is really full, place it on a baking sheet before cooking. This will help catch any oily drips that may try to escape!
  • Sometimes it's cheaper to buy sandwich-sized pepperoni from the deli rather than the prepackaged, pizza kind. Compare at your store to find the best option. (You can slice the large pepperoni into quarters so that they're easier to eat with a fork.)

👩‍🍳 FAQs

Can you freeze leftover tater tot pizza casserole?

I don't recommend freezing leftovers because the tater tots were already frozen from the bag. They won't thaw as well a second time.

How do I prep this ahead of time?

Good question, it's easy! Simply brown the meat and veggies and stir in the sauce. Cool and refrigerate this meat mixture in a storage container or casserole dish until you're ready to cook—up to two days!

While preheating your oven, finish assembly by adding the frozen tater tots, then bake as directed. However, don't put a freezing-cold glass baking dish straight into a hot oven or it can shatter!

Is tater tot pizza casserole a good freezer meal?

It can be—just freeze the meat/sauce mixture separately from the tater tots (see the "prep ahead of time" question above.) When it comes time to bake, pour the saucy beef into a dish, top it off with the frozen tots, and cook!

Can I use tomato sauce instead of pizza sauce?

Pizza sauce is a little thicker than tomato sauce (so it doesn't make a regular pizza crust soggy.) However, since meat lover's tater tot pizza casserole is already a fork-based dinner, you can get away with using a thinner tomato sauce if you need to.

Is this recipe missing the pizza dough?!

Nope! This is a pizza-inspired tater tot casserole, so we omit the pizza dough. Instead, we top the saucy, pizza-flavored deliciousness with a tater tot "crust." Don't try to use your hands to eat this one, though—it'll be quite the mess!

Pizza tater tot casserole on a plate.

📚 Related recipes

  • Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole has all the tangy flavor of your favorite sandwich but in easy casserole form—don't forget the cheddar cheese!
  • If you love Mexican recipes, Cowboy Casserole is a must-try! Creamy beef and peppers are layered with tater tots in a delish Tex-Mex dish.
  • Hamburger Potato Casserole is so simple, yet incredibly creamy and flavorful. The secret? Cream of mushroom soup and lots of cheese!
  • Cheesy, creamy, easy, and the perfect side to any main dish, Hashbrown Casserole is a Southern pot-luck and holiday classic for a reason!
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🍽️ Serve with...

  • If your family loves pizza and wings (who doesn't?!) try these Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Wings for an easier-than-takeout alternative!
  • Looking for a lighter side dish? Italian Green Bean Salad is zingy and fresh, offering the perfect, easy complement to pizza casserole!
  • Nothing's more satisfying than a slice of pizza with a crisp, caramelly soda. So, serve Double Chocolate Fudge Coca Cola cake as a fun twist on the classic pairing!

🥄 Restless Chipotle recommends

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You'll need the following items to make this recipe successfully.

  • casserole dish
  • iron skillet

📞 The last word

There's nothing I like better than an easy meal that everyone will eat. This pizza Tater Tot casserole fits in to my busy weeknights perfectly!

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Overhead view of the casserole with pepperoni on top/
5 from 3 votes

Meatlover's Tater Tot Pizza Casserole

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Build your favorite pizza on a base of Tater Tots for the easiest casserole ever. Your favorite pizza sauce, lots of gooey cheese, and all the meats make this Tater Tot pizza casserole the best!
Course Casserole
Cuisine American
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes minutes
Total Time: 1 hour hour
Servings:8
Calories:629
Author:Marye Audet-White
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Equipment Needed

  • Casserole Dish

Ingredients

  • 1 pound lean ground beef, 90/10 or 97/3
  • ½ pound bacon
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 bell pepper, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 16 ounces pizza sauce
  • 2 pounds frozen Tater Tots
  • 3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded from a block, divided use
  • 4 ounces pepperoni
  • ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning

I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400F.
  • Spray a 9x13 casserole dish with cooking spray.
  • Heat a large heavy skillet over medium high heat.
  • Add ground beef, bacon, onion, green pepper, and garlic.
  • Cook about 10 minutes, or until meat is no longer pink and vegetables are tender.
  • Stir in pizza sauce.
  • Spread pizza mixture evenly on the bottom.
  • Sprinkle with half the Mozzarella.
  • Cover completely with Tater Tots.
  • Bake for 40 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese and pepperoni.
  • Return to oven and bake an additional 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
  • Remove from oven and top with Italian seasoning.
  • Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Storage:
First, let the food cool down. Then, carefully spoon the leftovers into an airtight container. I prefer to use storage dishes rather than bags to preserve the layers of flavors.
Refrigerate pizza casserole for three or four days at the most. Heat it up again in the microwave until it's hot. I recommend covering it loosely with a paper towel to prevent pizza sauce splatter!
You can also freeze this. Just cover tightly with plastic wrap then aluminum foil and freeze for up to 3 months. Be aware that the Tater Tots may get a slightly weird texture.
Tips:
  • Don't let your frozen tater tots thaw. For best results, throw them on top of the casserole straight out of the freezer.
  • Don't have a cast iron skillet? Use the pan you prefer to brown ground beef in. Just make sure it's big enough to hold the yummy ingredients.
  • I prefer lean ground beef (90/10). Otherwise, the tater tot pizza casserole can taste a bit oily. If you use fattier meat, try to drain some of the grease off before mixing in the pizza sauce.
  • Placing the tater tots in a single layer helps them cook evenly, so try to avoid overlapping. It also ensures each tot turns a crisp golden brown.
  • If your casserole dish is really full, place it on a baking sheet before cooking. This will help catch any oily drips that may try to escape!
  • Sometimes it's cheaper to buy sandwich-sized pepperoni from the deli rather than the prepackaged, pizza kind. Compare at your store to find the best option. (You can slice the large pepperoni into quarters so that they're easier to eat with a fork.)

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 629kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 41g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 101mg | Sodium: 1494mg | Potassium: 836mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 601IU | Vitamin C: 25mg | Calcium: 252mg | Iron: 3mg

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    About Marye

    With a 40 year focus on the importance of family and a passion for southern comfort food, Marye Audet-White is an expert in melding the two together effortlessly. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

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    Comments

    1. Bill

      March 31, 2023 at 7:27 pm

      5 stars
      What a good combination of flavors. I used all Italian sausage in my 1/2 size recipe. I especially liked the crust that formed along the edges. Just like pizza! Definitely a 5 star rating.

      Reply

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