Pizza Tot Casserole (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Base Layer
01 -
1 small onion, finely chopped
02 -
A pinch or two of salt and pepper, whatever tastes right to you
03 -
2 cups of your go-to pizza or marinara sauce
04 -
1 teaspoon of your favorite Italian herb mix
05 -
1 pound of ground beef (or amp up the flavor with spicy Italian sausage)
→ Topping Layer
06 -
One 32-ounce bag of frozen tots, ready to top it off
07 -
2 cups of shredded mozzarella (add cheddar for a fun mix)
→ Optional Pizza Toppings
08 -
1/2 cup of black olives, sliced up
09 -
1/4 cup of freshly sliced mushrooms
10 -
1/4 cup of green onions, sliced thin for garnish
11 -
1/2 cup of mini pepperoni for a meaty kick
12 -
1/2 bell pepper, chopped into tiny cubes
# Instructions:
01 -
Crank your oven to 400°F. Grab a 9×13-inch dish and lightly grease it to make sure nothing gets stuck.
02 -
Heat your skillet on medium, toss in the onion and ground beef, and cook till the beef is all browned and the onion has softened (takes about 5-7 minutes). Drain the grease from the pan before moving on.
03 -
Mix in your marinara sauce and sprinkle the seasoning mix, plus a dash of salt and pepper. Let it simmer for a few minutes to really lock in those flavors.
04 -
Spread the meat sauce evenly across your baking dish, then top that off with half of your shredded cheese.
05 -
Line those frozen tots neatly on top of the dish as a single layer, and then cover them with the rest of that shredded cheese.
06 -
Stick the dish in the oven for 25-30 minutes. Once the tots are crisp and golden, and that cheesy goodness is bubbling, you’re set!
07 -
If you're including any extras, scatter them on top and pop the dish back in the oven for another 5 minutes to warm everything through.
# Notes:
01 -
Awesome way to use up extra marinara or leftover pizza toppings
02 -
Make it ahead of time and bake when you're ready to dig in
03 -
Feeds a bunch of people with ease