Cheesy meatball tater tot casserole

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef or turkey
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 jar (about 24 oz) marinara sauce
• 3 cups frozen tater tots
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Optional: Italian seasoning or fresh herbs for garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Make Meatballs: In a large bowl, combine ground meat, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined. Form into small meatballs, about 1 inch in diameter.
3. Cook Meatballs: In a skillet over medium heat, brown the meatballs for about 5-7 minutes. They don’t need to be fully cooked, as they’ll finish baking in the oven.
4. Assemble Casserole: In a greased 9×13 inch baking dish, spread half of the marinara sauce. Layer the browned meatballs over the sauce. Pour the remaining marinara on top.
5. Add Tater Tots: Evenly distribute the frozen tater tots over the meatballs and sauce.
6. Cheese Layer: Sprinkle the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses over the tater tots.
7. Bake: Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the tater tots are crispy and the cheese is bubbly.
8. Serve: Let cool for a few minutes, then garnish with Italian seasoning or fresh herbs if desired. Serve warm.