Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
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This Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole is loaded with breakfast sausage, eggs, tender potatoes, and plenty of melty cheese. Best of all, you can assemble it the night before and pop it in the oven the next morning.
Cold Sunday mornings call for a breakfast that sticks with you, and this casserole certainly does that. It’s also become a Christmas morning favorite at our house. The kids love it, and I love having breakfast ready without spending the morning in the kitchen.
And while we call it breakfast casserole, we’ve been known to make it for dinner too. The leftovers make a hearty breakfast during the week.
Why You’ll Love This Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
- Make it ahead. Assemble the casserole the night before and refrigerate it until you’re ready to bake.
- No need to thaw the tots. They go straight from the freezer into the baking dish.
- Hearty comfort food. Eggs, sausage, potatoes, and cheese bake together under a golden cheesy crust.
- Easy to change up. Use your favorite breakfast sausage or another soft cheese that melts well.
- Feeds a crowd. One 9×13-inch casserole serves 8.
- Breakfast isn’t required. We enjoy this easy casserole for dinner too.
Ingredients
You don’t need anything fancy for this easy breakfast casserole.
Frozen tater tots. You’ll need one 32-ounce bag. Don’t thaw them. They go into the casserole frozen.
Breakfast sausage. We use one pound of breakfast sausage because it’s already seasoned with the flavors we want in the casserole. You can use pork, chicken, or turkey breakfast sausage.
I don’t recommend substituting plain ground meat. It doesn’t have the seasonings that breakfast sausage does and can leave the casserole tasting bland.
Cheddar and mozzarella cheese. We love this combination, but you can use another soft cheese or combination of cheeses that melts well. Harder cheeses aren’t recommended.
Eggs. Eight large eggs hold all that sausage, cheese, and potato goodness together.
Milk. Whole milk is my favorite because it adds creamy richness. You can use another variety of milk if that’s what you have on hand.
Seasonings. Salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder add simple flavor without overpowering the breakfast sausage.
How to Make Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
Cook the sausage
Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Cook the breakfast sausage in a large skillet over medium heat until browned and cooked through. Drain the grease.
Add the frozen tater tots
Put the cooked sausage and frozen tater tots into the prepared baking dish and gently mix them together.
There’s no need to thaw the tots or line them up like little potato soldiers. Just toss them in!
Add the cheese
Sprinkle half of the cheddar and mozzarella evenly over the sausage and tater tots.
Make the egg mixture
Whisk the eggs, milk, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder together in a bowl.
Pour the egg mixture evenly over the sausage and tater tots, and sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top.
Bake
Bake uncovered for 45 to 55 minutes or until the eggs are set and the top is golden brown.
Let the casserole rest for about 5 minutes before cutting and serving.
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What Happens to the Tater Tots?
Since the tater tots are mixed into the casserole instead of sitting on top, they aren’t meant to become a layer of crispy potatoes.
Instead, the tots become soft and tender without getting mushy. The sausage, eggs, potatoes, and cheese bake together into one hearty casserole beneath a golden-brown cheesy crust.
It’s pure comfort food on a plate.
Make-Ahead Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
One of my favorite things about this recipe is that you can make it the night before.
Prepare the casserole completely, cover it, and put it in the refrigerator. The next morning, bake it according to the recipe.
Keep in mind that everything is starting cold, so your casserole may need additional baking time. Look at the eggs instead of relying only on the clock. They’re your best clue that breakfast is ready.
This is one reason we love this casserole on Christmas morning. I can do the prep ahead of time and enjoy the morning with my family.
Julie’s Tips for the Best Breakfast Casserole
Keep the tater tots frozen. There’s no need to thaw them before adding them to the casserole.
Drain the sausage well. This keeps extra grease from collecting in the bottom of the dish.
Use breakfast sausage. Pork, chicken, or turkey breakfast sausage works. I don’t recommend plain ground meat because it doesn’t bring the same seasoned flavor.
Choose cheese that melts well. Cheddar and mozzarella are our favorites, but other soft melting cheeses can be used.
Check the eggs. The casserole is ready when the eggs are set. An overnight casserole may need a little longer in the oven because it starts cold.
Let it rest. Give the casserole about 5 minutes before cutting it. It’ll be easier to slice and serve.
What to Serve With Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
We usually serve this casserole with fresh fruit. It’s a light, fresh addition to a breakfast that’s already packed with eggs, sausage, potatoes, and cheese.
For a bigger breakfast or brunch, add something from the bread basket. A batch of Oatmeal Raisin Muffins or Dried Cherry Scones would be delicious alongside the savory casserole.
Storing and Freezing
Store leftover Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
You can also freeze the baked casserole for up to 3 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
More Easy Breakfast Recipes
Skillet Crescent Roll Breakfast Casserole – This hearty casserole is filled with bacon, eggs, vegetables, and cheese over a buttery crescent roll crust.
Baked French Toast Casserole – Assemble this sweet breakfast casserole ahead of time for an easy holiday breakfast or weekend brunch.
Cinnamon Roll Muffins – These soft muffins have all those cozy cinnamon roll flavors in an easy-to-serve muffin.
Did you make this Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole? I’d love to hear what you thought! Leave a comment and a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below. Your feedback helps other readers too.
Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
Ingredients
- 32 oz frozen tater tots (1 bag)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese divided
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese divided
- 8 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp onion powder
- 1 lb breakfast sausage
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 °F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until browned. Drain grease.
- In the prepared baking dish, combine the cooked sausage and tater tots. Toss gently to mix.
- Sprinkle half of both cheeses evenly over the top.
- In a bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the sausage, tater tots, and top with the remaining cheeses.
- Bake uncovered for 45–55 minutes, or until the eggs are set and the top is lightly browned.
- Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.
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