Breakfast Tater Tot Casserole
Updated
Updated
This breakfast tater tot casserole is made for feeding a hungry crowd without a lot of fuss. Breakfast sausage, onion, and bell pepper are cooked together, then layered with a seasoned egg mixture, melty Colby Jack cheese, and an entire bag of frozen tater tots. After about an hour in the oven, you get crisp, golden tots on top with soft, savory eggs underneath. It has a little bit of everything I love about breakfast casseroles, somewhere between a cheesy quiche and a hash brown bake, but with that extra-crispy tater tot topping. There’s very little hands-on work, which is exactly why I make it for Christmas morning, lazy Sunday brunches, and those weeknights when breakfast for dinner sounds like the obvious choice.
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Why Tater Tots Beat Hash Browns in This Casserole
I’ve tested this casserole both ways, with shredded hash browns and with tater tots, and I much prefer the tots. With hash browns, you need to squeeze out excess moisture and press them into the bottom of the dish. Otherwise, they can make the egg layer underneath watery. Tater tots make the process much easier. They go straight from the freezer into the casserole, and they stay intact while the eggs bake around them.
That frozen-to-oven method is one of the reasons this casserole works so well. You get a crunchy, browned topping without pre-cooking the potatoes or dealing with extra prep. When it’s ready, the eggs should be set around the edges and mostly set in the middle while still looking slightly glossy, rather than dry. The tater tots should be deeply golden with crisp edges. If they haven’t browned enough at the 55-minute mark, let the casserole continue baking for another 5-10 minutes.
Variations
- Need enough for a holiday crowd? One 9×13 casserole serves 10, so this recipe is already designed with a group in mind. If you’re serving an especially large crowd, make two separate 9×13 casseroles rather than trying to bake one extra-deep dish. This lets the center cook at about the same rate as the edges. You can assemble both the night before and bake them one after another, or use two ovens if you have them available.
- Sausage is optional, but you’ll need to replace the flavor too. Breakfast sausage adds both seasoning and bulk to the casserole. If you skip it without making any other changes, the finished dish will taste noticeably less flavorful. For a sausage-free version, add 1 teaspoon extra garlic powder and ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, then add another cup of chopped vegetables such as mushrooms or spinach. You can also replace the breakfast sausage with 1 pound of bacon, ham, or chorizo if you want a different meat.
- Can you make it vegetarian or lighter? Yes, but I recommend a few changes. Simply removing the sausage leaves the casserole lacking some of its seasoning and substance. For a vegetarian option, use plant-based sausage crumbles and add the extra seasonings listed above. To lighten it up, use turkey or chicken breakfast sausage, replace half of the whole eggs with egg whites using 4 whole eggs plus 8 egg whites, and reduce the cheese to 1 cup. It won’t be quite as rich, but the casserole still has a good texture.
Helpful Tips
- The prep is faster than the ingredient list makes it look. You’ll spend about 15 minutes cooking the sausage and vegetables, whisking the eggs, and layering everything in the casserole dish. After that, the oven handles the rest. If you want to see the process before getting started, check out the step-by-step video on the recipe card.
- Don’t thaw the tater tots first. I tested this with tots that had been sitting out for about 20 minutes, and they softened considerably instead of developing that crisp topping I wanted. Starting with frozen tots gives them a much better texture after baking and helps them hold their shape.
Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground breakfast sausage, or use mild Italian or hot sausage
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 small red bell pepper, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 large eggs
- 2 cups milk, whole, 2%. or half and half all work
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- ½ tsp dry ground mustard, (optional)
- 1 ½ cups shredded Colby jack cheese, divided, or use pepper jack for more spice
- 28 oz. frozen tater tots, no need to thaw
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 9×13 casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a medium nonstick skillet, combine the sausage, onions, and bell pepper over medium-high heat. Cook, breaking up the sausage into crumbles with a wooden spoon, until browned and no pink remains. Add in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 20 seconds. Drain the grease from the sausage mixture and spread it in the casserole dish.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and dry mustard (if using). Pour the egg mixture over the sausage mixture.
- Sprinkle half of the cheese and all of the tater tots into the casserole dish.
- Bake the casserole for 55 minutes. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on the top of the casserole and bake for an additional 5 minutes, or until eggs are cooked through.
- Let stand 5 minutes before serving and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.
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How to Make Breakfast Tater Tot Casserole Step by Step
Gather the ingredients: Gather everything you need and heat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray, making sure the bottom and sides are coated well.
Brown the sausage and vegetables: Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add 1 lb ground breakfast sausage, the diced onion, and red bell pepper. Break up the sausage as it cooks and continue until there is no pink remaining and the vegetables are tender and slightly translucent, about 7-9 minutes. Add the minced garlic during the final 30 seconds, cooking just until fragrant.
Layer in a casserole dish: Drain away any excess grease, then transfer the sausage mixture to the prepared casserole dish and spread it into an even layer.
Whisk the egg mixture: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 8 eggs, 2 cups milk, 1 tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp kosher salt, ½ tsp pepper, and ½ tsp dry ground mustard, if using. Keep whisking until the eggs are completely incorporated and the mixture looks pale and lightly foamy, with no visible strands of egg white. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the sausage and vegetables.
Layer the cheese and tots: Sprinkle ¾ cup shredded Colby jack over the eggs. Arrange 28 oz of frozen tater tots over the cheese in one even layer. Keep them frozen until this point so they have the best chance of getting crisp in the oven.
Bake until set: Bake for 55 minutes. Remove the casserole and sprinkle the remaining ¾ cup cheese evenly over the tater tots. Bake for another 5 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the tots are nicely browned. The center should have only a slight jiggle, and a knife inserted near the middle should come out clean rather than coated with wet egg. If the center still looks loose, continue baking for another 5-10 minutes.
Rest before serving: Allow the casserole to rest for about 5 minutes before cutting. This gives the eggs a chance to finish setting, making it much easier to cut neat portions without the layers shifting apart.
What to Serve With This Casserole
This is hearty enough to serve as the main event, but I like adding something fresh to balance all that sausage, egg, cheese, and crispy potato. A simple fruit salad brings a sweet, juicy contrast and requires very little extra work. For a holiday breakfast or brunch, I love putting easy cinnamon rolls on the table too. The combination of something sweet with a savory breakfast casserole is always a hit. If you want to add a vegetable, oven roasted asparagus is an easy option that can cook in the oven while the casserole is baking.
Storage Instructions
Refrigerator
Let the casserole cool completely, then transfer leftovers to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Freezer
Once completely cooled, place the casserole in a freezer-safe container or wrap it tightly before freezing. It will keep for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. The tater tots will soften somewhat after freezing, but reheating the casserole uncovered in a hot oven will help restore some of their crispness.
Reheating
For individual portions, microwave in 30-second intervals until hot throughout. To warm the entire casserole, cover it loosely with foil and place it in a 350°F oven for about 20 minutes, or until heated through.
Make Ahead
You can prepare the sausage mixture, egg mixture, and first portion of cheese up to 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Wait to add the frozen tater tots and remaining cheese until just before baking. This keeps the potatoes from sitting in the refrigerator overnight and turning soft.
Breakfast Casseroles we love
More Tater Tot Recipes to Try
- Totchos (Tater Tot Nachos): Tater tots standing in for chips, loaded with all your favorite nacho toppings, for game day or a casual dinner.
- Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole: Ground beef, cheese, and tots baked together for a dinner version of the same crispy-topped comfort food.
- Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole: Sloppy joe filling under a crisp tater tot layer, for a weeknight dinner that uses the same crunchy top as this breakfast bake.
I made this tator tot casserole for Christmas ,DELICIOUS.
Now im needing to make it as a gift for future use …so my question..make it accordingly to directions,with tator tots on top..then what?FREEZE ?Then tell them to thaw over night in frig.then bake?I just didn’t know whether to put tater tots on casserole before freezing, or leave them in separate bag to put on top after its thawed and ready to bake..THANKS
Hi Sue – all storage and make ahead directions are included in the article at the bottom.
My sister and I were doing breakfast for dinner for our family game night. The Tater Tot Casserole was easy to prepare and I had all the ingredients on hand. Everyone really enjoyed and I will make it again. Had to cook it a little longer. The leftovers were just as good reheated.
I made this bkfst casserole 2 days ago and since my husband and I like hearty breakfasts- it has been great enjoying the leftovers! We just reheat it in the microwave- excellent recipe for a family too. Didn’t have to shop for anything extra-love it-
Will be making it again !
I love this recipe…….I am now coming to your site first when I want to make something to see if you have a recipe 😊. I am wondering this: I would like to add cottage cheese to this recipe. Would I be able to just add it or would it be better to substitute it for some of the milk? Or cheese? Please advise…..I’m just thinking it would add more protein….perhaps 1/2 to 1 cup? What do you think?
Thank you!
Hi Peggy! You could whisk in 1/2 cup with the egg mixture. The casserole might need a few extra minutes of baking due to there being a bit more moisture.
Would it be OK to substitute sharp cheddar cheese in the tater tot casserole recipe?
Of course. Enjoy!
This is the absolute best egg bake! Easy and crowd favorite. Thank you!
This is a new family favorite!
My whole family loves this casserole! I prepped two before giving birth to my son, and we all devoured them within the week. Perfect to prep ahead as well!
I took this casserole to a church coffee hour. It was very popular!
It’s okay to thaw the tator tots! If you thaw in microwave while getting the rest of the ingredients ready, cuts cooking time by 15 minutes!
Delicious! I followed the recipe exactly but added a pinch of cayenne pepper into the eggs. Will be making again.
Family couldn’t stop saying how delicious the casserole was!
Had to sub cut up hash brown patties and bake about 20 mins more for eggs to set (base was refrigerated overnight). Otherwise made as written.
I love this recipe!!
Are there freezer cook time instructions?
Yes. All the storage info is included in the article.
Hi Amy, The video with this recipe shows cottage cheese but that is not listed on the ingredient list in the recipe.
Hi Jeanette – This recipe has been revised over the years. The video also includes bacon and not sausage. For optimal results, follow the written recipe not the video. However, you can add in a 1/2 cup cottage cheese to the mixture if you want. Enjoy!
I followed the recipe and it was delicious. Husband loved it. It will be great for family or large holiday gatherings. Don’t skip the mustard. It is not spicy. Terrific casserole for a group or make and freeze some for busy mornings, lunch or dinner with a salad. Not spicy but can add some with salsa or pepper jack cheese.
My family loved this!
This recipe is so delicious, and I know I will make it again and again. Thank you! In addition to the sausage version, I made an all veggie version for the vegetarians in my family. I used broccoli, zucchini, and spinach in place of the sausage. Also delish!
Do you think you can replace the tater tots with hash brown patties? Thanks
This was easy and delicious – the entire family loved it and requested I make it again.