Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
Updated
Updated
I love this easy, family-friendly Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole made with sausage, vegetables, eggs, cheese, and, of course, tater tots. Prep it ahead, bake it fresh, or freeze it for later; it’s perfect for breakfast or even breakfast-for-dinner!
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5 STAR REVIEW
When my kids were little, they didn’t really like potatoes—not a baked potato, or mashed potatoes, or roasted potatoes—but they sure loved french fries and tater tots. Kids are so weird.
This breakfast casserole with tater tots was (and still is!) always a hit when I serve it. Made with breakfast sausage, vegetables, cheese, and simple seasonings, it’s quick and easy, hearty and filling, and just plain delicious. There’s also no flour, so it’s a great option for anyone with gluten sensitives.
You can enjoy it the same day you bake it or prep and stash it in the fridge overnight for an even easier breakfast the next morning. I’ve been known to serve it for dinner, too. We all love it.
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.
Did you make this? Leave a rating below!How to Make Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole Step by Step
Preheat the oven and prepare the dish: Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 9×13 casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Cook the sausage and veggies: In a medium nonstick skillet, combine 1 lb. sausage, 1 onion, and 1 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 1 tsp garlic and cook until fragrant, about 20 seconds. Drain the grease from the sausage mixture and spread it in the casserole dish.
Prepare the eggs: In a mixing bowl, whisk together 8 eggs, 2 cups milk, 1 tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp pepper, and ½ tsp dry mustard (if using). Pour the egg mixture over the sausage mixture.
Layer and bake: Sprinkle ¾ cup 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!
How to Store and Reheat
To store leftovers, cool completely, then place in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 3 day. This casserole freezes well. Allow to cool completely after baking, then transfer to a freezer-safe, airtight container (or portion out into individual servings.) It can be stored for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
Reheat individual servings in the microwave or the entire casserole dish in the oven at 350°F until warmed through. I recommend covering the pan with foil when you re-bake to avoid burning the cheese or drying it out.
To make ahead of time, prep it without the tater tots, cover it with foil, and place in the refrigerator overnight. The next day, top with the tater tots and bake. You certainly can assemble the entire thing the night before, but I recommend waiting to add the tater tots right before baking so they don’t get soggy.
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.
Looks completely fab! I’m going to make this for an upcoming weekend with lots of house guests. If I freeze the whole thing after baking it, are the tater tots still crispy when you reheat it?
My family loved this!
This was amazing ! Very, very good.
Don’t skip the mustard powder! Made for Xmas day brunch. I used cubed ham instead of sausage. Great ratio of eggs to veggies and meat. Will make again!
Hi Amy – this sausage breakfast casserole looks awesome but I haven’t tried it yet. I had this page saved on Pinterest because it used to be a tater tot breakfast casserole with bacon and cottage cheese. I LOVED making it and always got so many compliments. I’ve been making it for years now and usually do it from memory but the last couple times it hasn’t come out quite the same. I came back to this page to brush up on the recipe and I can’t find it anywhere on your site. Do you possibly still have that recipe? If you’re able to share it I would be so appreciative. Thanks so much!!
This casserole is absolutely delicious! My family loved it and my oldest doesn’t even like eggs! The recipe was easy to follow. I added bacon and green peppers to the mix. I also garnished the top with bacon crumbles and parsley. I will definitely make this again.
This was so easy and delicious!
I rarely give anything 5 stars, but this recipe deserves it! We have it every Sunday for breakfast. I’m curious, though, as to whether it freezes well.
Great easy recipe! Whole family loved it.
This was delicious and so easy. The family loved it.
Looks delicious but I’d like to add mushrooms should they be fresh or canned, if fresh should they be cooked first?
Hi Barb – Use fresh, and yes, cook them first. Enjoy!
Very good. Whole family loved it. Only change I made was using pepper jack cheese for a little heat.
My family loved this dish. So easy and tasty. We always have tater tots in the freezer.
Great dish! I noticed this is tagged as gluten free. Just be careful what brand of tot you use as some use flour for crispiness.
Absolutely wonderful!!! I have a large family so I doubled it and it was a huge hit. Easy on the budget too without being super carby. Thanks for this!!!
It was delicious and super easy.
Great casserole! I made it for a brunch at my church everyone loved it!