If you’re looking for a tasty and quick breakfast that the whole family will enjoy but can be prepared the night before, this Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole is just the thing! It’s super yummy, hearty, and full of tater tots, eggs, and melted cheese, making it a heartwarming meal.
Tasty Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
Looking for a delicious and easy breakfast recipe? Check out this Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole that will surely be a crowd-pleaser. Crispy tater tots, savory sausage, and melted cheese are the perfect way to start your day. Prep the night before, leaving those hectic mornings and holiday brunches free for other things. If you like this recipe, try these other make-ahead breakfast casseroles like hashbrown breakfast casserole, biscuits and gravy casserole, French toast casserole, chile relleno casserole.
Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole Ingredients
How to Make a Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
First, brown the pork sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it up with a spatula. Add the veggies when the sausage is about halfway through the browning process. Continue cooking until the pork is browned and the onions and peppers are soft. Drain any excess grease and set the pan aside for a few minutes.
Place a single layer of frozen tater tots in the bottom of a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Cover the tater tots with half the shredded cheddar cheese and half the shredded Monterey Jack cheese. Then, whisk together the milk, eggs, kosher salt, and fresh ground black pepper in a large bowl. Pour the egg mixture over the shredded cheese and spoon the sausage mixture over it. Finally, top with any remaining tater tots and bake covered with aluminum foil for 30 minutes.
Remove the foil and sprinkle with the rest of the cheese. Bake for around 25 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the casserole is set and cooked through. For best results, let it stand for 10 minutes before slicing.
Recipe Tips
- I like Jimmy Dean’s All Natural pork sausage or Bob Evan’s Naturally pork sausage. Both are very flavorful.
- Substitute crisp bacon or ham for the breakfast sausage.
- Pro tip: Remove any excess grease from the skillet by tilting the pan and absorbing the grease with paper towels.
- Any color bell pepper works well with this casserole.
- Other veggies to add include mushrooms, broccoli, spinach, and carrots.
- For even more flavor, add some dried herbs or seasonings. Mix it up so one herb is not overpowering. Think thyme, rosemary, marjoram, or oregano. You can also try Italian seasoning, Creole seasoning, a little garlic powder, or dry mustard.
- This casserole can be prepped the night before.
- Garnish with fresh chives or fresh parsley.
How to Prep This Casserole in Advance
Prepare the casserole up to the point of baking and cover it well with plastic wrap. Then refrigerate it along with the remaining shredded cheese. When ready to bake, remove the casserole from the fridge about 30 minutes before baking. Replace the plastic wrap with aluminum foil. Bake as directed, remove the foil after 30 minutes, and sprinkle with remaining shredded cheese. Bake uncovered for another 20-30 minutes or until cooked through and set.
Storage and Reheat
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, cover the casserole dish with foil, place it in a preheated 350-degree oven for about 30 minutes, or reheat it uncovered in the microwave at 60-70% power for 3-4 minutes or until warm.
To freeze, let the casserole fully cool, then cover it well with two layers of plastic wrap followed by a layer of aluminum foil. Store in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb. bulk ground breakfast sausage
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- 2 lbs. frozen tater tots
- 1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 ½ cups shredded pepper jack cheese
- 10 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the pork sausage breaking it up with a spatula. When the sausage is about halfway through the browning process, add the onions and bell peppers. Continue cooking until the pork is browned and the onions and peppers are soft. Drain any excess grease and set the pan aside.
- Place a single layer of frozen tater tots in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Cover the tater tots with half the cheddar cheese and half the Monterey Jack cheese.
- Whisk together the milk, eggs, kosher salt, and fresh ground black pepper. Pour the egg mixture over the shredded cheese. Spoon the sausage mixture over the eggs. Top with any remaining tater tots and bake covered with aluminum foil for 30 minutes.
- Remove the foil and sprinkle with the rest of the cheese. Bake for around 25 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the casserole is set and cooked through. For best results, let it stand for 10 minutes before slicing.
Notes
- I like Jimmy Dean’s All Natural pork sausage or Bob Evan’s Naturally pork sausage. Both are very flavorful.
- Crisp bacon or ham can be substituted for the breakfast sausage.
- Pro-Tip – remove any excess grease from the skillet by tilting the pan and absorbing the grease with paper towels.
- Any color bell pepper works well with this casserole.
- For even more flavor, add some dried herbs or seasonings. Mix it up so one herb is not overpowering. Think thyme, rosemary, marjoram, or oregano. Or try Italian seasoning, Creole seasoning, a little garlic powder, or dry mustard.
- This casserole can be prepped the night before.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave.
- To freeze, let the casserole fully cool, then cover it well with two layers of plastic wrap. Store in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
- Garnish with fresh chives or fresh parsley.
Nutrition
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Dana G
Such a fantastic hearty brunch casserole. I make this often and I am looking forward to serving this for Easter brunch! My guests always love this casserole
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Dana! Happy Easter!
Chenee
We had breakfast for dinner and this was so delicious! My entire family enjoyed it and asked me to make it again soon!
Beth Pierce
Awesome! We love breakfast for dinner too!
Kushi
This breakfast casserole is so delicious and easy to make. Thanks for the recipe, Beth.
Janie
I rarely eat breakfast but when it comes to tater tots, I’m all in! This was so delicious that I ate it for lunch again.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Janie! So glad that you liked it!
Anjali
This was such an easy breakfast for our family and we had enough for leftovers to enjoy the next day too!
Carrie Robinson
This is such a great idea for an easy weekend breakfast! Using tater tots is genius. 🙂
Emma
Great recipe, thank you! I definitely recommend prepping the day before but otherwise a very easy recipe too replicate. We used hash browns for the bottom layer and tater tots for the top layer. We also used home made breakfast sausage (mince beef + spices) and omitted the green capsicum, replacing it with freshly diced jalapeños for a bit of heat. Will make again!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Emma! So glad that you liked it. Thanks for the tips!
Tayler Ross
We had this casserole for breakfast yesterday and my whole family enjoyed it. Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine!
Andrea
So easy and turns out perfectly! This will be my new go-to weekend breakfast dish!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Andrea! I am glad that you enjoy the casserole.
Elaine
Mornings will never be the same. This is THE best casserole I have had to date. Delicious!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Elaine!
Amanda Wren-Grimwood
I’ve got a lot of family coming this weekend so this recipe is perfect. All the elements of a proper filling breakfast in one dish!
Janessa
Make ahead breakfasts are the best! I made this when my parents were staying for the weekend and everyone enjoyed it.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Janessa! So glad that they liked it!
Catalina
I would like to wake up with this casserole. It’s so rich and delicious!
Erin | Dinners, Dishes and Dessert
My family would love this! Definitely a must make!
Sandra
Wow! This is amazing! Looking forward to making it again!
Yeah Lifestyle
This was absolutely delicious and a great breakfast recipe idea. My whole family really enjoyed it.