A Spicy Perspective

Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole

Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole – An easy breakfast or brunch recipe made with frozen tots, sausage, eggs, and cheese. It’s great to make ahead and bakes cheesy golden delicious in under an hour!

Hand holding spatula as it lifts a wedge of tater tot breakfast casserole from the dish.

How to Make This Easy Breakfast Recipe

Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole is similar to a classic baked hash brown casserole, but way more fun… I mean, isn’t anything made with tots immediately awesome?

This easy recipe is a no-fail family favorite, especially with the kids. Toss frozen tots right into the baking dish, cover with savory breakfast sausage and veggies, pour in eggs, add shredded cheese, and bake. In less than an hour, you are ready to serve a piping hot, fluffy, and delicious casserole for breakfast, brunch, or brinner.

Cheesy tater tot casserole is great to make ahead the night before and pop into the oven in the morning. It’s even a fantastic freezer meal as well!

Wedge of casserole on a plate with fork.

Ingredients You Need

  • Tater tots – frozen
  • Breakfast pork sausage – or chicken sausage, ground
  • Onion – chopped
  • Bell pepper – any color, chopped
  • Garlic – minced
  • Eggs – large
  • Half & half – for the richest and most delicious breakfast casserole
  • Pepper jack cheese – or other preferred cheese, shredded
  • Mrs. Dashall-purpose seasoning, or another dried herb seasoning
  • Salt – just a pinch
Hand with fork taking bite of wedge of casserole.

How to Make the Best Breakfast Casserole with Tater Tots

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Set out a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and spray with nonstick cooking spray.

Pour the frozen tater tots into the baking dish to thaw while you prep the rest of the ingredients.

Frozen tater tots in a baking dish.

Next, set a large skillet on the stovetop over medium heat. Add the pork sausage and break it into small pieces with a wooden spoon. Brown the sausage for at least five minutes, stirring as needed. Then move the cooked sausage to the edges of the pan and add the onions, peppers, and garlic.

Add the Mrs. Dash and salt to the skillet. Sauté for another 3 to 5 minutes to soften. Then remove from heat.

Meanwhile, set out a mixing bowl. Crack the eggs into the bowl and pour in the half-and-half. Beat until smooth. 

Scoop the meat and vegetable mixture into the baking dish.

Get the Complete (Printable) Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole Recipe Below. Enjoy!

Scooping meat and veggies mixture from skillet over the tater tots in the baking dish.

Add half of the shredded cheese to the pan and toss the ingredients to mix. Then spread them out into an even layer.

Pour the egg mixture over the tater tot mixture. Then sprinkle the remaining cup of cheese over the top.

Pouring whisked egg and milk mixture over the unbaked tots.

Bake for 40-45 minutes, until golden on top.

Breakfast casserole with tater tots hot from the oven.

Serving Suggestions

Let the tater tot casserole cool slightly, then cut into 12 large pieces and serve warm. Sprinkle with chopped parsley or sliced green onions for a pop of fresh flavor.

What goes well with breakfast casserole?

This dish is delightful with all kinds of yummy condiments and sides! Serve with sour cream, hot sauce, ketchup, salsa, or any of your favorite sauces.

Veggies, meat, and cheese: As-is this recipe makes a full meal in one pan! But it also is great to enjoy for breakfast or brunch with classic side dishes like the Creamiest Cheese Grits, Red White and Blue Chopped Fruit Salad, or simple seasonal fruit or slices of avocado.

Top down view tater tot breakfast casserole from the oven.

Recipe Variations

  • Breakfast tater tot casserole can be made with ground pork sausage, chicken sausage, or turkey sausage.
  • To make this a vegetarian recipe omit the sausage or use whatever plant-based ground meat alternative you prefer.
  • Swap spicy pepper jack cheese with cheddar, gouda, or other shreddable and melty cheese you like.
Close view of square of casserole with eggs and tater tots on a white plate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you make tater tot breakfast casserole ahead of time?

Yes, you can! Simply assemble, cover, and chill in the fridge overnight. Then unwrap and bake per the recipe when ready to enjoy.

How long can you keep uncooked breakfast casserole in the fridge?

An unbaked casserole will keep well for up to 24 hours in the refrigerator, but under 12 hours is really best.

Can you freeze unbaked tater tot casserole?

Absolutely! This is a terrific make-ahead freezer meal. Just like preparing overnight, assemble the dish but do not bake. Pro Tip: I recommend that you prepare the casserole in an aluminum pan that can easily go from the freezer to the oven.

Wrap the pan in a layer of plastic wrap, then in a layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and bake according to the recipe instructions.

How long do leftovers keep well?

Leftover tater tot breakfast casserole will last for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

Top down view half eaten piece of casserole on a plate with fork.

Looking for More Easy Breakfast and Brunch Recipes?

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5 from 3 votes
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Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
This easy breakfast or brunch casserole recipe is made with frozen tater tots, sausage, eggs and cheese. It's great to make ahead and bakes cheesy golden delicious in under an hour!
Servings: 12 servings

Ingredients

  • 28-32 ounce bag frozen tater tots
  • 1 pound breakfast pork sausage ground
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 1 cup chopped bell pepper any color
  • 3-4 cloves garlic minced
  • 9 large eggs
  • 1 ½ cups half & half
  • 2 cups shredded pepper jack cheese cheddar or gouda
  • 1 ½ teaspoons Mrs. Dash or other dried herb seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Set out a 9 x 13 inch baking dish and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Pour the tater tots into the baking dish to thaw while you’re prepping the rest of the ingredients.
  • Set a large skillet on the stovetop over medium heat. Add the pork sausage and break it into small pieces with a wooden spoon. Brown the sausage for at least five minutes, stirring as needed. Then move the cooked sausage to the edges of the pan and add in the onions, peppers, and garlic. Add the Mrs. Dash and salt to the skillet. Sauté for another 3 to 5 minutes to soften. Then remove from heat.
  • Set out a mixing bowl. Crack the eggs into the bowl and pour in the half-and-half. Beat until smooth.
  • Scoop the meat and vegetable mixture into the baking dish. Add half of the shredded cheese to the pan and toss the ingredients to mix. Then spread them out into an even layer.
  • Pour the egg mixture over the tater tot mixture. Then sprinkle the remaining cup of cheese over the top.
  • Bake for 40-45 minutes, until golden on top. Cut into 12 large pieces and serve warm.

Video

Notes

Recipe Variations:

  • Breakfast tater tot casserole can be made with ground pork sausage, chicken sausage or turkey sausage.
  • To make this a vegetarian recipe omit the sausage or use whatever plant-based ground meat alternative you prefer.
  • Swap spicy pepper jack cheese with cheddar, gouda, or other shreddable and melty cheese you like.

Can you make tater tot breakfast casserole ahead of time?

Yes you can! Simply assemble, cover and chill in the fridge overnight. Then unwrap and bake per the recipe when ready to enjoy.

How long can you keep uncooked breakfast casserole in the fridge?

Unbaked casserole will keep well for up to 24 hours in the refrigerator, but under 12 hours is really best.

Can you freeze the unbaked tater tot casserole?

Absolutely! This is a terrific make-ahead freezer meal. Just like preparing overnight, assemble the dish but do not bake. Pro Tip: I recommend that you prepare the casserole in an aluminum pan that can easily go from the freezer to the oven.
Wrap the pan in a layer of plastic wrap, then in a layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and bake according to the recipe instructions.

How long do leftovers keep well?

Leftover tater tot breakfast casserole will last for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Serving: 1sq, Calories: 405kcal, Carbohydrates: 21g, Protein: 17g, Fat: 28g, Saturated Fat: 11g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g, Monounsaturated Fat: 11g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 177mg, Sodium: 912mg, Potassium: 415mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 850IU, Vitamin C: 22mg, Calcium: 209mg, Iron: 2mg
Course: Breakfast, Brunch
Cuisine: American
Author: Sommer Collier

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3 comments on “Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole”

  1. Found an old bag of tater tots and this was perfect! Thanks for the awesome recipe! It was AMAZING. :D

  2. I love the saltiness that the tater tots bring to this casserole. So much flavor and so delicious!

  3. This is a family favorite! The perfect thing to enjoy on a weekend or when I need to feed a crowd!