Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole

Tater tot breakfast casserole is hearty, savory and delicious. We take our favorite breakfast items – eggs, sausage, crispy bacon, tater tots, veggies, cheese – and bring them together in one main dish. It’s irresistible.

📌 PIN TATER TOT CASSEROLE

On holiday mornings like Easter and Christmas, everyone gathers around the table to enjoy a delicious meal. Brunch always includes this tater tot breakfast casserole. It’s a favorite that’s loved by both kids and adults.

This easy recipe comes together quickly with simple ingredients. You can even make it the night before and rewarm it in the morning. Like chile relleno casserole, and sausage crescent roll breakfast casserole, when cut into squares it can feed a crowd. Take it to your next church potluck.

Serve with warm corn tortillas or flour tortillas. The people can make a breakfast burrito. Great sides include sliced fruit like cantaloupe, honeydew melon, pineapple, or mango. Or serve with sliced avocado. So yummy.

🛒 Ingredients

• Breakfast Sausage: I use sausage links made with maple syrup. The touch of sweetness adds even more breakfast flavor to the casserole.
• Bacon: I prefer thick-sliced bacon with the fatty ends cut off. After pan frying the bacon until crisp, roughly chop the strips into pieces.
• Onion: Lightly caramelized on stovetop, they contribute a sweet/savory flavor to the casserole. You can use yellow onion or white onion.
• Garlic Cloves: Add a rustic earthy flavor to the dish. They pair well with the onions and veggies.
• Bell Peppers: Have a sweet grassy flavor that’s so delicious. You can use any color, but I prefer a mix of red and green.
• Medium Cheddar Cheese: This is a key ingredient for our breakfast casserole. It contributes a rich creamy flavor that’s super savory. You can switch things up by using half cheddar cheese and half Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, or Pepper Jack.
• Tater Tots: These are grated potatoes compressed into small cylinders. They’re deep fried until the outsides are crisp but the centers still fluffy. Find a bag of these in the frozen food section of the grocery store.
• Whole Milk: Full-fat dairy is indulgent – and it’s needed for richness, flavor and moisture. It’s what helps make this the best-tasting tater tot breakfast casserole. But in a pinch, use 2% milk instead.
• Large Eggs: Provide richness, flavor, color and structure. They help bind the ingredients of the casserole together.
• Kosher Salt: Enhances the flavor of the other ingredients.
• Black Pepper: Adds a rustic flavor with a bit of heat.
• Green Onion: We use it for garnishing. It adds color and freshness.

RECIPE STEPS

RECIPE PREP: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. 

• STEP 1: Remove sausages from their casings. Discard the casings. Cook the sausages in a large skillet over medium heat until browned with no more pink. While cooking, chop the meat into pieces with a spatula. With a slotted spoon, transfer the cooked sausage to a large bowl and set it aside. Leave the sausage drippings in the pan.
• STEP 2: Add onion to the skillet and sautée until translucent. Transfer the onion to the bowl with the sausage. Add bell peppers, 2 cups cheddar cheese and tater tots to the bowl. With a large spatula, gently fold everything together until combined.
• STEP 3: Transfer the tater tot mixture to the prepared baking dish. Spread it out evenly.
• STEP 4: In a separate bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the casserole.
• STEP 5: Bake for about 1 hour, or until the top is golden, the edges are set, and the middle is cooked through. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top. Bake 5 more minutes or until the cheese has melted.
• STEP 6: Let the breakfast bake stand for 10 minutes before cutting. Sprinkle the top of the tater tot breakfast casserole with sliced green onion and bacon bits.

👩🏻‍🍳 RECIPE TIPS

• Grate the cheese from a block. Pre-shredded cheese has a coating that keeps it from clumping together. It doesn’t melt smoothly. If used, your breakfast bake can end up oily on the top and sides.
• For a crispy experience cook the tater tots first. It will remove excess moisture and make them extra crispy.
• Save time with Hormel pre-cooked bacon strips. You can find them at Costco. Just crisp up the slices on griddle, then chop them into bits.
• Don’t grease baking dish all the way to the top. Instead, grease the sides 2/3 of the way up (and grease the bottom). This helps prevent unsightly cooking oil residue around the exposed sides of the baker. It allows for a prettier presentation of the casserole in the dish.
• Double the recipe. Freeze half for later. Or share the bounty with an older family member or neighbor who can no longer cook meals at home. Let’s all take care of one another.

🤔 RECIPE FAQ

These are the most commonly-asked questions for achieving the BEST tater tot breakfast casserole and the most helpful answers for recipe success.

🍽 MORE BREAKFAST IDEAS

Looking for more breakfast ideas for Sunday brunch? I’ve got you covered. Add these delicious favorites to your recipe box.

• Air Fryer French Toast Sticks
• Sheet Pan Pancakes
• Baked Oatmeal
• Bacon Egg Cups
• Sausage Egg McMuffin
• Eggs in Purgatory
• Lemon Blueberry Crepes
• Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs

RATE THIS RECIPE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Friends and family say this is the BEST tater tot breakfast casserole. They love the delicious combination of flavors and textures. And they appreciate how easy this dish is to assemble. Just prep in 20 minutes then bake.

If you agree this casserole is a winner give it a 5-star rating in the comments. Then be a recipe hero. Share it with a friend. 📌 Pin it to Pinterest.

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TATER TOT BREAKFAST CASSEROLE 👉🏻 JOIN THE CONVO

What do you think about this scrumptious tater tot casserole? What will you serve it with – toast, tortillas, fruit? Tell me all about it. Join the conversation in the comments below.