Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole

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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

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.

Easy Tater Tot Casserole

🛒 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.
Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole

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.
Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

👩🏻‍🍳 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.
Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole

🤔 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.

How long does tater tot casserole last?

When stored in an airtight container and refrigerated, cooked tater tot casserole can last in the fridge for up to 4 days.

How to reheat leftover tater tot casserole?

Preheat oven to 350°F. Remove the casserole from the fridge. Let it sit on the countertop to shed some cold while the oven preheats. Cover the baker with aluminum foil. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the casserole is warmed throughout.

How to freeze tater tot casserole?

Let the casserole cool to room temperature. Wrap the top of the dish in 2 layers of foil and freeze up to 3 weeks. Or slice the casserole in half. Transfer the pieces to large zip-top freezer bags, and freeze it with the bags laying flat. When ready to enjoy, defrost the casserole in the fridge overnight. Reheat in a 350°F oven until heated through.

How to serve tater tot breakfast casserole?

Serve with avocado slices and warm flour or corn tortillas. If desired, have a bottle of hot sauce handy.

Breakfast Casserole

🍽 MORE BREAKFAST IDEAS

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

Tater Tot Egg Casserole

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.

Gold Line: Sprinkles of Inspiration | confettiandbliss.com
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Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole

Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole


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5 from 27 reviews

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Description

This tater tot breakfast casserole is loaded with all your favorite breakfast flavors. Easy to make, it’s savory, hearty and delicious. Guaranteed to satisfy a hungry crowd.


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 7ounce package breakfast sausage links
  • 1 medium/small onion, diced
  • 1 small red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
  • 1 small green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
  • 2 3/4 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
  • 1 (32-ounce) bag frozen tater tots
  • 8 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 pound bacon, cooked until crispy and crumbled
  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced

Instructions

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

  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. Transfer cooked sausage to a large bowl and set it aside. Leave the sausage drippings in the pan. 
  2. Add onion to the hot skillet and sautée until translucent.
  3. Transfer onions to the bowl with the sausage. Add in bell peppers, 2 cups cheddar cheese and tater tots. Gently fold ingredients together. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. 
  4. In a medium bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Pour the egg mixture into the baking dish – evenly covering the tater tot mixture. 
  5. Bake for about 1 hour or until the top is golden, the edges are set, and the middle is cooked through. Sprinkle remaining 3/4 cup cheese over the top. Continue baking until the cheese has melted – about 5 minutes.
  6. Let the casserole stand for 10 minutes before cutting. Sprinkle the top with sliced green onion and bacon bits.

Notes

Time-saving tip: Use Hormel pre-cooked bacon slices from Costco. You can crisp up the pieces in no time flat. I prep the bacon while the casserole is baking in the oven.

Something to try: Instead of bell peppers, substitute with two 7-ounce cans (drain off liquid) Ortega fire-roasted diced green chiles. Or use chopped nopales instead.

For a crispier experience: Cook the tater tots in the oven until lightly crisp – then use them in this recipe.

  • Prep Time: 20 Minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 Hour 5 Minutes
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American
Gold Line: Sprinkles of Inspiration | confettiandbliss.com

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.

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41 Comments

  1. Talk about a good breakfast idea! This casserole is something the kids will love and it’s easy to make to! No fuss during mornings! Thanks for the wonderful recipe!






  2. This looks like an out of the ordinary breakfast dish I’d enjoy sinking my teeth in to. Who doesn’t love tater tots?!






  3. As much as my family loves potatoes, this tater tot breakfast casserole will be a total winner. I am making this for Sunday brunch so we can all have wonderful morning meal.






  4. The Funfetti pancakes look fun and yum yum. This is an amazing collection of breakfasts, I want to give the tater tot casserole a buzz this weekend!






  5. oh yum! I’m going to make this for sept 4 when my kiddos go back to school. The perfect breakfast to send them off… It looks AMAZING.






  6. This makes me want to plan a brunch! It sounds delicious and unique too. I’ll have to give your recipe a try.

  7. Yum! This is something I imagine ordering from a restaurant. The ingredients seem really tasty and the presentation looks so appealing.






  8. This recipe looks so yummy. I love the different flavors. I wonder what it would taste like if you substituted chicken for the sausage.






  9. I would love to have this for breakfast one morning! I’m a huge fan of tater tots to begin with, so I’ll be trying this out for sure.






  10. Oh my, this looks so good. A perfect breakfast for on the go, too. You can make it ahead and warm up your portion before leaving!






  11. Oh I am totally doing this. My kiddo would eat this all in one sitting. Breakfast is usually just waffles but I need him to eat more than that. Something like this is perfect.






  12. I have seen this before but never given is a go. Looks really good and something my family would eat for breakfast or anytime for that matter. Keeping this one.