This tater tot breakfast casserole is easy to make and perfect for breakfast, brunch, or breakfast-for-dinner nights. It's made with simple ingredients, and you can prepare it ahead of time, refrigerate it overnight, and bake it in the morning for an easy weekend or holiday brunch. It's also great for meal prep since you can portion it out for quick grab-and-go breakfasts throughout the week.
Ingredients you'll need
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Breakfast sausage - We use pork breakfast roll sausage for this recipe. If using sausage links, remove the casings and tear them into small pieces before cooking.
Produce - Onion, garlic, and fresh sage add flavor to the casserole. Use a yellow or white onion and dice it finely so it cooks quickly. Sliced green onions, parsley, or other fresh herbs make a nice garnish if desired (not pictured).
Eggs and dairy - Eggs, whole milk, and shredded cheddar cheese make the casserole rich and hearty. We use cheddar, but other good melting cheeses like Monterey Jack or Colby Jack will work too.
Tater tots - Use frozen tater tots and keep them frozen until ready to assemble the casserole.
Pantry - Salt, black pepper, and a little cooking spray or oil to grease the casserole dish.
📖 See the recipe card for quantities and preparation.
How to make tater tot breakfast casserole
Add the breakfast sausage to a large skillet set over medium heat. Cook for 5-7 minutes until browned, stirring often and breaking up large pieces with a wooden spoon or spatula. Drain excess oil if needed (see recipe tips and notes).
Return the skillet to medium heat. Add the onions and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and sage and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring often.
Take the skillet off the heat and let the sausage mixture cool slightly. Stir occasionally to help the steam escape and speed up the cooling.
If baking the casserole right away, preheat the oven to 350°F.
Combine the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Whisk until combined.
Lightly grease a baking dish (at least 11x7½ inches or 2.5 quarts) with cooking spray or oil.
Build the casserole
Arrange about half of the frozen tater tots in a single layer on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Keep them close together without overlapping.
Spread the cooled sausage mixture evenly over the tater tots.
Sprinkle half of the shredded cheese over the sausage mixture.
Pour the egg mixture evenly over everything.
Arrange the remaining frozen tater tots in a single layer on top.
To refrigerate overnight
Cover the casserole dish with plastic wrap, foil, or a lid and refrigerate overnight (see recipe tips and notes).
Bake the casserole
Bake uncovered for 55-65 minutes, or until cooked through. The casserole should be set in the center and not jiggly. A toothpick or knife inserted in the center should come out mostly clean, and the tater tots on top should be golden brown and crispy.
If the top is browning too quickly, loosely place a piece of foil over the casserole. Check it after 30-40 minutes.
Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Bake for another 3-5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
Let the casserole sit for a few minutes before cutting. Garnish with sliced green onions, parsley, or fresh herbs, if desired, and serve.
Recipe tips and notes
- Depending on the fat content of the sausage used, you may want to drain some of the oil from the skillet after browning. The easiest way to do this is to take the skillet off the heat, arrange the meat on one side of the skillet, and tip it slightly so the oil pools on the opposite side. Use a large spoon to scoop out the excess oil and transfer it to a small bowl, can, or similar container.
- Let the sausage mixture cool slightly before assembling the casserole so the hot meat does not start cooking the eggs.
- If refrigerating overnight, let the casserole sit at room temperature for a little while before baking to take some of the chill off the dish. Some bakeware does not do well with extreme temperature changes.
Storing and reheating instructions
Storing: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Reheating: To reheat, microwave individual portions until hot all the way through. You can also reheat larger portions in a 325°F oven covered loosely with foil until warmed through. Remove the foil for the last few minutes if you want to crisp the tater tots back up a little.
Food safety: Do not leave cooked food out for longer than two hours, or for more than one hour if the temperature is above 90°F. Reheat leftovers to an internal temperature of at least 165°F. For more information on food storage and safety guidelines visit U.S. Department of Agriculture and foodsafety.gov.
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📖 Recipe
Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 pound pork breakfast sausage roll sausage, or if using links, remove the casings and tear into small pieces
- 1 small onion finely diced (use a yellow or white onion)
- 1-2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh sage finely chopped (about 4-5 leaves)
- 8 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- ½ teaspoon salt we use kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Cooking spray or oil to grease the casserole dish
- 1 (32-ounce) bag frozen tater tots (keep frozen)
- 6-8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese divided
- Sliced green onions parsley, or other fresh herbs, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Add the breakfast sausage to a large skillet set over medium heat. Cook for 5-7 minutes until browned, stirring often and breaking up large pieces with a wooden spoon or spatula. Drain excess oil if needed (see notes).
- Return the skillet to medium heat. Add the onions and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the garlic and sage and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring often.
- Take the skillet off the heat and let the sausage mixture cool slightly. Stir occasionally to help the steam escape and speed up the cooling.
- If baking the casserole right away, preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Add the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Whisk until combined.
- Lightly grease a baking dish (at least 11x7½ inches or 2.5 quarts) with cooking spray or oil.
Build the casserole
- Arrange about half of the frozen tater tots in a single layer on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Keep them close together without overlapping.
- Spread the cooled sausage mixture evenly over the tater tots.
- Sprinkle half of the shredded cheese over the sausage mixture.
- Pour the egg mixture evenly over everything.
- Arrange the remaining frozen tater tots in a single layer on top.
To refrigerate overnight
- Cover the casserole dish with plastic wrap, foil, or a lid and refrigerate overnight (see notes).
Bake the casserole
- Bake uncovered for 55-65 minutes, or until cooked through. The casserole should be set in the center and not jiggly. A toothpick or knife inserted in the center should come out mostly clean, and the tater tots on top should be golden brown and crispy.
- If the top is browning too quickly, loosely place a piece of foil over the casserole. Check it after 30-40 minutes.
- Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Bake for another 3-5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
- Let the casserole sit for a few minutes before cutting. Garnish with sliced green onions, parsley, or fresh herbs, if desired, and serve.
Notes
- Depending on the fat content of the sausage used, you may want to drain some of the oil from the skillet after browning. The easiest way to do this is to take the skillet off the heat, arrange the meat on one side of the skillet, and tip it slightly so the oil pools on the opposite side. Use a large spoon to scoop out the excess oil and transfer it to a small bowl, can, or similar container.
- Let the sausage mixture cool slightly before assembling the casserole so the hot meat does not start cooking the eggs.
- If refrigerating overnight, let the casserole sit at room temperature for a little while before baking to take some of the chill off the dish. Some bakeware does not do well with extreme temperature changes.
💌 Save this recipe
We'll email it to you so you can find it later!
We'll send you occasional emails from Cook2eatwell. Unsubscribe anytime.
Nutrition
The nutritional information above is computer generated and is only an estimate. There is no guarantee that it is accurate. This data is provided as a courtesy for informational purposes only.
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