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.
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, crock pot breakfast casserole, and chile relleno casserole.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
See the complete list of ingredients below on the recipe card.
- Ground sausage: 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.
- Onion: Sweet yellow is best, but you can use any onion
- Bell peppers: I use red and green, but other colored bell peppers also work. Other veggies to add include mushrooms, broccoli, spinach, and carrots.
- Cheese: shredded sharp cheddar and pepper jack, but any good melting cheese, such as Monterey Jack or Gruyere, will work.
- Milk: whole or 2%
How to Make Tator Tot Breakfast Casserole
This is the summary version; see the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients and the instructions.
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 Monterey Jack cheese.
Then, whisk 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.
Preparation Tips
- Remove any excess grease from the skillet by tilting the pan and absorbing the grease with paper towels.
- 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. See below for more information on preparing this casserole in advance.
How To Make 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.
More Egg Recipes
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
- Remove any excess grease from the skillet by tilting the pan and absorbing the grease with paper towels.
- 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. See below for more information on preparing this casserole in advance.
Nutrition
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Bedabrata
Looks absolutely mouth-watering. Quick question – can you please suggest any substitute for eggs for my vegetarian family and friends?
Emily
Oh my goodness, this was so yummy! I love a hearty breakfast, and tater tots are among my favourite breakfast foods.
Lisa
My kids loved this tator tot breakfast casserole. They had friends over to spend the night and everyone loved it. I liked that it was easy to make.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Lisa! I am so happy that everyone liked it. Kids are hard to please!
joy
i cannot wait to make this for brunch this weekend!!! i love tater tots and all things breakfast foods so definitely will be trying.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Joy! Enjoy!
Marley
This was delicious, and it is good any time of day! Nice to have something a little different from our regular breakfast foods. Thanks for the recipe.
Beth Pierce
My pleasure, Marley!
Stacy
This looks so good! I could eat this at any time of day, not just breakfast. And every day, lol. I can’t wait to try this one out!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Stacy! Enjoy!
Kristine
YUM! I grew up with this breakfast casserole. There were 7 of us starving kids to feed, and we devoured multiple pans of these! Thanks for the memories. I didn’t make it much with my kids, but I wonder if my grandson would like it!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Kristine!
Ben
Nice! I made this on Sunday for my son while he’s at home on leave, and everyone devoured it. It’s so good.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Ben! I am so happy that everyone loved the casserole!
Claudia
This is my husband’s new favorite weekend breakfast. I made it this past Saturday, and it was gone in two days!
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Claudia! I am so glad that your husband likes it.
Michelle Robertson
This looks like a super easy breakfast recipe. We’re always looking for quick things to grab in the morning, so I’m excited to try this one!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Michelle! Enjoy!
Trevor
We’ve made this casserole several times and it always turns out perfectly! Making it again for Easter!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Trevor! Happy Easter!
Sally
Perfect breakfast, so delicious. The family loved it.
Elizabeth B
Love this breakfast casserole recipe, so easy and delicious. I love that I can prepare the evening before. That makes for a great Sunday brunch. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Beth Pierce
My pleasure, Elizabeth.
Catherine J
What a wonderful dish for brunches or weekend breakfasts with the family. It was delicious and easy to prepare!
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Catherine! I am so glad that you liked it!