Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole - Quick, Easy, Kid Friendly! (2024)

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ThisTater Tot Breakfast Casseroleis a crowd favorite! An easy brunch recipe that’s brimming with gooey cheese, bacon, sausage, and eggs, and topped with crispy, yet fluffy tater tots.

This tater tot breakfast casserole is making my breakfast dreams come true. I love the ease of a breakfast casserole and hellloooo there’s tater tots — who doesn’t LOVE tater tots?!

Ingredients

This tater tot breakfast casserole is all your favorite breakfast foods in one dish! Win!

• Bacon– adds a smoky flavor that can’t be beat! The leftover grease is used to cook and flavor the sausage and veggies.
• Breakfast Sausage– any variety of pork breakfast sausage will work. We like Jimmy Dean Hot.
• Yellow Onion, Red Bell Pepper, Green Bell Pepper, and Garlic – my classic breakfast veggie blend. Adds texture, sweet, caramel-y flavors, and nutrients!
• Salt, Pepper, and Garlic Powder – our simple seasoning blend that enhances the other ingredients in the dish and adds a lightly spicy, nutty flavor.
• Cheddar Cheese– gives the casserole a sharp cheesy flavor and insanely melty, ooey-gooey, creamy texture.
• Frozen Tater Tots– no thawing necessary! Feel free to use your favorite brand!
• Eggs– bulks up the casserole and helps bind everything together.
• Half-and-Half– adds moisture and a creamy texture.

How to make

This tater tot breakfast casserole takes 30 minutes to prep!

1. In a large sauté pan, cook bacon until crispy, then remove, crumble, and set aside.
2. In the same pan, cook sausage, onion, and bell peppers with garlic, salt, and pepper until the veggies are tender and the meat is cooked through. Drain the grease then stir in cooked and crumbled bacon.
3. Transfer the mixture to a greased baking dish then sprinkle evenly with cheese.Layer on the tater tots and set aside.
4. In a medium bowl whisk together eggs, half-and-half, and additional seasonings.
5. Pour the egg mixture over the top of the tater tot mixture.
6. Bake until the eggs have set, cool, then serve and enjoy!

Do you cook the tater tots first?

Do not thaw or cook the tater tots before incorporating them into this recipe. You want them to be completely frozen when you’re adding them to the casserole. If they’re thawed they may become mushy and soggy (or the opposite – completely overcook) instead of getting crispy as they bake.

Tips

• Drain the grease.Don’t forget to drain the grease after you cook the sausage. Otherwise the casserole may be too greasy.
• Use frozen tater tots.If your tater tots are thawed they might get soggy as the casserole cooks.

Variations

• Make it cheesier.Either swap the cheddar for another type of cheese or add other cheeses. Feta, mozzarella, parmesan, gruyere, you name it.
• Add more veggies.The onion and peppers are classic but feel free to mix in sautéed spinach, mushrooms, broccoli florets, etc. Be sure to drain any excess water from the additional veggies, because it may stop the casserole from setting properly.
• Make it vegetarian.Swap the breakfast sausage and bacon for meatless varieties of each or omit them and add in more veggies to bulk up the casserole.

What to serve with tater tot breakfast casserole

This tater tot breakfast casserole is delicious on its own but feel free to serve it brunch style with a few other delicious breakfast recipes! Here are some ideas.

• Fruit Salad
• Cinnamon Rolls
• Double Chocolate Banana Muffins
• Waffles
• Sausage Gravy
• Mimosas

Can you make tater tot breakfast casserole ahead of time?

To make your casserole ahead of time, assemble as directed through step 9, leave the tater tots and egg mixture off, let it come to room temperature, then cover and store in the fridge up to a day in advance or in the freezer for up to 3 weeks.

When you’re ready to bake, layer on the tater tots and egg mixture and bake as directed.

How to store

Leftover breakfast casserole will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for 1-2 months.

To reheat,bake in the oven to warm and re-crisp the tater tots or warm single servings in the microwave.

– Jennifer