This Tater Tot Egg Casserole is a hearty, all-in-one breakfast that is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser. Packed with savory breakfast sausage, fluffy eggs, and crispy potatoes, it delivers all your morning favorites in a single, convenient dish.
With a golden, cheesy crust and a satisfying filling, this casserole is the perfect solution for feeding a hungry family or hosting a holiday brunch.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: This dish is savory and comforting, featuring spiced breakfast sausage, mild cheesy eggs, and the nostalgic taste of toasted potato puffs.
- Texture: You get a wonderful contrast between the soft, fluffy egg mixture and the slightly crisp texture of the tater tots and gooey melted cheese.
- Time: 15 minutes prep, 60 minutes bake time.
- Difficulty: Easy. It involves browning sausage and mixing ingredients in a dish.
What You’ll Need
To make this casserole, you will need a large skillet to cook the sausage and a 9×13 baking dish for the main assembly. A medium bowl and whisk are necessary for the egg mixture. The ingredients rely on frozen staples like tater tots, combined with fresh eggs, milk, and plenty of cheese.
Ingredient Notes
- Breakfast Sausage – You will need 1 pound of regular or hot breakfast sausage. Cooking and crumbling it first ensures every bite of the casserole is savory and meaty.
- Tater Tots – Use a 30-ounce bag of frozen tater tots. There is no need to thaw them beforehand; they bake perfectly right in the egg mixture.
- Cheese – A Mexican blend or cheddar cheese adds a nice melt and sharpness. You will use most of it inside the casserole and save the rest for the topping.
- Eggs – Eight large eggs provide the structure and protein for the custard base.
- Milk – Milk creates a fluffy texture in the eggs.
- Spices – A combination of kosher salt, black pepper, granulated garlic (or garlic powder), and onion powder seasons the egg mixture thoroughly.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Vegetables – Sautéed bell peppers, onions, or spinach can be added to the sausage mixture for extra color and nutrition.
- Spicy Kick – If you like heat, use hot breakfast sausage or add a dash of hot sauce to the egg and milk mixture.
- Meat – Turkey sausage or a plant-based sausage crumble works well if you want a lighter option.
How to Make Tater Tot Egg Casserole
- Prep: Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease a 9×13 baking dish with butter and set aside.
- Cook Sausage: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook and crumble the breakfast sausage until browned and cooked through.
- Assemble the Base: Place the frozen tater tots in the prepared baking dish, along with the cooked sausage and 1½ cups of the cheese. Stir gently to combine them so the ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Make Egg Mixture: In a medium-sized bowl, combine the eggs, milk, kosher salt, black pepper, granulated garlic, and onion powder. Whisk until well combined.
- Pour and Top: Pour the egg mixture evenly over the tater tots and sausage in the baking dish. Top with the remaining ½ cup of cheese.
- Bake: Bake for 55-60 minutes until the eggs have set and the top is golden brown around the edges.
- Serve: Serve warm.
Pro Tip: Distribute the sausage and cheese evenly among the tater tots before pouring the eggs. This ensures that every scoop has a perfect ratio of meat, potatoes, and cheese, rather than having all the good stuff sink to the bottom.
Recipe Tips
- Check for Doneness: The center should be set, not jiggly. If the top is browning too quickly before the eggs are cooked, cover the dish loosely with foil for the last 15 minutes.
- Grease the Pan: Eggs love to stick to bakeware. Make sure you grease the 9×13 dish thoroughly with butter or non-stick spray for easy cleanup.
- Serve Warm: This casserole is best enjoyed immediately while the tots are warm and the cheese is gooey.
FAQs
- Can I make this ahead of time? Yes, you can assemble the entire casserole the night before, cover it tightly, and refrigerate it. You may need to add 10-15 minutes to the baking time if it is going into the oven cold.
- Can I freeze this? Yes, bake the casserole completely, let it cool, and then freeze individual slices or the whole dish. Reheat in the microwave or oven.
- Do I need to thaw the tots? No, keep them frozen. Thawing them might make them fall apart when you stir them with the sausage and cheese.
Serving Suggestions
- Salsa and Sour Cream: Serve with a side of fresh salsa and sour cream for a Tex-Mex vibe.
- Fruit: A fresh fruit salad is a refreshing side dish that balances the savory richness of the casserole.
- Avocado: Sliced avocado or guacamole adds a creamy, fresh element on top.
Make This Recipe in Advance
- Overnight Assembly: This is an excellent overnight breakfast casserole. Assemble it fully, cover it with plastic wrap or foil, and keep it in the fridge.
- Morning Bake: In the morning, remove the plastic wrap and bake as directed, adding a few extra minutes since the ingredients will be cold.
Tater Tot Egg Casserole
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 8-10 Servings 1x
Description
This Tater Tot Egg Casserole is a hearty, all-in-one breakfast that is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser. Packed with savory breakfast sausage, fluffy eggs, and crispy potatoes, it delivers all your morning favorites in a single, convenient dish. With a golden, cheesy crust and a satisfying filling, this casserole is the perfect solution for feeding a hungry family or hosting a holiday brunch.
Ingredients
- 1 pound regular or hot breakfast sausage, cooked and crumbled
- 30 ounces frozen tater tots (do not thaw)
- 2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese or Cheddar cheese, divided
- 8 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic (or garlic powder)
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
Prep
Preheat your oven to 350ºF (175ºC). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish generously with butter or non-stick spray and set aside.
Cook Sausage
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the breakfast sausage, breaking it up with a spoon until it is browned and cooked through. Drain any excess grease if necessary.
Assemble the Base
Place the frozen tater tots directly into the prepared baking dish. Add the cooked crumbled sausage and 1 ½ cups of the cheese. Stir gently right in the dish to distribute the meat and cheese evenly among the potatoes.
Make Egg Mixture
In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, kosher salt, black pepper, granulated garlic, and onion powder until well combined and frothy.
Pour and Top
Pour the egg mixture evenly over the tater tot and sausage mixture. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of cheese over the top.
Bake
Bake for 55 to 60 minutes. The eggs should be fully set (no longer jiggly in the center) and the cheese should be golden brown around the edges.
Serve
Let the casserole sit for 5 minutes to firm up, then serve warm.
Notes
Make Ahead: This is an excellent overnight breakfast option. Assemble the entire casserole (steps 1-5), cover tightly with foil, and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, bake as directed, adding about 10-15 minutes to the cooking time since the dish is cold.
Don’t Thaw the Tots: Keep the tater tots frozen until you assemble the dish. Thawing them beforehand can cause them to fall apart and become mushy when stirred.
Browning Too Fast? If the cheese topping is getting dark before the eggs are set in the center, loosely cover the dish with foil for the last 15 minutes of baking.
Even Distribution: Mixing the sausage and cheese with the tots before pouring the eggs is the pro tip here. It prevents all the good stuff from sinking to the bottom or sitting only on top.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Breakfast / Brunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Square
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 215mg
Keywords: tater tot casserole, breakfast casserole, sausage egg bake, overnight breakfast recipe, brunch ideas, cheesy potato casserole, holiday breakfast
