Tater Tot Sausage Breakfast Casserole

Tater tot sausage breakfast casserole has savory sausage, fluffy eggs and gooey cheese all topped with crispy brown tater tots. It’s a great recipe to make for a group or for meal prep to make meals faster, and your family will go crazy for the potato tots on top!

 

Why We Love Tater Tot Sausage Breakfast Casserole

• Prepare it ahead – You can prepare the bulk of this delicious breakfast casserole up to 24 hours or leave it overnight before baking which can save you time later on!
• Family friendly – Something about those golden brown cheesy tater tots on top of this casserole gets both kids and adults excited to run to the table. This is also a great recipe to make for a crowd or for the holidays like for Christmas morning or Easter brunch.
• Customize It – You can customize pieces of this recipe with what you have in your own pantry and fridge, see more info in the article further down the page.
• Try This Recipe For Meal Prep – Leftovers reheat well from this hearty breakfast the next morning, and they also will freeze well in individual portions to prep easy meals for later.

Ingredients For Tater Tot Sausage Breakfast Casserole

• onion – diced
• olive oil
• breakfast sausage – You can use loose ground meat or chop up links.
• tater tots – use frozen tater tots, divided. You can also use the smaller potato rounds.
• Colby Jack cheese – shredded, divided. Our family also liked cheddar cheese and sometimes pepper jack cheese.
• eggs
• milk
• garlic powder
• salt
• black pepper
• green onions – optional garnish

How To Make Tater Tot Sausage Breakfast Casserole

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13 glass pan with cooking spray, then set to the side.
2. Add oil to a large skillet on medium heat and allow it to warm. Add diced onion. and saute until the onion is softened, about 3-4 minutes.

3. Place sausage to the pan and break it up with a spatula into small pieces as it cooks. Cook until sausage is no longer pink, about 10-12 minutes, then drain off any extra grease and set to the side.
4. In a large bowl mix together half of the tater tots, 1 ½ cups cheese and the sausage. You can leave a handful of sausage to the side to sprinkle on the top at the end to make it look more delicious if you like, but it doesn’t effect the taste. Pour the mixture into the prepared 9×13 pan.

5. In a medium bowl add eggs and scramble well with a whisk. Add milk, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to the eggs and mix until combined. Pour the egg mixture over the tater tot mixture in the pan.
6. Add the remaining tater tots to the top of the breakfast casserole in a single layer. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until the eggs are cooked.

7. Top the casserole with the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheese and the sausage you set to the side. Place the casserole back in the oven uncovered until the cheese is melted for about 5-10 minutes, then enjoy!

Variation Ideas

Keep in mind if you make a variation the final cooking time may vary slightly, especially if you load the casserole dish with extra ingredients!

Try Adding Extra Eggs – If you are stretching this casserole for a slightly larger crowd, it’s ok to add an extra egg or two to the mixture. Expect it may take slightly longer to cook, but it will be delicious!

Swap Different Types of Sausage – You can swap a link sausage in for a pound of ground sausage. You can also swap a turkey or chicken sausage, both links or lose ground sausage. If the sausage you choose is raw, you’ll need to cook it first before adding it to the casserole. If it is a smoked sausage (like chicken sausages that come in packed of four typically) you can slice and add it straight to the dish. Feel free to use any other cooked sausage you prefer, it’s doesn’t have to be “breakfast” sausage.

Add Peppers – Diced bell peppers can be added at the same step when you add the onion. I like to add anywhere between a half of a bell pepper and one whole bell pepper.

Try Mushrooms – Just like the bell peppers, mushrooms can easily be diced and added to this breakfast casserole for more great flavor.

Add Diced Tomatoes – I like to add chopped tomatoes or even pico de Gallo over top of this breakfast, it adds a freshness that is just delicious. These can be also added at the table as well.

Try Some Hot Sauce – Adding a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce to the eggs can give this casserole some good flavor if your family likes it. You can also add hot sauce or sriracha at the table to individual plates so the whole family can enjoy together.

Try Different Cheeses – We usually will grab Colby Jack, sharp cheddar cheese or Monterey jack cheese, but any melty cheese will work on top of the crispy tots.

Can I Prep This Casserole Ahead Of Time Or Overnight?

You can prepare the base of this casserole ahead of time either the night before or up to 24 hours in advance.

I do recommend not adding the tater tops on top of the casserole or the cheese until the day of. I have found in order to get the tater tots on top to be brown and crispier, it is best to add them right before baking. The cheese should be added at the very end of baking.

How Long Will Tater Tot Sausage Breakfast Casserole Last?

Expect leftovers will last for about 3 days in the refrigerator when stored in a closed airtight container.

How Do I Reheat This Breakfast Casserole?

Individual portions can be reheated in the microwave. I find the casserole can become a bit dry if you try to reheat it in the oven.

Can I Freeze Leftovers Of This Casserole?

You can portion this breakfast casserole into portions and store in freezer zip-top bags. I like to portion out slices and store with pieces of freezer paper in between the slices so I can pull the slices our more easily to reheat. Expect frozen this breakfast casserole will taste best when eaten within 2-3 months.