Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole

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If there's one breakfast my family can't get enough of, it's my Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole recipe. It's ready to enjoy in 30 minutes, and it can be prepared ahead of time to enjoy easy breakfasts all week! This is one of the best cheap meals for large families and is so delicious. You can even serve it as breakfast for dinner!

Jump to:

• Tater Tot Casserole
• Breakfast Casserole with Tater Tots Ingredients
• Tater Tots Casserole Instructions
• Tater Tot Bake Recipe Tips
• Storing Leftovers
• FAQ
• Family Breakfast Recipes
• Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole Recipe
• Reviews

Tater Tot Casserole

When my kids were growing up, I relied on easy ways to serve breakfast in the morning. My go-to was always my cheesy egg scramble when I had the energy, but what about when I didn't feel like cooking first thing in the morning?

For a quick, easy breakfast recipe that will keep everyone full and happy until lunch without spending your morning in the kitchen, breakfast casserole is the answer. This breakfast casserole with tater tots is one of my family's very favorite casseroles! You can serve it for a fun breakfast for dinner, too.

My cheesy tater tot casserole, like my breakfast sausage casserole, is super easy to make. It combines two family favorites into a recipe that only takes 15 minutes or less to prep and 25 to bake. It's even budget-friendly! The ingredients are so simple. You just need a handful of breakfast staples you most likely already have in your fridge, like eggs, milk, and cheese.

Breakfast Casserole with Tater Tots Ingredients

• Eggs: When it's an option, I prefer farm-fresh eggs. They really do have a better taste and texture than regular store-bought eggs. If you can't get farm-fresh, though, I recommend looking for pasture-raised eggs. They're very close to farm-fresh and superior to cage-free eggs.
• Butter: While I recommend using unsalted butter so you can adjust the flavors to your exact taste, you can use salted butter if it's what you have or if it's your preference.
• Milk: I'm using whole milk, but you can use any % of milk you want.
• Tater Tots: You don't need to thaw the tater tots; they'll get soggy if you do. Let them stay frozen until you're ready to make the casserole.
• Breakfast Sausage: Use your favorite ground breakfast sausage for this recipe. Personally, I love hot breakfast sausage for the kick of spice, but sage breakfast sausage or maple breakfast sausage are also great choices. You can use pre-cooked sausage to make the prep time even faster if you want.
• Cheddar: Sharp cheddar is a great complement to the other flavors in my tater tot casserole. You can use other cheeses, too, but cheddar works very well. I recommend grating your own cheese off of a block of cheddar instead of buying it shredded; store-bought shredded cheese has an anti-caking powder that clumps up more.
• Parsley: Fresh parsley adds a vibrant burst of flavor to this tater tot casserole. It's optional, but I definitely recommend it. If you want to add fresh parsley, add it when you're ready to serve the casserole for best flavor.
• Pepper: Freshly cracked black pepper works best.
• Maple Syrup: Optional, but a little bit of maple syrup adds a lot of extra depth to my cheesy tater tot casserole! Definitely give it a try if you have some on hand.

Tater Tots Casserole Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. While it heats, grease a 9 by 13-inch baking dish with butter and set it aside.
   
2. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, milk, and pepper. Whisk it well until everything is nicely combined.
   
3. If using fresh sausage, add it to a pan with a Tablespoon of maple syrup and cook until it's browned and crumbled. If using pre-cooked sausage, skip ahead to the next step.
4. In the baking dish, add frozen tater tots, sausage crumbles, and 2 cups of the cheddar cheese, mixing it all up together.
   
5. Pour the egg mixture over top and give it a quick stir to combine everything, then layer it with the rest of the cheddar cheese.
   
6. Transfer the baking dish to the oven and bake for 25 minutes, then set to broil and cook for 3 minutes or until the top is browned and crispy.
   
7. Remove from the oven, sprinkle with parsley, and serve!
   

Tater Tot Bake Recipe Tips

• I use sharp cheddar cheese for this recipe, but other shredded cheeses also work, like pepper jack cheese or a Mexican cheese blend.
• Maple syrup is optional, but it adds excellent sweet and savory flavor.
• You can use pre-cooked breakfast sausage or cook it fresh yourself. If you're taking it out of the freezer, let it thaw first.
• Turkey sausage works well, too. Keep in mind turkey sausage takes longer to cook.
• This dish is customizable. Mix it up now and then by adding new veggies, like sliced bell peppers (red bell pepper is my favorite in this recipe!), peppers and onions, or broccoli. Sliced avocado on the side is great, too. Or, spice it up with a dash of hot sauce or salsa!
• One ingredient I love to add to this recipe is bacon. My candied bacon or air fryer bacon make a great topping when crumbled and spread evenly over the casserole, or mixed through with the sausage.
• No need to add any extra salt, as the other ingredients contain enough. If you want to add any extra salt, I recommend kosher salt.
• This is a perfect make-ahead dish. Assemble it in the evening, pop it in the fridge, and bake it the following day!

Storing Leftovers

Store leftover breakfast casserole with tater tots in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. To freeze it, add it to an airtight freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to 4 months. Make sure to label with the date!

Reheating

Reheating this breakfast casserole is easy! You can reheat it in the microwave after breaking it into smaller pieces to let them heat evenly or heat it in the oven or air fryer. I love heating it in the air fryer to get that crispy top!

FAQ

Family Breakfast Recipes

• Sausage Casserole for Breakfast
• Ham Casserole with Potatoes
• Casserole French Toast
• Cheesy Egg Scramble
• Or whip up a Southern classic with my decadent biscuits and Sausage Gravy!

Looking for more potato casseroles? Try out my slow cooker Cowboy Casserole!

If you enjoyed the recipe, leave a comment and a rating below!

Updated 8/29/2024 to include new information and tips.