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This tater tot breakfast casserole is your new kitchen hero - 15 minutes prep, 25 minutes bake, and totally freezer-friendly! It's hearty, cheesy, and ready anytime for breakfast (or breakfast for dinner!).
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When my kids were growing up, I relied on easy ways to serve breakfast in the mornings. On lucky days, I'd have the time to make a cheesy egg scramble - but on those busy mornings, that wasn't an option. That's when breakfast casseroles became my go-to!
This tater tot breakfast casserole checks all the boxes. It combines two family favorites - breakfast food and tater tots - into one hearty, cheesy dish. With only 15 minutes to prep and 25 minutes to bake, it's ready in 40 minutes or less.
Plus, you can assemble it ahead and bake it later, making it a perfect choice for busy mornings, casual dinners, or brunch with friends! You only need a handful of easy ingredients.
Ingredients in Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
| Ingredient | Notes & Substitutions |
|---|---|
| Eggs | When it's an option, I prefer farm-fresh eggs. If you can't get farm-fresh, I recommend looking for pasture-raised 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. Hot, sage, and maple breakfast sausage are 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. |
| Parsley (Optional) | Fresh parsley adds a vibrant burst of flavor to this tater tot casserole. 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. |
How to Make Tater Tots Casserole
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. While it heats, grease a 9 by 13-inch baking dish with butter and set it aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the eggs, milk, and pepper. Whisk it well until everything is nicely combined.
- 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.
- In the baking dish, add frozen tater tots, sausage crumbles, and 2 cups of the cheddar cheese, mixing it all up together.
- 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.
- 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.
- Remove from the oven, sprinkle with parsley, and serve!
Isabel's Top Tips for Making Tater Tot Casserole
- 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!
If your tater tot casserole is frozen, before heating the frozen casserole, let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight. When ready to bake, bake at 400°F for about 30-40 minutes, or until browned on top and heated through. If the top is browning more quickly than the casserole heats on the inside, cover it with foil and place it back in the oven.
Make-Ahead Instructions
Fully assemble the casserole 1-2 days ahead of time (just 24 hours is best) and bake it right before it's ready to serve. This saves lots of time and makes for a fresh, hot meal on the spot. It's perfect for family gatherings or busy weekdays! And don't worry, the tots won't get soggy.
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!
Serve this tater tot casserole for a sit-down breakfast, or flip it into dinner mode when you're craving something easy but satisfying. It's budget-friendly, freezer-friendly, and always a hit!
Once you try it, it's bound to become one of your family's go-to favorites. Just like it was for mine!
Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole Recipe
Equipment
- Large mixing bowl
- 9 by 13 inch baking dish
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon Butter - melted
- 6 Eggs
- 1¼ cup Milk
- 1 teaspoon Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 28 oz Tater tots - frozen
- 1 lb Breakfast sausage - fresh or pre-cooked
- 3 cups Cheddar cheese - shredded
- 2 Tablespoons Parsley - chopped
- 1 Tablespoon Maple syrup - optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. While it heats, grease a 9 by 13-inch baking dish with butter and set it aside.1 Tablespoon Butter
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the eggs, milk, and pepper. Whisk it well until everything is nicely combined.6 Eggs,1¼ cup Milk,1 teaspoon Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- If using fresh sausage, add it to a pan with a tablespoon of maple syrup and cook it until it's browned and crumbled.1 Tablespoon Maple syrup
- In the baking dish, add the frozen tater tots, sausage crumbles, and 2 cups of the cheddar cheese, mixing it all up together.28 oz Tater tots,1 lb Breakfast sausage
- Pour the egg mixture over top and give it a quick stir to combine everything, then cover it with the rest of the cheddar cheese.3 cups Cheddar cheese
- 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.
- Remove from the oven, sprinkle with parsley, and serve!2 Tablespoons Parsley
Notes
- You can use pre-cooked sausage crumbles, or cook up your own fresh sausage and crumble it. Both will be delicious!
- This is a perfect make-ahead dish. Assemble it in the evening, then just pop it in the fridge and bake it the next morning!
- I love throwing this ultra-easy casserole together the night before I have family over in the morning. Everyone devours it, and it makes breakfast easy!
- Looking for even more flavor? Try adding some sauteed onions and green pepper! Or top the whole dish with sliced green onion for a little extra bite.
- If you love egg casseroles, you'll love them even more if you use farm eggs. Check your area for anyone selling eggs; they're so worth it!
Don Y says
We cook dinner monthly, for 24, at the local mens shelter. Will definitely do this one as "Breakfast for Dinner." I'll let you know how it is received. BTW, plan to do a smaller recipe for the us at home
Isabel Laessig says
That is wonderful, Don. Thank you for what you do! I would love to know how it goes over- and please enjoy the batch for yourself, too!
Linda says
Can’t wait to make this for breakfast!
Isabel Laessig says
I hope you loved it, Linda!