There's nothing better than a hearty breakfast that feeds a crowd without the fuss. This Easy Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole with Sausage layers crispy golden tots, savory sausage, fluffy eggs, and melty cheese into one cozy dish. It's perfect for holidays like a Christmas morning breakfast casserole, weekend brunch, or breakfast-for-dinner when you want something comforting but effortless.
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Why You'll Love This Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
- It's a one pan breakfast recipe
- It's a great weekend brunch idea to feed a crowd
- It uses frozen tater tots, so no thawing required
Ingredients You'll Need
Breakfast sausage (mild or spicy), cooked and crumbled - this can be substituted for cooked bacon bits or ham or even left out!
Eggs - the custard that holds the casserole together - the eggs cannot be replaced
Milk - you can use half-and-half for creamier texture
Shredded cheddar cheese - can be swapped for any cheese combination
1 (32-oz) Bag frozen tater tots - no need to thaw
Salt & black pepper - for seasoning
Optional: chopped green onions for garnish
How to make Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Cook sausage in a skillet over medium heat until browned and crumbly. Drain any excess fat.Whisk eggs, milk, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
Layer cooked sausage in the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle over 1½ cups cheese. Arrange tater tots evenly on top. Pour egg mixture over everything. Don't worry if the tots float a bit.
Bake uncovered 50 - 60 minutes, until eggs are set and tots are golden. For even browning, use the middle oven rack. Top with remaining cheese and bake 5 more minutes until melted. Cool slightly before slicing. Garnish with green onions if you like.
Tip: Bake uncovered so the tater tots crisp up instead of steaming.
Get the Recipe
Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
Description
This easy Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole with Sausage is a cozy, make-ahead breakfast that's perfect for weekends, holidays, or feeding a crowd. It's layered with crispy tater tots, savory sausage, fluffy eggs, and melted cheese all baked together in one pan. Simple to prep, endlessly customizable, and guaranteed to disappear fast.
Ingredients
- 1 lb breakfast sausage, cooked and crumbled
- 12 eggs
- 1 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 bag frozen Tater Tots
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 green onion, chopped, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Cook sausage in a skillet over medium heat until browned and crumbly. Drain any excess fat.
- Whisk 12 eggs, 1 1/2 cups milk, 1 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper in a large bowl.
- Layer cooked sausage in the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle over 1½ cups cheese.
- Arrange frozen tater tots evenly on top.
- Pour egg mixture over everything. Don't worry if the tots float a bit.
- Bake uncovered 50 - 55 minutes, until eggs are set and tots are golden.
- Top with remaining cheese and bake 5 more minutes until melted.
- Cool slightly before slicing. Garnish with green onions if you like.
Equipment
Buy Now →Notes
This is a great base recipe and is very versatile. Feel free to swap bacon bits, or diced ham instead of sausage. If you add any vegetables like zucchini, spinach, or peppers be sure to drain out any excess water before adding the egg mixture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Variations & Swaps
Some delicious variations could be to swap the sausage with cooked bacon bits and cubed ham. You could make this breakfast casserole more vegetable heavy and add some cooked and drained spinach, or some sauteed onions and bell peppers.
Make-Ahead Instructions
Here's a couple ways you could make this recipe ahead of time:
- You can assemble it completely, and bake in the morning. I would check the casserole at about 40 minutes to make sure it's not over baking since the tater tots will have thawed overnight and the casserole might not take the full hour to set.
- Another way to make it ahead would be to assemble and bake and reheat the next day. Reheat gently at 350 degrees for 10 - 15 minutes until it's warm all the way through.
Storage & Reheating Tips
Store any leftovers in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat leftovers in the microwave, oven or air fryer. I don't recommend freezing since cooked eggs don't typically freeze well, so freeze leftovers at your own discretion.
What to Serve with Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
I love a refreshing fruit salad alongside this heavy casserole. You could also add some biscuits and gravy, which some white pepper gravy would be delicious on top of this casserole. I also enjoy some yummy roasted vegetables. Here's my Breakfast Roasted Vegetables - just swap out the potatoes since the casserole has tater tots. You could do butternut squash or any other root veggie.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but check the casserole for doneness at about 40 - 45 minutes to make sure it's not over baking since the tater tots have thawed.
Yes, but you need to defrost them before using. They will not create a crispy top as the tater tots do, and the casserole will have a slightly different texture.
Reheating leftovers in the air fryer will be the best way to keep them crispy. I'd start at 350 degrees for 3-5 minutes or until warmed through.
Whether you're cooking for a holiday crowd or just want to make mornings easier, this Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole never disappoints. It's easy, filling, and endlessly adaptable. If you give it a try, leave a comment or tag me on Instagram. I'd love to see your version.
Anon says
Delicious and easy. Family favorite for a big gathering