Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole is the cozy morning meal everyone gets excited about. Crispy tots, savory sausage, and plenty of melty cheese bake together into one warm, golden dish that hits all the breakfast cravings with almost no effort.
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A Note from Kim
Holiday Morning (or Any Morning!) Favorite
For Christmas brunch, it’s either my tater tot breakfast casserole or my grandma’s overnight sausage breakfast casserole with cinnamon rolls or monkey bread. Both are total crowd-pleasers, but the tater tot version wins for its simplicity and ease. It’s ready with minimal effort, so you can enjoy the morning chaos without spending forever in the kitchen.
Even outside the holidays, this breakfast bake is perfect for any morning. Crispy tots, savory sausage, melty cheese, and fluffy eggs come together in one pan, making it a foolproof dish that’s hearty, comforting, and always hits the spot.
With love (and lots of good eats), 
The whole family loved this!! Has been officially added to the kids’ “approved” meal list!
— Livi
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Pork breakfast sausage: Adds savory, flavorful protein that pairs perfectly with eggs and cheese.
- Tater tots: Crispy, golden, and fun! They form the hearty base of the casserole and add texture.
- Cheddar cheese: Melts beautifully throughout, giving rich, gooey flavor in every bite.
- Eggs: Bind the casserole together and provide a fluffy, custardy layer.
- Milk: Lightens the egg mixture and helps create a creamy, tender texture.
- Seasoned salt & black pepper: Simple seasonings that enhance all the flavors without overpowering. Onion powder is another seasoning that works great in this recipe.
- Green onions or chives: Optional for garnish to add a fresh, mild bite and bright color.
Variations/Substitutions
- Swap the sausage: Try bacon, diced ham, turkey sausage, or even chorizo for a flavorful twist. You will need about 1 pound (or 2 cups cooked) of whichever meat option you choose.
- Use different cheese: Cheddar is classic, but pepper jack, Colby, Monterey Jack, or a blend all melt beautifully.
- Add veggies: Sautéed bell peppers, onions, spinach, or mushrooms would make it more colorful and nutritious.
- Try different tots or potatoes: Use cauliflower tots, sweet potato tots, or hash browns for a fun change.
- Spice it up: Add a dash of hot sauce, Cajun seasoning, or smoked paprika to the egg mixture. This is also great served with your favorite salsa!
Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 pound pork breakfast sausage, cooked and crumbled
- 30 ounces frozen tater tots
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 8 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1 ½ teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Freshly chopped green onions, optional for garnish
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Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick cooking spray and set aside. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook and crumble the 1 pound pork breakfast sausage.
- Place the 30 ounces frozen tater tots in the baking dish, along with the cooked sausage and 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese. Stir to combine.
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk the 8 large eggs, 1 cup milk, 1 ½ teaspoon seasoned salt, and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper. Pour the egg mixture over the tater tots in the baking dish and evenly top with the remaining ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese.
- Bake for about 50 minutes until the eggs have set and the top is golden brown around the edges. Serve warm.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
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How to Make Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
Step 1: Brown sausage. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook and crumble the breakfast sausage.
Step 2: Combine. Place the frozen tater tots in the baking dish, along with the cooked sausage and 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese. Stir to combine.
Step 3: Whisk egg mixture. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, seasoned salt, and ground black pepper.
Step 4: Add egg mixture. Pour the egg mixture over the tater tots in the baking dish and evenly top with the remaining ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese.
Step 5: Bake. Place in oven and bake for about 50 minutes until the eggs have set and the top is golden brown around the edges. Serve warm.
Kim’s Recipe Tips
- Drain the sausage: After cooking, remove excess grease so the casserole doesn’t turn out oily.
- Whisk well: Make sure the egg mixture is fully combined before pouring so it cooks evenly.
- Rest before slicing: Let the casserole sit for 5–10 minutes after baking to firm up and make cleaner slices.
- Cover if browning too fast: If the top gets too dark before the center is set, loosely tent with foil.
- Check doneness: The center should be set (no jiggle!) and a knife inserted should come out clean.
What to Serve With Breakfast Casserole
- Fresh fruit: Brighten up the plate with berries, melon, or a simple fruit salad. The sweetness balances all those savory flavors.
- Something sweet: Cinnamon roll casserole, brioche French toast, or cranberry orange muffins are always a hit, especially for holiday breakfasts!
- Pancakes: Fluffy cinnamon roll pancakes or cozy gingerbread pancakes add a sweet, festive touch that pairs perfectly with the savory casserole.
- Biscuits, toast, or English muffins: Something bready is perfect for scooping up every last bite.
- Green salad: Sounds simple, but a crisp salad pairs surprisingly well for brunch.
- Coffee and juice: A must! Hot coffee and orange juice (or a holiday punch!) tie everything together.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can prep the casserole the night before, just assemble everything as directed, cover tightly, and refrigerate. When ready to cook, remove the cold casserole from the fridge while the oven preheats. You may still need to add 5–10 extra minutes of cook time.
Nope! Keep them frozen, they hold their shape better and help the casserole bake evenly.
Assemble everything in an 8×8 or 9×9 baking dish and reduce the cook time slightly, checking for doneness around 35–45 minutes.
How to Store, Freeze and Reheat Breakfast Casserole
- Storing leftovers: Let the casserole cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. For best texture, reheat in the oven until warmed through, it keeps the tots crisp and the eggs tender.
- Freeze for later: Bake the casserole as directed, cool fully, then wrap tightly in foil (or place in a freezer-safe container) and freeze for up to 2 months.
- Thaw + reheat: When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw overnight in the fridge, then warm in the oven until hot in the center. This brings it back to that fresh-baked goodness.
If you try this tater tot breakfast casserole recipe, let me know! Leave a comment and if your family loves these cookies as much as mine does, be sure to give it a five star ⭐️ rating! Also, tag @kimscravings on Instagram with a picture of your creation. Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more delicious recipes straight to your inbox.
Love this! It’s a quick breakfast for a lot of guest!
The whole family loved this!! Has been officially added to the kids’ “approved” meal list!
Make this casserole at least once a month. My family always fights over who gets the leftovers, if there are any!
Love to hear that!
Made this for a friend weekend brunch. Positive feedback all around. I will make this again.