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This easy Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole with sausage, bacon, eggs and cheese is the perfect crowd-pleasing meal. Serve the tasty overnight breakfast casserole for a special holiday brunch, or whip up the dish and bake it right away for a busy weeknight dinner. With a side of fresh fruit, a crisp green salad, or a decadent sour cream coffee cake, this hearty, down-home dish is delicious at any time of day!
Table of Contents
If you love easy breakfast casserole recipes as much as we do, be sure to try this easy overnight brioche French toast casserole, a sausage breakfast casserole, this croissant breakfast casserole with berries, and a maple sausage and apple breakfast bake, too!
Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole with Sausage and Bacon
A really great brunch should include all of your favorite morning meats, and this cheesy Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole with sausage and bacon totally fits the bill! The meaty breakfast casserole also boasts plenty of cheddar cheese, onion, eggs and crispy potatoes for a flavorful, satisfying meal that bakes in one dish. Prep the easy breakfast casserole the night before if you need a convenient morning option, or bake it right away if you’re ready to dive in. You can also switch up the ingredients, such as adding more veggies, ham, or other types of cheese. Use the recipe as inspiration and make it your own. It’s versatile, simple, and always delicious!
What are Tater Tots?
“Tater tots” are grated potatoes formed into small cylinders and then deep-fried. They’re often served as a side dish for lunch or dinner (like French fries), but they’re also a tasty addition to breakfast or brunch, since they’re basically mini hash browns. These little nuggets of goodness also happen to be very convenient, because you can stash a bag in your freezer and bake them right away — no peeling or grating necessary! For this recipe, I use a 28-ounce bag of frozen extra-crispy Tater Tots. You can substitute with another variety or another brand, but I think these are the best!
What is a good sausage for breakfast casserole?
In addition to the tater tots, this casserole gets so much of its flavor from a really delicious sausage. There are many different options that will work, so pick your favorite. I like Jimmy Dean country mild sausage, but you can use a spicy pork sausage, Italian sausage or turkey sausage.
Ingredients
This is a quick overview of the ingredients that you’ll need to make the easy breakfast casserole. As always, specific measurements and complete cooking instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.
- Breakfast sausage: pick your favorite — mild, sweet, or spicy sausage will all work well.
- Onion: adds savory flavor to the meat mixture.
- Bacon: a classic, smoky addition to any breakfast casserole.
- Tater tots: purchase a bag of frozen tots and let them thaw before assembling the casserole. I like this Ore-Ida “extra-crispy” variety.
- Cheese: we like sharp cheddar cheese, but you can use almost any good melting cheese that you prefer.
- Eggs: form the base and structure of the casserole.
- Whole milk: you can substitute with 2% milk or heavy cream, but I do not recommend using non-fat milk or other non-dairy milks that don’t include a good amount of fat. The fat in the milk helps to give the egg custard a rich taste and a better texture.
- Garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper: for flavor!
How to Make a Breakfast Casserole with Tater Tots
Whether you’re serving this casserole on a Christmas morning buffet, for a special Easter brunch, as a lazy Sunday breakfast, or for a busy weeknight dinner, you’ll love the ease of the hearty dish.
- Brown the sausage with the onion. Drain off the grease and transfer the sausage mixture to a greased 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
- Cook the bacon in the same skillet until it’s nice and crispy, then add the bacon to the baking dish.
- Stir 2 cups of the Tater Tots and 1 cup of cheese into the baking dish with the meats.
- Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top.
- Whisk together the egg mixture in a large bowl, then pour the eggs into the baking dish.
- Arrange the remaining Tater Tots on top.
- Bake, uncovered, in a 350° F oven until the eggs are set, about 45 minutes.
- Let the casserole stand for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
- Garnish with fresh parsley, chives or chopped green onion.
What to Serve with the Easy Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
This hearty, easy breakfast casserole goes well with just about any of your favorite brunch dishes. Here are a few delicious options to serve with the casserole:
- Fresh fruit salad
- Morning Glory Muffins
- Orange Muffins
- Southern Buttermilk Biscuits
- Sour Cream Coffee Cake
- Farmhouse Cinnamon Rolls
- Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread
- French Farmhouse Breakfast Cake
- Amish Baked Oatmeal with Apples and Cinnamon
- Banana Nut Bread
- Lemon Blueberry Bread
- Pancakes or Waffles
- Southern Fried Apples
Make Ahead
This convenient casserole can be prepped in advance and then just popped in the oven. To do so, assemble the casserole according to the recipe instructions. Cover with foil and refrigerate for up to 12 hours. When ready to bake, allow the dish to come to room temperature on the counter for at least 30-60 minutes. Bake according to the recipe instructions.
Can you make Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole without waiting overnight?
Yes! If it’s more convenient, just assemble the casserole and bake it right away. It doesn’t need to sit in the fridge overnight — that option is merely for convenience.
Storage
The leftover casserole will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Bake a big pan on the weekend and reheat individual servings for quick breakfasts throughout the week!
How to Freeze
Bake in a freezer-safe pan (like a foil disposable pan) and cool completely. Wrap well in foil and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge the night before you plan to eat the casserole. Reheat the casserole in a 350° F oven for about 30 minutes, or until warmed through. You can also reheat individual slices in the microwave for about 1 minute.
Recipe Variations
- Italian Sausage Breakfast Casserole. Use your favorite brand of Italian sausage (mild, sweet or spicy). If purchasing the sausage in links, make sure to remove the casings before browning. Turkey sausage will also work well in this recipe!
- Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole with Ham. Substitute diced ham for the bacon or sausage.
- Try other types of cheese. Instead of the cheddar cheese, use Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, Colby, Gruyere, Swiss or mozzarella.
- Add veggies. Sauté bell peppers or mushrooms, for example, with the sausage and onion.
- For a smaller casserole, cut all of the ingredients in half and bake the casserole in a deep 8-inch or 9-inch square pan.
Tips for the Best Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
- Don’t forget to thaw your frozen tater tots before you assemble the casserole. You can do this in the refrigerator overnight, or just leave them out on your counter while you cook the meats and prepare the rest of your ingredients.
- Do not cover the casserole with foil while it’s baking. You want to allow the tater tots to get crispy and golden brown on top.
- Whole Milk. A full-fat milk (or cream) is your best bet for an egg custard with a rich texture and flavor. Low-fat milk will work, but I do not recommend using skim milk or non-dairy milk alternatives.
- Garnish. I like to add a bright, fresh garnish to the casserole just before serving. Chopped fresh parsley, green onions or chives are nice, but just about any of your favorite herbs (such as thyme, dill or basil) will work.
More Breakfast Casserole Recipes You’ll Love
- Sausage Breakfast Casserole
- Overnight Breakfast Casserole
- Sausage Hash Brown Casserole
- Baked Sausage and Cheese Omelet
- Sausage Gravy Breakfast Casserole {with biscuits}
Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lb. breakfast sausage
- 1 small onion, diced
- 6 slices bacon, chopped
- 1 (28-ounce) bag extra-crispy frozen Tater Tots, thawed and divided
- 2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese, divided
- 10 large eggs
- 1 ½ cups whole milk
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Optional garnish: sliced green onion, minced fresh chives, or chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and set aside.
- In a large skillet, cook sausage and onion until the meat is browned and crumbly, about 5-7 minutes. Drain off the grease and transfer the sausage mixture to the prepared baking dish.
- In the same skillet, cook bacon until crispy, about 7-9 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon to the baking dish with the sausage. Stir in 2 cups of the Tater Tots and 1 cup of the cheese. Spread in an even layer in the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle remaining 1 cup of cheese on top.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Pour over the sausage mixture. Arrange the remaining Tater Tots on top.
- Bake until golden brown and set in the center, about 45 minutes. Let stand for 15 minutes before serving. Garnish with green onion, chives, or parsley if desired.
Notes
- Don’t forget to thaw your frozen tater tots before you assemble the casserole. You can do this in the refrigerator overnight, or just leave them out on your counter while you cook the meats and prepare the rest of your ingredients.
- Do not cover the casserole with foil while it’s baking. You want to allow the tater tots on top to get crispy and golden brown.
- Whole Milk. A full-fat milk (or cream) is your best bet for an egg custard with a rich texture and flavor. Low-fat milk will work, but I do not recommend using skim milk or non-dairy milk alternatives.
- Garnish. I like to add a bright, fresh garnish to the casserole just before serving. Chopped fresh parsley, green onions or chives are nice, but just about any of your favorite herbs (such as thyme, dill or basil) will work.
I made this for breakfast this morning and it was amazing! I will admit that I added a few more ingredients to the mix. I added 1 red bell pepper, 2 fresno chile peppers and 2 cloves of garlic. It was perfect! I will wind up freezing the leftovers for another Sunday breakfast. Thank you for an amazing recipe!
That’s great, Patrick! Your additions sound perfect. Thank you for taking the time to come back here and leave a note!
This sounds yummy! Do you use the pre-shredded cheese in this or buy the chunk cheese and shred it yourself? Will try it soon… I’m sure my hubby and I will love it! Thanks for all your recipes and your website! 🙂
Hi Tess,
Either will work but shredding the cheese yourself will result in a bolder flavor. We hope you enjoy it!
Could I leave out the bacon and just use sausage? It looks yummy and would like to try for Easter brunch!
Absolutely! We hope you enjoy it, Deni.