The Best Flavorful Cheesy Crispy Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole

This tater tot breakfast casserole with sausage is the best! It’s cheesy, and flavorful thanks to the sausages, bell peppers, onions and seasonings. The optional pre-baked taters make the bottom extra crispy. This sausage tater tot casserole  has so much flavor and texture.  Not to mention it’s easy and my, my, my GOOD and it can easily feed a crowd. If you love this savory breakfast check out my easy bacon egg and cheese croissant sandwich! 

Staying positive does not mean that things will turn out okay.
Rather it is knowing that you will be okay no matter how things turn out. ~ Unknown

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS? 

• This tater tot breakfast casserole with sausage is a fantastic crowd pleaser. You can feed several people. It’s perfect for any holiday. 
• You have the option of making it in advance or same day. 
• I’ve made this tater tot casserole 3 different ways. I’m 100% confident you’ll like this recipe. 
• The tater tots can be pre-bake, air fried, fried in oil, or if you don’t have time add the tater tots straight from freezer into the pan
• It’s freezer friendly. 
• It’s a very versatile recipe. Try other add-ins such as spinach, bacon or mushrooms. If you don’t like peppers  or the onions you can omit/reduce them. 
•  Last but not least, this recipe is VERY good and so fulfilling. I love the crispy tater tots! 

TATER TOT BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

I was on Pinterest one day and as I browsed recipes to add to my “must try egg recipes board“, I came across a picture of a tater tot breakfast casserole with sausage that looked interesting.

Normally I wouldn’t eat something called a tater tot breakfast casserole because I’m a bit picky, BUT I’m still open to trying new foods (depending on what is haha). 

The recipe I found uses tater tots that are straight from the freezer to the casserole dish.  Then the egg mixture is poured over it. 

The first time I made it I used frozen tater tots. Long story short, I didn’t like the outcome. The tater tots were mushy. And mushy is not my thing. 

The second time I made the tater tot breakfast casserole, I pre-baked the tater tots until they were super crispy. I added more bell peppers, onions and a bit of seasonings for more flavor. I even addd a bit of mild salsa and more cheese. The results. Lordy…it was AMAZING! 

You have to try this casserole out!  Like I said, normally, I wouldn’t even think to eat a casserole like this one because no. 1 I’m kinda picky…but Omg It was so delish! 

TIPS TO MAKE THIS TATER TOT BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

There are a couple ways you can make this sausage egg tater tot casserole. I’ve tried all three way ssausage egg tater tot casserole

1. I prefer to pre-bake the tater tots or air fry them before I pour the egg mixture over them. The taters come out super crispy baked or air fried. I’ll be posting air fryer recipes in the future. 

2. If you would like to fry the tater tots in oil that works great too.  Just make sure you drain them on paper towels.  It’s not mandatory to pre-cook the tater tots BUT it will taste way better if you pre-cook them.

As I mentioned earlier, I found that straight from the freezer tater tots that weren’t baked etc tasted too potatoey (not a word! 🙈) and mushy. But that’s just my opinion because apparently, a lot of people enjoy using frozen tater tots. 

You may love it that way too.  So I’m not judging. Cook them if you have time.  It’s so worth it. The texture is way better plus who wouldn’t love biting into melty cheese and sausages and eggs then crispy tater tots. 

Bonus, if you pre-cook them you won’t have to wait until the tater tot cool off. Just pour the egg mixture right over the crispy hot tater tots. Another bonus, this trick also cuts the baking time down some.

CAN YOU FREEZE A BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

1. Cover the pan tightly with saran wrap then aluminum foil. Freeze up to 3 months. 
2. To bake it –  thaw overnight in the freezer. Set on the counter for 30 minutes before baking. 

PREPARE IN ADVANCE

1. To make this tater tot casserole with sausage in advance with frozen tater tots – Prepare it per the recipe, but instead of popping it into the oven, cover tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap then place it into the refrigerator. 
2. Cooked tater tots –  I recommend you prepare the egg mixture per the recipe. Cover the bowl tightly then refrigerate. When you are ready to make the egg casserole, either fry, air fry, or bake the tater tots and then line the taters in the pan.  Pour the chilled egg mixture over cooked tater tots. FYI, It may take longer to cook since the egg mixture is cold.

HOW TO MAKE A TATER TOT BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

• First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9×13 baking pan. Either line up the cooked or frozen tater tots in the pan. (pic 1)   
• Next, fry the sausage then slice them. Then using the same pan the sausage was cooked in, sauté the bell peppers, onions. Once the vegetables are soft, add the minced garlic on top of the onions and peppers. Cook until fragrant about 20 seconds.  Set to the side. (pic 2-3) 
• To a large bowl add whisk together the eggs, seasonings, salsa, milk. Add sausages and sauté vegetables and 1 cup shredded cheese. Mix once more. (pic 4)

• Pour the egg mixture over the tater tots.  Spread the egg mixture evenly over the tater tots. (pic 5)
• Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the eggs set then sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Bake until the cheese is melted. Garnish with green onions. Slice and Serve. This sausage egg tater tot casserole takes up to 30-35 minutes to bake.  (pic 6-9)

Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole with Sausage

April Boller Wright

The tater tot breakfast casserole with sausage is cheesy, crispy and flavorful! Easy dangerously good! A perfect egg casserole crowd pleaser for sure!

5 from 20 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Breakfast, Brunch

Cuisine American

Ingredients

  

• 32 oz frozen tater tots
• 12 large eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup mild salsa
• 3 cups shredded cheese I used Mexican shredded cheese
• 2 2/3 cup bell peppers I used red, green, yellow and orange
• 2/3 cup diced onions
• 2 tsp finely minced garlic
• 1 minced jalapeno
• sliced green onions optional
• 12 oz fried breakfast sausages sliced
• 1/4 tsp oregano
• 1/4 tsp cumin
• 2 pinches chili powder
• 3 pinches onion powder
• 3 pinches garlic powder
• salt and pepper for taste

Instructions

 

• First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9×13 baking pan. Either line up the cooked or frozen tater tots in the pan. 
• Then using the same pan the sausage was cooked in, sauté the bell peppers, onions over medium heat about 5 minutes. Once the vegetables are soft, add the minced garlic on top of the onions and peppers. Cook until fragrant about 20 seconds. Set to the side.
• To a large bowl add whisk together the eggs, seasonings, salsa, milk. Add sausages and sautéed vegetables and one cup of shredded cheese. Mix once more. 
• Pour the egg mixture over the cooked tater tots. Spread the egg mixture evenly over the tater tots.  Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the eggs set then sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Bake until the cheese is melted to your preference. Garnish with green onions. Slice and Serve.
• If you choice not to cook the tater tots first then bake for 40 mins or until the eggs are set then sprinkle with cheese and bake until the cheese has melted. 

Notes

TIPS TO MAKE THIS TATER TOT BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

 

 

• There are a couple ways you can make this tater tot breakfast casserole. I've tried all three ways. Also I didn't use the entire bag of tater tots. I used just enough to fill up the bottom of the baking pan.

 

• I prefer to pre-bake the tater tots or air fry them before I pour the egg mixture over them. The taters come out super crispy baked or air fried. I'll be posting air fryer recipes in the future.   

 

• If you would like to fry the tater tots in oil that works great too.  Just make sure you drain them on paper towels.  It's not mandatory to pre-cook the tater tots BUT the egg casserole will be way better if you pre-cook them.  

 

• As I mentioned earlier, I found that straight from the freezer tater tots that weren't baked, or air fried tasted too potatoey (not a word! 🙈) and mushy. But that's just my opinion because apparently, a lot of people enjoy using frozen tater tots. 

 

• You may love it that way too.  So I'm not judging. Cook them if you have time.  It's so worth it. The texture is way better plus who wouldn't love biting into melty cheese and sausages and eggs then crispy tater tots. 

 

• Bonus, if you pre-cook them you won't have to wait until the taters cool off. Just pour the egg mixture right over the crispy hot tater tots. Another bonus, this trick also cuts the baking time down some.  
   

CAN YOU FREEZE A BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

 

1. Cover the pan tightly with saran wrap then aluminum foil. Freeze up to 3 months.   
2. To bake it -  thaw overnight in the freezer. Set on the counter for 30 minutes before baking.   
    

PREPARE IN ADVANCE

 

1. To make this in advance with frozen tater tots - Prepare it per the recipe, but instead of popping it into the oven, cover tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap then place it into the refrigerator.  
    
2. Cooked tater tots -  I recommend you prepare the egg mixture per the recipe. Cover the bowl tightly then refrigerate.  
3. When you are ready to make the egg casserole, either fry, air fry, or bake the tater tots and then line the taters in the pan.        Pour the chilled egg mixture over cooked tater tots. FYI, It may take longer to cook since the egg mixture is cold.

Keyword breakfast casserole, egg casserole, tater tot breakfast casserole

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Ever try a sausage egg tater tot casserole? I’m sure you’ll love this one, therefore, save this PIN to your Pinterest board for later!😊

Looking for more breakfast/brunch recipes? Check out my best french toast recipe, German pancakes and the perfect drink with this casserole, my peach and orange tequila sunrise mocktail.