Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole

Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole is a delicious way to start the day. Just like hash browns, tater tops are delicious and can be used in a variety of ways. This easy tater tot casserole with sausage is loaded with flavor and will leave you wanting more every time. If you love Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole, wait until you try this!

Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole With Sausage

You’ll love this easy breakfast casserole recipe because it’s hearty, creamy, and perfect for when you’re having guests over or just want to spoil your family!

Ingredients

1. Salted Butter – It may not seem like a big thing to many people but if you choose to go with unsalted butter it makes for a subtle difference that you can taste.
2. Breakfast Sausage – I like to use a combination of spicy and sweet but you can choose whichever sausage that best suits your tastes.
3. Onion – A medium onion is generally about the size of your fist.
4. Frozen Tater Tots – Tater tots come in a variety of sizes so it’s important to read the package.
5. Eggs – Eggs are a staple in any breakfast dish.
6. Milk – Milk is used to make the casserole moist. Whichever variety, from skim to whole, that you have on hand will work.
7. Half and Half – Half and half is a mixture of milk and cream so it’s richer than just using regular milk. 
8. Seasoning Salt – Seasoning salt has a nice blend of spices that will really bring out the flavor of your Tater Tots.
9. Pepper – This Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole is already full of savory and spicy flavors but adding pepper helps give it that extra kick.
10. Garlic Powder – Make sure you are using garlic powder, as garlic salt may lead to a more salty taste than you might prefer.
11. Cheddar Cheese – The sharper the cheddar cheese, the more flavor you will notice from it.
12. Pepper Jack Cheese – Pepper jack is a spicy cheese that will add an extra kick to this Tater Tot casserole.
13. Mozzarella Cheese – Besides flavor, Mozzarella cheese is also known to provide a nice gooey-ness that makes this dish a crowd-pleaser.
14. OPTIONAL – Green onions (sliced) or bell peppers (chopped) for garnishes– The bright green color just pops on your finished masterpiece.

Directions

A reminder that the full printable recipe card is found at the bottom of this post. Here we will walk through the steps, with photos to show you exactly what to do.

Before you start cooking, take a moment to thoroughly butter the bottom and up the sides of a 9X13 inch baking dish. This will ensure that your delicious recipe doesn’t stick to everything! 

Fry the sausage and onion together in a large skillet, using a hamburger chopper to help make the perfect crumble. This will take about 10 minutes or so as you want to make sure there are no traces of pink left in the meat.

In a large bowl, mix your frozen tater tots with your sausage and onion mix.

In a separate bowl, whisk eggs slightly with the milk and half-and-half. Add garlic powder, seasoning salt, and pepper. Fold in the cheddar cheese, pepper jack cheese, and half of the mozzarella cheese.

Add these ingredients to the tater tot and sausage mixture. Pour this into a buttered 9X13 inch baking dish. 

Cover your baking dish with tin foil – if you are using non-stick foil, the dull side should be facing your food. Bake for 50 minutes then remove the foil. Top with the remaining mozzarella cheese. Return to the oven for another 15 minutes, uncovered. 

Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole Variations

1. Tater Tots can be replaced with hash browns or frozen diced potatoes.
2. Chopped or sliced ham is a nice alternative to sausage.
3. Add one cup of your favorite vegetables

Storing Your Tater Tot Casserole

Storing In The Refrigerator

This casserole will keep beautifully for 3 to 4 days in the fridge. It reheats very well in the microwave. If you choose to reheat it in the oven, set the oven temperature to 350 degrees, cover the casserole with tin foil to keep it from drying out, and bake for 30 minutes, or until heated through. 

Storing In The Freezer

This casserole is the perfect dish to take to those new parents or others who you want to bring a meal to. It is also great for adding to your list of make-ahead freezer meals! This dish will keep for up to 2 months in your freezer, unbaked. All you have to do is to thaw it overnight and bake as if you just assembled it fresh, for 60 minutes at 375 degrees.

Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.)

I don’t have an onion, what could I substitute?  You could substitute 1 teaspoon of onion powder or 1 Tablespoon of dehydrated onion flakes. If using flakes, just soak them for 5 minutes in hot water before adding them to the recipe. If you don’t care for the taste of onion, you could substitute bell pepper or celery. 

Do I have to add those specific types of cheese? With literally hundreds of cheese varieties to pick from, you can get as creative as you want. I just suggest staying away from soft cheeses like Cream Cheese, Brie, etc.

Could I add vegetables to this casserole? Yes! You could add up to a cup of vegetables without changing anything else. Especially great choices would be spinach, bell peppers, or mushrooms.

I don’t have powdered garlic- what are recommended substitutions?  In this recipe, you could use 2 cloves of garlic or a teaspoon of minced garlic.

I don’t have seasoning salt – does that matter? It is very easy to make! Here’s a great recipe for seasoning salt. If you don’t have time for that I would just substitute 2 teaspoons of table salt in this recipe.

Can I make this casserole ahead of time? Yes, you may make it ahead of time. It could easily sit overnight or be made in advance and frozen for up to two months. If you want to have it sitting longer than that, it is best to not add the egg mixture to the tater tot and sausage mixture until you are ready to bake it.

More Breakfast Recipes To Try

• Pork Sausage Gravy and Buttermilk Biscuits
• The Best Fluffy Pancakes Recipe (seriously, the BEST!)
• Giant Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
• Sour Cream Coffee Cake
• Breakfast Sliders
• Biscuits and Gravy Casserole
• Cinnamon Roll Casserole