Tater tot breakfast casserole is a full-flavored combination of all your favorite breakfast foods layered into a delicious one-dish meal perfect for a weekend breakfast, family brunch, or church potluck.
How many recipes do you actually make that are kid-requested and mom-approved? I have to tell those recipes are like gold to me. I mean, anytime I can score a double win like that, you better believe I take it.
Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole Recipe
This recipe is not only that, it’s easy to put together and produces a full-fledged over the top breakfast casserole. It’s also been a HUGE reader favorite recipe for years so don’t miss out on this one!
If you’re looking for a simple hashbrown casserole, this is your recipe! Pioneer Woman breakfast casserole, and Bisquick breakfast casserole are also both reader favorites you’re sure to love. My Crockpot breakfast casserole is a deliciously perfect way to fix it, forget about it, then feast!
Let’s make breakfast!
What I Love About Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
- It’s quick and easy to make.
- Meaty, cheesy, and tater Tots….I mean!
- Can be made ahead of time.
- The crispy brown edges of the casserole!
Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole Ingredients
- Bacon: I prefer to use uncured bacon.
- Tater tots: You can add them straight from the freezer to the baking dish.
- Eggs: Large eggs.
- Milk: I like whole milk.
- Green Onions: I use both the white and green parts of the onion.
- Monterey Jack Cheese: If you prefer it spicy, switch the jack for pepper jack.
- Cheddar Cheese: I like sharp or extra sharp cheddar.
Tips
Eggs: These are best to at room temperature.
Cooking: Be sure to preheat your oven and keep an eye on the baking time. You don’t want to over-bake this one. Also, don’t skip the resting time before serving. It’s vital to the proper texture and flavor of this yummy dish.
Recipe Variations
Switch Up The Meat: Instead of bacon, try ham, chicken sausage, or turkey bacon.
Add veggies: Diced bell peppers, tomatoes, fresh spinach, and even broccoli are just a few examples of fresh veggies that complement the taters.
Just The Whites: Use egg whites instead of whole eggs.
Cook in a crockpot. Follow the recipe instructions as listed below, but combine them in your slow cooker instead of a casserole dish. Cook on high for 2-3 hours, or on low for 4-5.
Storing + Freezing + Make-Ahead
- How Long Can You Keep This In The Fridge? Once cooked, this casserole will stay fresh and yummy in the fridge for 3-4 days. Just let it cool completely and cover it tightly with a wrap before sliding it into the fridge.
- Can You Freeze This? Yes! Casseroles make notoriously scrumptious freezer meals and this tater tot breakfast casserole is no exception. Once completely cooled, hotel wrap first then aluminum foil to protect against freezer burn. Just slow thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Here’s an article from Epicurious on how to hotel wrap.
- Sometimes I like to freeze individual pieces that we can grab one at a time as desired. The smaller pieces can be reheated in the oven or microwave. Leftover casserole with eggs can last up to 2 months in the freezer.
- Make Ahead Tips You can whip it up the day before you need it and slide it into the fridge, unbaked overnight, then bake it the next day. Just be sure to keep it covered and separate from other foods because of the raw egg content. It can be stored this way for up to 48 hours, but I find it best to bake it within 24 hours of assembly.
- Food Safety: If you’d like more info on food safety check out this link.
***Check out the crispy golden brown edges in the photo above. My favorite part of the whole casserole!
Serving Recommendations
This is a one-dish complete meal and makes the perfect “Brinner” with a green salad liked our 1905 salad. If you’re serving it for breakfast for the family, just a glass of orange juice and you have a perfect Sunday morning family breakfast. For brunch with extended family of friends, it pairs really well with our incredibly moist blueberry coffee cake (seriously off the charts, delish!!), or sweet tangy lemon poppy seed muffins, strawberry scones, double-glazed pumpkin scones, maple pecan scones with molasses glaze, or my own personal favorites, Bo Berry biscuit.
If you’re serving this for the Thanksgiving or Christmas holiday, try my Christmas Sangria or crockpot hot chocolate.
How To Make Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
- Arrange the tater tots in a single layer in the prepared baking dish.
- Pour the egg mixture over the tater tots.
- Bake. Sprinkle with bacon and green onions.
- Serve.
***See full instructions below.
More Breakfast Favorites
- Sour Cream Coffee Cake
- Bisquick Quiche
- Bisquick Sausage Balls
- Bisquick Banana Bread
- Eggnog Crumb Coffee Cake
- Country Potatoes
- Apple Coffee Cake
- Bisquick Sausage Muffins
- Strawberry Cheesecake Salad
Tried This Recipe?
Leave a review, I love hearing your feedback! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 (9-ounce) packages breakfast sausage links
- 1 pound bacon
- 1 (32-ounce) package tater tots
- 12 large eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup green onions thinly sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup Monterey jack cheese, shredded
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded~divided
- 2 tablespoons green onions, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF (177ºC).
- Cook the sausage (2 packages) in a skillet until cooked through. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate and drain the skillet of all fat. Slice into 1/2-inch pieces.
- Cook bacon (1 pound) in the same, defatted skillet until brown and crispy. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Crumble.
- Arrange tater tots (32-ounce) in a single layer in the prepared baking dish.
- Whisk together eggs (12), milk (1/2 cup), 1/4 cup green onions, salt (1/2 teaspoon), and pepper (1/4 teaspoon). Stir in cooked sausage and half the cooked bacon.
- Fold in 1 cup of Monterey jack cheese and 1 cup of cheddar cheese into the egg mixture and pour the egg mixture over tater tots
- Bake in the preheated oven until the egg mixture is set. Approximately 40-45 minutes.
- Sprinkle top evenly with the remaining 1 cheddar cup cheese, then pop back in the oven, for about 5-7 minutes until the cheese is melted.
- Allow to stand 10 minutes before cutting. Sprinkle with remaining half-crumbled bacon and green onions and serve.
Fans Also Made:
Notes
- Tater tots: You can add them straight from the freezer to the baking dish.
- Cooking: Be sure to preheat your oven and keep an eye on the baking time. You don’t want to over-bake this one. Also, don’t skip the resting time before serving. It’s vital to the proper texture and flavor of this yummy dish.
Nutrition
Jane Glover says
I cooked it in my smoker and it was phenomenal. It took a little longer (with smoker set to 350) – around and hour – but I recommend watching closely because all smokers work differently. Thanks for the great recipe!
Kathleen says
Thank you Jane, I’m so happy you like it! I haven’t tried it in a smoker, but I will definitely try it! 🙂
Vicki says
We loved it!! I made it up the night before and since I’m not a morning person my husband got up the next morning and baked. Yummo!!!
This would be great for a weekend breakfast with friends
Don Jacobsen says
Going to have to try this, looks great.
I might use andouille sausage instead of breakfast sausage and maybe a dash of creole season mixed in with the egg mixture
Kathleen says
Hope you enjoy it, Don! ?
Lisa Reding says
Can I make the casserole and then immediately bake it? Or do I need to refrigerate this overnight? I am hoping to be able to make it and then bake it right away, but I wasn’t sure if it would taste as good?
Kathleen says
Hi Lisa! You can bake it right away 😀
Pam says
Can the Tatar Tot Breakfast be made the day before & refrigerate till the next day
Kathleen says
Hi Pam! Yes, you can 😀 Just make sure to bake it within 24 hours (or 48 hours, but the sooner the better). Hope this helps!
Theresa says
Oh my goodness !!! This is way better than I thought it would be. I made a much smaller version and baked it in my toaster oven and man !!! It’s good !!! I didn’t add the onion only because of all the onion recalls still going on but I sure would have liked to add them. I also added a salsa mixed equally with sour cream and put some on top holy cow was it all good so thank you very much for sharing your recipe I’m going to feed the rest to my mom dad and sister. Absolutely love it
Kathleen says
You’re very welcome, Theresa! ❤️?
Pamela Myhre says
Hi, Can I make this ahead of time, freeze it and then cook it frozen? My daughter is getting married and I need to feed out of town guests the next day and need to do this ahead of time
Kathleen says
Hi Pamela. I’ve only frozen it after I have cooked it. Sorry can’t advise on how the raw casserole would do through the freezing then reheating process. 🙁
Eb says
Made it with Morningstar veggie bacon and sausage. Delicious!!
Eva says
Hi Kathleen,
Could you provide instructions on freezing and reheating? 🙂
Varun Sharma says
It looks so delicious and yummy. I’ll definitely make it this weekend.
Kathleen says
I hope you enjoy Varun!
Julie says
That was a fantastic recipe. There’s just 2 of us, so we made it in a 9″ sq pyrex pan and reduced the eggs to 8. Cut out about 3/4 of the cheese to reduce the fat, and left out the sausage entirely. Added maybe 2 T of prepared salsa. The baking directions were perfect.
It was SO good!!! I’ve sent the recipe to friends and will definitely make it again. 5 thumbs up. Thank you!
Kathleen says
You’re welcome, Julie! 😀 So happy you liked it!
Marla says
When you freeze it, do you thaw it the night before? Also do you reheat in the oven or microwave?
Kathleen says
Hi Marla! I usually thaw it around 35 minutes before heating. If you’re reheating the whole casserole, I recommend using the oven, but for individual servings, use the microwave. 😀 Hope this helps!
Pete says
It turned out amazing and it tasted great!!! Just over cooked it a little need to keep and eye on it!! But can’t wait to cook it again!! ENJOY!!!???????
Kathleen says
That’s so awesome, Pete! Glad you liked it! ?
Chip says
Are the tater tots thawed out or frozen when preparing in the baking dish?
Kathleen says
Hi Chip. You can use the tater tots either way. 🙂
Don Richardson says
I made it, in fact I’m eating it right now and it’s good !!!
I added sautéed onions, red and orange bell peppers and garlic because why not.
Kathleen says
Wow! That sounds great, Don! Love your twists ❤️
Momma Jean says
Could I use ground breakfast sausage rather than the links?
Kathleen says
Absolutely!
Suzanne says
This looks so good! What a great idea for a brunch!
Kathleen says
Thank you Suzanne!❤️ Hope you enjoy ?
Karen says
How many eggs and how much milk.
Kathleen says
Hi Karen! You’re going to need 12 large eggs and 1/2 cup of milk for this recipe. Please refer to the recipe card for more details. Happy cooking!
Sherry says
Big hit with my church! I made one with just sausage (I used precooked sausage links for convenience) and another vegetarian using whatever veggies I had available. People asked for a repeat performance! Thanks for sharing!
Kathleen says
Hi Sherry!
I’m so glad everyone loved it. Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole is great for potlucks and when family comes to town. It’s one of my go-to recipes also. Thanks for sharing!
Kerri says
It was delicious! Everyone at brunch said it was so yummy!
Susan says
This sounds fantastic!
I have one question.
Do you have to thaw the tater tots or can you put them in frozen?
I didn’t see anywhere that it stated that.
Thanks!
Kathleen says
No you do not 🙂
Jamie says
This recipe is a huge hit with my family! ❤️
Can this recipe be used as a freezer meal?
Kathleen says
Hi! So happy to hear that Jaime! Yes, it works great from the freezer. <3
Rick Gentry says
Should I assume you bake it completely before you freeze it?
Kathleen says
Hi, Rick! Yes you are correct 🙂
Nancy says
Have you ever made it in a muffin pan? I was thinking of putting 2 tots at the bottom of each muffin cup and then following the recipe from there. I thought it might be nice to have it in individual portions. What do you think?
Kathleen says
Nancy, I think that is genius! I love that idea. Eating little muffin sized casserole would be so much more fun. I’d love to know how they turn out! Thanks for sharing your great idea. <3