Tater Tot Sausage Breakfast Casserole

So, you’re craving breakfast but don’t want to juggle a frying pan, a toaster, and your patience all at once? Same. Enter the Tater Tot Sausage Breakfast Casserole—a dish so comforting and ridiculously easy, it practically cooks itself (well, not really, but close enough). It’s cheesy, hearty, and comes with tater tots, which basically makes it the Beyoncé of breakfast foods.

Why This Recipe is Awesome

• Zero culinary skills required. If you can dump stuff in a dish and turn on an oven, you’re qualified.
• Crowd-pleaser. Great for brunch, holidays, or when you want to impress but still stay lazy
• Customizable. You can sneak in veggies or swap out meats without ruining the magic.
• Make-ahead friendly. Assemble it the night before and bake in the morning. Lazy wins.
• And honestly? It has tater tots. Enough said.

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Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s what you’ll need to whip this beauty up (and yes, I made the list short on purpose):

• 1 bag frozen tater tots – the crispy heroes of this dish.
• 1 lb breakfast sausage – spicy, mild, or whatever vibe you’re going for.
• 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese – melty, gooey goodness.
• 8 large eggs – aka casserole glue.
• 2 cups milk – whole or 2% works best.
• Salt & pepper – don’t forget these basics unless bland is your brand.
• Optional add-ins: diced onions, peppers, or spinach if you want to pretend it’s healthy.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Don’t be that person who throws it in cold.
2. Cook sausage. In a skillet, brown the sausage until fully cooked. Drain excess grease—unless you like greasy casseroles, then live your truth.
3. Layer tots. Grease a 9×13 baking dish and spread tater tots evenly across the bottom. Try not to snack on half the bag while doing it.
4. Add sausage & cheese. Sprinkle cooked sausage and cheese on top of the tots. Boom—flavor foundation complete.
5. Mix eggs & milk. In a big bowl, whisk eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Pour evenly over the casserole.
6. Bake. Pop it in the oven for 45–50 minutes until eggs are set and top is golden brown.
7. Cool & serve. Let it rest for 5 minutes (I know, torture) before digging in.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Not preheating the oven. Rookie mistake, and your tots will hate you for it.
• Using watery veggies. Soggy casserole = breakfast sadness. Pre-cook them first.
• Overcooking. Nobody likes rubbery eggs. Check it at the 45-minute mark.
• Forgetting to grease the dish. Unless you want to chisel your breakfast out like an archeologist.
• Undercooking sausage. Just don’t. Food poisoning is not a flavor.

Alternatives & Substitutions

• No sausage? Use bacon, ham, turkey sausage, or even leftovr rotisserie chicken.
• Dairy-free? Use plant-based milk and vegan cheese. Still tasty.
• Want spice? Toss in jalapeños, hot sauce, or pepper jack cheese.
• Extra veggies? Add broccoli, mushrooms, or zucchini—just sauté first.
• Short on tots? (Tragic.) Use hash browns as a backup.

More Recipes:

• Savory Baked Ham and Cheese Croissants
• Top 5 Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
• Avocado Toast with Feta and Cherry Tomatoes

FAQs

Can I make this the night before?

Absolutely. Assemble it, cover with foil, refrigerate overnight, and bake in the morning.

Do I need to thaw the tater tots first?

Nope, straight from the freezer is perfect. They’ll crisp up in the oven.

Can I freeze leftovers?

Yes! Wrap individual portions in foil, freeze, then reheat in the oven or microwave.

What’s the best cheese to use?

Cheddar is classic, but feel free to go wild with mozzarella, Gouda, or even a cheddar-jack mix.

Can I make it vegetarian?

Yep! Skip the sausage and pile in sautéed veggies. It’ll still be hearty.

How do I know when it’s done?

Stick a knife in the center—if it comes out clean (no runny egg goo), you’re good.

Is this only for breakfast?

Ha, no. This works for brunch, lunch, dinner, or midnight snacking. No judgment here.

Final Thoughts

The Tater Tot Sausage Breakfast Casserole is the kind of recipe that makes you look like you tried when really, you barely broke a sweat. It’s hearty, cheesy, and comforting in all the best ways—and it doesn’t require culinary wizardry.

So go ahead, whip this up, and enjoy a breakfast (or lunch, or dinner, or snack) that’s guaranteed to impress your family, friends, or just… yourself. Because honestly, you deserve it. 🥔🧀🥚