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Overhead view of fully baked Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole in a glass baking dish with melted cheese.
4.87 from 75 votes

Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole

This easy Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole is made with crispy frozen tater tots, savory sausage, fluffy eggs, and melted cheese for the ultimate family-friendly meal. Perfect for holidays, brunch, or even breakfast-for-dinner, it can be assembled ahead of time and baked when you are ready.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Chill Time (optional)45 minutes
Total Time2 hours
Servings: 10 servings
Calories: 514kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 (16 ounce) bag frozen tater tots
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground sausage - sweet Italian sausage, spicy Italian sausage, or breakfast sausage
  • 1 large onion - diced
  • 6 large eggs
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 2 cup sharp cheddar cheese - shredded
  • 1 cup pepper jack cheese - shredded

Instructions

  • Grease a 9x13 inch casserole dish. Keep the tater tots frozen and arrange them tightly in a single layer across the bottom
  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Add the sausage and diced onion, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until the sausage is browned and the onion is tender. 
  • Drain off any excess fat, then scatter the mixture evenly over the tater tots.
  • In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, heavy cream, milk, salt, black pepper, and cayenne until smooth. Fold in the shredded cheeses. 
  • Pour the egg mixture evenly over the sausage and tater tots. Lightly press down with a spatula to ensure everything is evenly coated.
  • Cover the dish snugly with foil, creating a small dome so the foil does not touch the cheese.
  • Refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 12 hours to allow the tots to hydrate and the flavors to meld. 
  • When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the casserole on the center rack and bake, covered, for 40 to 45 minutes, until the edges are bubbling. Remove the foil and continue baking 10 to 15 minutes, until the top is melted, lightly golden, and the center is set. 
  • Let the casserole stand 5 to 10 minutes before slicing. Serve warm.

Notes

  • Tater tots: I recommend Ore-Ida Tater Tots for the crispiest texture, but hash brown patties or even sweet potato tots can be used instead.
  • Sausage: Any ground sausage works here. Try mild Italian, spicy Italian, breakfast sausage, or swap in ground turkey, chicken sausage, or plant-based sausage crumbles.
  • Cheese: Buy blocks of cheddar and pepper jack and shred them yourself for the best melting texture. You can substitute with Colby Jack, mozzarella, or provolone.
  • Dairy-free option: Replace heavy cream and milk with oat milk or almond milk and use a dairy-free shredded cheese alternative.
  • Make-ahead: Assemble the casserole the night before, cover, and refrigerate until baking.
  • Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze baked casserole portions for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight before reheating.
For more information about the ingredients, FAQs, and serving ideas, please visit the full post. And if you have any questions, feel free to leave me a comment, I love hearing from you!

Nutrition

Calories: 514kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 41g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 207mg | Sodium: 884mg | Potassium: 382mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 922IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 321mg | Iron: 1mg
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