This cheesy tater tot breakfast casserole is a simple, hearty, one-skillet breakfast recipe made with ground breakfast sausage, crispy tater tots, eggs, milk, and melted cheddar cheese. It has everything people love about a classic weekend breakfast in one warm, satisfying dish. Best of all, it takes about 10 minutes to prepare and 45 minutes to bake, making it a reliable choice for brunch, holidays, meal prep, or a lazy Saturday morning.
A good breakfast casserole should be comforting, filling, and easy to share. This tater tot breakfast casserole checks all the boxes. The sausage adds savory flavor, the eggs hold everything together, the milk keeps the texture soft and custardy, and the cheese melts into every layer. The tater tots bake until golden on top, giving the casserole the crispy potato finish that makes it especially satisfying.
This recipe is also very practical. Everything is assembled in a cast-iron skillet, so there is less cleanup and no complicated prep work. If you do not have a cast-iron skillet, you can use another oven-safe pan or transfer the cooked sausage and remaining ingredients into a baking dish before baking. It is flexible, family-friendly, and easy to serve straight from the oven.
Why I Love This Recipe
This tater tot breakfast casserole brings together sausage, eggs, cheese, and potatoes in every bite. It tastes like a full breakfast platter baked into one easy casserole. The recipe is especially useful when feeding a group because it can be sliced and served without making individual eggs, potatoes, and sausage separately.
The flavor is rich and savory without needing a long list of ingredients. Onion powder and garlic powder season the egg mixture, while cheddar cheese adds a creamy, salty finish. Optional bacon can be added for an extra smoky layer, but the casserole is already hearty and flavorful with sausage alone.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Tater tots: Standard frozen tater tots work well. Arrange them in a single layer so they bake evenly and turn golden on top.
- Ground breakfast sausage: Breakfast sausage gives this casserole its classic savory flavor. Ground Italian sausage can also be used if that is what you have available.
- Eggs: Regular large eggs work for this recipe. They create the base of the casserole and help hold the layers together.
- Finely shredded mild cheddar cheese: Cheddar melts well and adds familiar breakfast flavor. A mozzarella and cheddar blend can also be used.
- Milk: Milk gives the eggs a softer, creamier texture, similar to a light quiche-style filling.
- Onion powder and garlic powder: These seasonings are simple but effective. They add flavor throughout the casserole without requiring chopped vegetables.
- Bacon: Bacon is optional. If using it, cook it fully, chop it, and sprinkle it over the casserole before baking.
- Green onions: Green onions make a fresh garnish and add color just before serving.
See the recipe card below for the complete ingredient list, quantities, and cooking instructions.
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1.
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Step 2.
Place a cast-iron skillet over medium heat and cook the ground breakfast sausage until browned and fully cooked. Break it into small pieces with the tip of a spatula as it cooks. If there is excess grease in the pan, move the sausage to one side, tilt the skillet slightly, and carefully soak up the extra fat with a paper towel.
Step 3.
Use the spatula to gently press the cooked sausage into an even layer across the bottom of the skillet. This creates a flavorful base for the casserole.
Step 4.
Crack the eggs into a medium bowl and whisk until smooth. Add the milk, salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Whisk again until combined, then set the mixture aside.
Step 5.
Arrange the tater tots on their sides over the sausage in a single layer. Try to keep them evenly spaced with little to no overlap so they bake properly.
Step 6.
Sprinkle 1/2 cup of shredded cheese over the tater tots. If you are adding chopped cooked bacon, add it at this stage. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the entire skillet so it settles between the tots and sausage.
Step 7.
Bake uncovered on the middle rack for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown and the egg mixture is set. During the last 5 minutes of baking, sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese over the top and return the skillet to the oven.
Step 8.
Remove the casserole from the oven, garnish with sliced green onions, and let it cool for 5 minutes before serving. This short rest helps the casserole slice more cleanly.
More Breakfast Recipes
Easy Eggs Benedict with Hollandaise Sauce
Corned Beef Hash and Eggs Recipe
Breakfast Stuffed Sweet Potatoes Recipe
Breakfast Skillet Recipe
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Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 28-ounce bag of tater tots
- 1 pound ground breakfast sausage, or Italian sausage
- 8 eggs
- 1 cup finely shredded mild cheddar cheese, divided
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Green onions, for garnish
- Optional: 4 to 5 strips bacon, fully cooked and chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Cook the sausage in a cast-iron skillet until browned and fully cooked. Break it into small pieces as it cooks, then remove excess fat if needed.
- Press the sausage into an even layer across the bottom of the skillet.
- Whisk the eggs in a medium bowl. Add milk, salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder, then whisk again.
- Arrange the tater tots on top of the sausage in a single even layer.
- Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of cheese. Add cooked chopped bacon now if using. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the skillet.
- Bake uncovered for 40 to 45 minutes on the middle rack. During the last 5 minutes, top with the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese and continue baking until melted.
- Remove from the oven, garnish with green onions, and let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.