This post may contain affiliate links.
This easy Breakfast Tater Tot Casserole is loaded with sausage, eggs and cheese and topped with a layer of crispy golden tater tots. It’s a hearty, customizable, and always a crowd-pleaser!
What do you call it….Tater Tot Casserole or Tater Tot Hot Dish?! I’m a “casserole” girl through and through (my southern Iowa roots shining through, I know!). Ha! Either way, this version of the classic is quickly becoming a staple in our household and I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we do!
Why You’ll Love This Breakfast Tater Tot Casserole
- It’s customizable! Want to add veggies? Great! Prefer bacon or ham? Go for it!
- Protein-packed! I love that this breakfast option is packed with protein to keep the family satisfied until lunch!
- Can make ahead of time! This is easy to prepare in advance, you future self will thank you!
- Tater tots for breakfast?! If it’s wrong, I don’t wanna be right! 🙂
Ingredients Needed
- Breakfast Sausage – Ground breakfast sausage is easiest, but if you have links on hand, you can cook the breakfast links and slice them into 1/2 inch coins.
- Eggs – I always use the “large” size eggs.
- Cottage Cheese – 4% fat cottage cheese is my preference, but any will work fine. I love adding cottage cheese to eggs…extra protein, more creaminess, more YUM.
- Green Onions – Adds lots of flavor and a bit of color, but is optional. I like using the whole thing (the white part and the green).
- Seasonings – Black pepper and seasoned salt (ie Lawry’s).
- Cheese – Cheddar or Colby Jack.
- Tater Tots – Regular or mini tater tots work great!
How to Make Breakfast Tater Tot Casserole
Start by preheating the oven and getting your pie plate ready by coating it with cooking spray. If you don’t have a large pie plate (needs to hold at least 36 ounces), a square baking dish works great, too!
Next, brown the breakfast sausage. Using a meat chopper makes that task super duper easy! Drain the excess grease if there is any and discard.
Next, in a large bowl, combine the eggs, cottage cheese, and seasonings. Then, add the sausage, part of the cheese, and the sliced green onions.
Pro Tip!
Shred a block of cheese instead of using pre-shredded cheese if you want extra gooey, creamy cheese! The bags of pre-shredded cheese have an ingredient in the bag (an anti caking agent) which is great for making sure the cheese shreds don’t stick together, but it doesn’t melt as nicely as when you shred your own.
Pour it into the baking dish and then top with the remaining cheese. Arrange the tater tots over the filling. You can do this as precisely or random as you’d like! 😉
Bake the casserole for 40-45 minutes. When the casserole is done, the eggs will be set, the edges of the pan will be bubbly and the tater tots will be golden brown!
Top with additional sliced green onions or fresh parsley, if desired!
Recipe Variations
- Add Bacon or Ham! You can use a combination of 1/2 pound ground sausage and 1/2 pound bacon (cooked and crumbled) or simply use 1 pound of diced ham!
- Add Veggies! I love adding sautéed onions and peppers to any savory breakfast dish! Add up to 1 cup of chopped veggies to the filling.
- Spice it up! Love a little (or a lotta) heat? There are a couple ways to add some! First off, use a hot breakfast sausage (rather than original, mild or sage). Then switch the cheddar cheese for pepper jack. And if you want even more? Serve the final dish with a little hot sauce on the side!
Make the Tater Tot Casserole Ahead of Time!
In the Fridge: Combine the ingredients for the filling, add the cheese on top, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 3 days. When ready to use, remove the plastic wrap and let it set on the counter at room temperature for 20-30 minutes. Top with the tater tots and bake as directed.
Breakfast Tater Tot Casserole Freezer Meal: Assemble the casserole in square foil pan. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and then aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. When ready to enjoy, thaw the casserole overnight in the fridge. Remove the plastic wrap and foil. Bake at 350F for 45-50 minutes.
Other Savory Breakfast Recipes My Family LOVES
- Biscuits and Gravy Casserole
- Ham and Cheese Egg Bake
- Breakfast Rolls
- Sweet Potato Hash with Sausage – made something similar to help me win a Food Network Show!
- Crescent Roll Breakfast Casserole
- Hawaiian Roll Breakfast Sliders
- Sheet Pan Breakfast Quesadillas
Breakfast Tater Tot Casserole
Equipment
- 1 deep dish pie plate or square baking dish
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground breakfast sausage
- 5 eggs
- 1/2 cup cottage cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 2 tablespoons sliced green onions
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
- 1 pound frozen tater tots about 1/2 a 32 ounce bag
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉ and grease a deep dish pie plate (or 8 or 9 inch square baking dish); set aside.
- Brown the sausage and set aside.1 pound ground breakfast sausage
- In a mixing bowl, combine the eggs, cottage cheese, black pepper, and seasoned salt.5 eggs, 1/2 cup cottage cheese, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
- Add the cooked sausage, green onions, and 1 cup of the cheese; stir to combine.2 tablespoons sliced green onions, 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- Pour the mixture into the prepared dish.
- Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the filling.
- Arrange the tater tots on top of the cheese. You may not use the full pound of tater tots and that's fine.1 pound frozen tater tots
- Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the eggs are set and the tater tots are golden brown.
