Description
This Cheesy Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole combines crispy bite-size potato nuggets, savory breakfast sausage, fluffy eggs, and melted Cheddar cheese into a comforting and easy-to-make dish, perfect for a lazy weekend morning or brunch with family and friends.
Ingredients
General Ingredients
- Cooking spray
Sausage Mixture
- ½ pound breakfast sausage
- 1 small onion, diced
Egg Mixture
- ½ cup milk
- 5 large eggs
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Other Ingredients
- 1 (12 ounce) package shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
- 1 (16 ounce) package frozen bite-size potato nuggets (such as Tater Tots)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Dish: Gather all ingredients and preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly spray a 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook Sausage and Onion: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the breakfast sausage and diced onion, cooking and stirring until the sausage is browned and crumbly, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain excess fat and allow the mixture to cool slightly.
- Whisk Egg Mixture: In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, onion powder, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper until well combined and smooth.
- Layer Sausage Mixture: Spread the cooked sausage and onion mixture evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Add Egg Mixture: Pour the egg mixture over the sausage layer, letting it evenly distribute.
- Add Cheese and Tater Tots: Sprinkle half of the shredded Cheddar cheese over the egg mixture, then top with the frozen bite-size potato nuggets in an even layer. Cover the casserole with aluminum foil.
- Bake Covered: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake covered for 40 minutes to allow the eggs to set and potatoes to cook through.
- Add Remaining Cheese and Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil and sprinkle the remaining Cheddar cheese evenly atop the casserole. Return it to the oven and bake uncovered for an additional 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it stand briefly before serving to allow it to set for easier slicing.
Notes
- Use a 2-quart baking dish to ensure proper cooking and layering.
- Drain the sausage well to reduce excess grease and prevent a soggy casserole.
- Feel free to substitute breakfast sausage with turkey sausage for a leaner version.
- Make sure to spread the tater tots evenly to ensure crispy texture on top.
- The casserole can be prepared the night before and baked in the morning for convenience.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
