Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
A hearty breakfast casserole with tater tots, cooked sausage, cheddar, mozzarella, and a seasoned egg filling, baked in a 9×13-inch dish.
Equipment
- 9×13-inch baking dish Greased
- Large skillet For browning the sausage
- Mixing bowls One large bowl and one for the egg mixture
- Whisk
- Broad serving spatula
Ingredients
For the casserole
- 1 pound hot breakfast sausage cooked and drained
- 1 bag frozen tater tots about 32 ounces
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
For the egg mixture
- 8 large eggs
- 2 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper or to taste
For the baking dish
- Cooking spray for greasing the baking dish
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook the breakfast sausage in a large skillet over medium heat, breaking it into small crumbles, until browned and cooked through. Drain off excess grease.
- In a large bowl, gently combine the cooked sausage, frozen tater tots, cheddar, and mozzarella until the sausage and cheeses are evenly distributed. Do not thaw or mash the tots.
- In another bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper until blended.
- Spread the tot mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish, bringing sausage and cheese into the corners and gently leveling the center.
- Pour the egg mixture evenly across the dish, letting it reach the spaces between the tots and all the corners. Some tots will remain above the liquid.
- Bake uncovered for about 1 hour, until the egg filling is set in the center and the top is golden. There should be no pool of uncooked egg mixture in the middle. If the top browns before the center is ready, loosely cover the dish with foil and continue baking to doneness.
- Let the casserole rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Cut into portions and lift them out with a broad serving spatula. Serve warm.
Notes
Yield and timing: About 8 generous servings is approximate. The 15-minute preparation, 60-minute baking allowance, and 5-minute resting allowance are estimates, for about 80 minutes total. Let the casserole rest 5 to 10 minutes, and allow extra baking time if the center is not set.
Potatoes: Use one bag of frozen tater tots, about 32 ounces, straight from frozen. The exposed top pieces turn golden; tots surrounded by the egg filling will be tender.
Sausage: Mild breakfast sausage can replace the hot sausage. Brown it before assembling and drain off excess grease.
Doneness: Check the center, not just the browned edges. Loosely cover the top with foil if it browns before the egg filling sets.