Description
A hearty and comforting Breakfast Tater Tot Casserole featuring layers of seasoned sausage, sautéed vegetables, two types of melted cheese, and an egg mixture baked to perfection with crispy tater tots on top. Perfect for a filling breakfast or brunch.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 32-ounce bag frozen Tater Tots®, divided (DON'T THAW)
- 1 pound hot bulk pork sausage
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 ½ cups freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 ½ cups freshly grated pepper Jack cheese
Egg Mixture
- 8 large eggs
- 2 cups half-and-half
- 4 ounces diced green chilies
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground mustard
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Dish: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9"x13" baking dish with non-stick cooking spray; set aside.
- Cook Sausage and Vegetables: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage, onions, and bell peppers. Crumble the sausage while cooking until sausage is fully cooked and onions are softened. Add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds. Drain grease, then transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and let cool slightly.
- Mix Egg Mixture: In a large bowl or liquid measuring cup, whisk together eggs, half-and-half, diced green chilies, dried parsley, paprika, ground mustard, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
- Layer Ingredients: Add half of the tater tots to the baking dish with the sausage mixture. Add half of both cheeses (¾ cup cheddar and ¾ cup pepper Jack) and stir everything to combine. Spread mixture into an even layer.
- Add Egg Mixture and Top with Tater Tots: Pour the egg mixture evenly over the sausage and tater tot layer. Then sprinkle the remaining tater tots over the top.
- Bake Initial: Bake uncovered at 350 degrees F for 80 minutes or until eggs are set and the top is golden and crispy.
- Add Remaining Cheese and Finish Baking: Remove from oven, sprinkle remaining cheeses evenly over the top. Return to the oven and bake an additional 10 minutes to melt the cheese.
- Serve and Garnish: Remove from oven. Optionally garnish with chopped chives or green onions before serving.
Notes
- Turkey Sausage Substitute: Swap hot bulk pork sausage with turkey sausage and add ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper and 1 teaspoon beef bouillon for flavor.
- Cheese Alternatives: Use freshly grated sharp cheddar and pepper Jack cheeses, or substitute pepper Jack with other good melting cheeses like Mozzarella, Gruyere, Swiss, Monterrey Jack, Colby Jack, Fontina, or Gouda. Avoid packaged pre-shredded cheese as they contain anti-clumping agents that affect melting.
- Vegetable and Meat Variations: You can swap out the sausage and vegetables for your favorites but maintain proportions to ensure the egg mixture adequately covers the filling.
- Storage: Cover tightly or transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
- Reheating Tips: Microwave individual servings for about a minute until warmed through, cutting the slice in half for even heating. Oven reheat the whole casserole covered with foil at 325 degrees F for 20 minutes.
- Overnight Prep: Assemble without adding the top layer of tater tots. Keep them frozen until baking. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When ready, remove wrap, let set at room temperature for 30 minutes, add the frozen tater tots, and bake adding an additional 15 minutes to cooking time.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 210 mg
