Description
A hearty and delicious Breakfast Tater Tot Casserole featuring layers of sausage, bell peppers, cheese, and eggs, baked to perfection. This satisfying dish combines crispy tater tots with a flavorful egg mixture and melted cheese, making it perfect for a crowd or meal prep.
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 black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and 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 the sausage, diced onions, and chopped red and green bell peppers. Cook while crumbling the sausage until it is fully cooked and the onions are softened. Stir in minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds. Drain excess grease, then transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and set aside to cool slightly.
- Prepare Egg Mixture: In a large bowl or liquid measuring cup, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, diced green chilies, dried parsley, paprika, ground mustard, dried oregano, salt, and pepper until fully combined. Set aside.
- Assemble Casserole Layers: Add half of the frozen tater tots to the baking dish with the sausage mixture. Then sprinkle half of each cheese—¾ cup of sharp cheddar and ¾ cup of pepper Jack—over it. Stir gently to combine, then spread the mixture into an even layer.
- Add Egg Mixture and Top: Pour the prepared egg mixture evenly over the sausage and tater tot layer. Next, sprinkle the remaining frozen tater tots over the top layer.
- Bake First Phase: Bake the casserole uncovered at 350 degrees F for 70-80 minutes, or until the eggs are fully set and cooked through.
- Add Remaining Cheese and Finish Baking: Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the remaining cheeses over the top. Return it to the oven and bake an additional 5-10 minutes until the cheese has melted completely.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and optionally sprinkle with chopped chives or green onions before serving for a fresh flavor and appealing presentation.
Notes
- Turkey Substitution: Swap hot pork sausage for turkey sausage and add 1/8 to ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper for heat. Adding 1 teaspoon beef bouillon can enhance flavor.
- Cheese Variations: Use freshly grated sharp cheddar and pepper Jack cheeses for best melting. You can substitute pepper Jack with Mozzarella, Gruyere, Swiss, Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, Fontina, or Gouda. Avoid pre-packaged shredded cheeses as they contain anti-clumping agents that reduce melting quality.
- Ingredient Swaps: Feel free to change out meat and vegetables but maintain the same proportions so the egg mixture can adequately envelop the filling.
- Storage: Store leftovers tightly covered or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Reheating Tips: Microwave individual portions for about 1 minute until warm, cutting slices in half for even heating. Oven reheating can be done by covering the casserole with foil and baking at 325 degrees F for 20 minutes or until heated through.
- Overnight Preparation: Assemble the casserole without adding the top layer of tater tots. Keep this half frozen and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for a few hours up to 24 hours. Before baking, remove plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Add the remaining frozen tater tots on top and bake as directed, adding 10-15 minutes to baking time if needed.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 220 mg
