This tater tot breakfast casserole recipe bakes sausage, eggs, veggies, and cheese on top of a spiced tater tot crust. Easy to make and perfect for entertaining!

This recipe came from our friend and Chef, Richard. If you know the food service industry, you know that before service starts, there is often a family meal—a hearty meal to energize the staff. Richard often makes this exact tater tot breakfast casserole as a family meal for his team at Hattaway’s on Alder before brunch service begins.

He shared it with us, and we immediately knew you would love it, too. Loaded with sausage, cheese, and the perfect combination of veggies, it is generous, hearty, and truly delicious. Save this one for the next time you host a crowd for breakfast or brunch. We are already planning to add it to our favorites list of holiday breakfast recipes (alongside our favorite baked French toast and cinnamon rolls).

Key Ingredients

• Tater Tots: While we have a recipe for homemade tater tots on the blog, we usually just pick up a bag of them for this casserole. A medium-to-large bag is perfect for lining the bottom of a large baking dish (like a 9×13-inch pan).
• Sausage: We love the sausage in this recipe and start with bulk sausage (or homemade breakfast sausage if we have some in the freezer). This way, it cooks down into crispy, browned crumbles in a skillet. If you’d prefer bacon, see our method for cooking bacon in the oven, which is perfect for larger batches. You can also swap for diced ham or turkey, or leave the meat out altogether.
• Bell Pepper and Onion: Since we usually make this around the holidays, we use one red and one green bell pepper, but you can use whatever you have on hand. Then, choose a sweeter onion (yellow or sweet), which is really nice with the eggs and sausage.
• Eggs: We use a similar ratio of eggs to cream in our quiche recipe and love it, so that’s what is happening here. The cream gives this tater tot egg bake the best texture, but if you’d prefer to cut some of it with milk, you can do that.
• Cheese: We’ve used a good-quality sharp cheddar in the photos, but use what you love.

Find the full recipe with measurements below.

How to Make Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole

We love how easily this breakfast tater tot casserole comes together in just a few simple steps, and how delicious it turns out. Here’s what to expect:

1. Bake the tater tots on a baking sheet until crispy.
2. Line up the crispy tots along the bottom of a large baking dish to form a crust.
3. Brown the sausage, then cook the bell pepper and onion until sweet.
4. Scatter the cooked sausage, peppers, and onions over the tater tot crust.
5. Sprinkle with cheese, then pour in the whisked eggs and cream.
6. Bake until the eggs are set (35 to 40 minutes).

Our Secrets for Making It Best

Tip 1: Toss the tater tots in Cajun seasoning. While you can definitely just use the tots as is, try tossing them in a tablespoon of Cajun seasoning before baking for a little extra spice. This adds a lot of flavor that works so nicely with the eggs and sausage.

Tip 2: Cook the sausage and veggies before adding them. Start the sausage in a skillet and cook it, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned and crispy. Transfer the cooked sausage to a plate, then use the rendered fat to cook the onion and bell pepper until soft. This step adds an extra 10 minutes, but it is so worth it.

Tip 3: Layer the casserole before baking. Build this casserole in layers. Start with the crispy baked Cajun-spiced tater tots at the bottom, layer on the sausage and veggies, add the cheese, and finally pour the whisked eggs and cream over the top.

Tip 4: Shimmy the baking dish before baking. Once you pour over the egg mixture, shimmy the dish a few times just before sliding the casserole into the oven to make sure egg fills all the nooks and crannies.

Make Ahead Tips

We love getting a head start on breakfast, especially when entertaining. Here is how we prep this tater tot breakfast casserole in advance:

• Cook the meat and veggies early. You can brown the sausage and sauté the onions and bell peppers the day before. Let the mixture cool completely, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge overnight.
• Whisk the eggs the night before. Combine your eggs and cream in a bowl or large measuring cup, cover tightly, and refrigerate until morning.
• Assemble just before baking. For the absolute best texture and a crispy bottom crust, bake the tater tots and build the casserole layers right before popping it into the oven.
• If you want to bake the entire casserole ahead of time, let it cool, cover it tightly, and refrigerate it for up to 4 days. The leftovers are fantastic and reheat beautifully in the microwave or a warm oven.

What We Love Serving It With

More Breakfast Bakes