By Laurel Perry
Updated Feb 18, 2025
Whenever we have overnight guests, I love making this tater tot breakfast casserole. The combination of spicy sausage, tender eggs, gooey cheddar cheese, and crispy tots is always a big hit with the savory breakfast crowd. This simple breakfast casserole is ready to bake in just 10 minutes and easy to prep the night before for a stress-free morning!
Make Ahead Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
I hate waking up after a night of fun and having to make breakfast. It feels like such a bummer when everyone else gets to sleep in. But with this easy tater tot breakfast casserole recipe, I can have breakfast on the table with minimal effort. If I remember to, I can even prep it the night before so all I have to do is pop it in the oven the next morning!
Tips for Beginners
- You can make homemade tater tots or use tater tots straight from frozen—no need to thaw!
- You can assemble and refrigerate the casserole (before baking) for up to 12 hours. I like to prep the night before so all I have to do in the morning is pop it in the oven.
- If the casserole is browning too quickly before the eggs have set, tent it with foil for the remainder of the bake time.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1 pound spicy breakfast sausage bulk or casings removed
- ▢ 1 onion diced
- ▢ 2 cloves garlic minced
- ▢ 8 large eggs
- ▢ 1 cup milk
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ▢ 2 cups freshly shredded cheddar cheese divided
- ▢ 16 ounces frozen tater tots (1 bag)
- ▢ Chopped fresh chives optional, for garnish
Video
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Prep a 9×13-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium. Add in the sausage and onion. Cook, breaking up the sausage with a spoon, until the sausage is cooked through and the onion is translucent. Add in the garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Drain off the excess grease and transfer the mixture in your prepared baking dish. Spread in an even layer. 1 pound spicy breakfast sausage, 1 onion, 2 cloves garlic
- In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, salt and pepper until combined. 8 large eggs, 1 cup milk, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- Sprinkle 1 cup of the cheddar cheese over the sausage mixture. 2 cups freshly shredded cheddar cheese
- Pour the egg mixture evenly over the sausage and cheese in the pan.
- Top the casserole with the tater tots and the remaining cup of cheese. At this point, you can wrap the casserole and store it in the fridge for up to 12 hours or bake it right away. 16 ounces frozen tater tots
- Bake uncovered for 50-60 minutes or until the egg mixture is set in the center. Garnish with chives and enjoy. Chopped fresh chives
Equipment
- 9×13 Baking Pan
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole Step by Step
Cook the Sausage: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Prep a 9×13-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside. Heat a large skillet over medium. Add in 1 pound of spicy sausage and 1 diced onion. Cook, breaking up the sausage with a spoon, until the sausage is cooked through and the onion is translucent. Add in 2 minced cloves of garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Drain off the excess grease and transfer the mixture in your prepared baking dish. Spread in an even layer.
Whisk the Eggs: In a medium bowl, whisk 8 large eggs, 1 cup of milk, ¼ teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of pepper until combined.
Sprinkle the Cheese: Sprinkle 1 cup of the cheddar cheese over the sausage mixture.
Pour the Eggs: Pour the egg mixture evenly over the sausage and cheese in the pan.
Top the Casserole: Top the casserole with 16 ounces (1 bag) of frozen tater tots and the remaining 1 cup of cheese.
Bake and Serve: Bake uncovered for 50-60 minutes or until the egg mixture is set in the center. Garnish with chives and enjoy.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover tater tot breakfast casserole tightly wrapped in plastic wrap and aluminum foil in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating in a 350°F oven for 20-30 minutes, or until warmed through.
Serving Suggestions
This crispy, cheesy tater tot breakfast casserole is a hearty meal all on its own. I like to serve mine simply with a drizzle of Buffalo sauce for a little kick and my favorite cucumber onion salad ! This easy blender Hollandaise sauce is also delish!
more breakfast recipes to try
Strawberry Pound Cake
Breakfast Pizza
How to Make Home Fries
Baked Chocolate Donuts
Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole Recipe
Equipment
- 9x13 Baking Pan
Ingredients
- 1 pound spicy breakfast sausage bulk or casings removed
- 1 onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 8 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 cups freshly shredded cheddar cheese divided
- 16 ounces frozen tater tots (1 bag)
- Chopped fresh chives optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Prep a 9x13-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium. Add in the sausage and onion. Cook, breaking up the sausage with a spoon, until the sausage is cooked through and the onion is translucent. Add in the garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Drain off the excess grease and transfer the mixture in your prepared baking dish. Spread in an even layer. 1 pound spicy breakfast sausage, 1 onion, 2 cloves garlic
- In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, salt and pepper until combined. 8 large eggs, 1 cup milk, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- Sprinkle 1 cup of the cheddar cheese over the sausage mixture. 2 cups freshly shredded cheddar cheese
- Pour the egg mixture evenly over the sausage and cheese in the pan.
- Top the casserole with the tater tots and the remaining cup of cheese. At this point, you can wrap the casserole and store it in the fridge for up to 12 hours or bake it right away. 16 ounces frozen tater tots
- Bake uncovered for 50-60 minutes or until the egg mixture is set in the center. Garnish with chives and enjoy. Chopped fresh chives
Video
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
