Description
A hearty and comforting Breakfast Tater Tot Casserole featuring a flavorful mix of sausage, bell peppers, onions, and a blend of sharp cheddar and pepper Jack cheeses, all baked with a savory egg mixture and topped with crispy tater tots for the perfect breakfast or brunch dish.
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 cup 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 Oven and Prepare Dish: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9"x13" baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
- Cook Sausage and Vegetables: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage, onions, and bell peppers, cooking while crumbling the sausage until fully cooked and onions are softened. Add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds. Drain excess grease and transfer mixture to the baking dish. Allow to cool slightly.
- Mix Egg Ingredients: 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.
- Combine Sausage Mixture with Tater Tots and Cheese: Add half of the frozen tater tots to the baking dish with the sausage mixture. Add half of both cheeses (¾ cup sharp cheddar and ¾ cup pepper Jack) and stir to combine. Spread evenly in the baking dish.
- Add Egg Mixture and Remaining Tater Tots: Pour the egg mixture evenly over the sausage and tater tot layer. Sprinkle the remaining tater tots evenly on top.
- Bake the Casserole: Bake uncovered at 350 degrees F for 70-80 minutes, or until the eggs are set and the top is golden.
- Add Remaining Cheese and Finish Baking: Remove casserole from the oven and sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top. Return to the oven and bake an additional 5-10 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven and, if desired, sprinkle with chopped chives or green onions before serving.
Notes
- Turkey Substitute: Swap pork sausage for turkey sausage with 1/8 to ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper; add 1 teaspoon beef bouillon for extra flavor.
- Cheese Options: Use freshly grated sharp cheddar and pepper Jack cheese or substitute pepper Jack with cheeses that melt well like Mozzarella, Gruyere, Swiss, Monterrey Jack, Colby Jack, Fontina, or Gouda. Avoid pre-packaged shredded cheeses as they may not melt properly.
- Variations: Substitute the meat and vegetables to your liking, keeping the proportions consistent to ensure the egg mixture covers the ingredients properly.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container or tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Reheating: Microwave individual servings for about 1 minute until warm. Oven reheat by covering with foil and baking at 325 degrees F for 20 minutes or until heated through.
- Overnight Preparation: Assemble casserole without adding the top layer of tater tots and cover tightly. Refrigerate up to 24 hours. Before baking, let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes, add frozen tater tots on top, and bake with an additional 10-15 minutes as needed.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 17 g
- Cholesterol: 230 mg
