Description
A hearty and delicious Breakfast Tater Tot Casserole featuring sausage, peppers, onions, and a flavorful egg mixture baked with crispy tater tots and melted cheddar and pepper Jack cheeses. Perfect for a crowd-pleasing 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
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your 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 the sausage, diced onions, and chopped red and green bell peppers. Cook while crumbling the sausage until the meat is thoroughly cooked and the onions are soft. Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds. Drain excess grease and transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Let 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. Set aside.
- Assemble Casserole: Add half of the frozen tater tots to the baking dish with the sausage mixture. Sprinkle half of each cheese (three-quarters cup each of sharp cheddar and pepper Jack) over the top. Stir gently to combine and then spread into an even layer.
- Add Egg Mixture and Remaining Tater Tots: Pour the egg mixture evenly over the casserole. Then arrange the remaining frozen tater tots on top in a single layer.
- Bake: Place the casserole uncovered in the oven and bake at 350 degrees F for 70 to 80 minutes, or until the eggs are fully set.
- Add Remaining Cheese and Finish Baking: Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle with the remaining sharp cheddar and pepper Jack cheeses. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes to melt the cheese.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from the oven and optionally sprinkle with chopped chives or green onions before serving.
Notes
- Turkey Variation: Substitute pork sausage with turkey sausage. Add 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper for spice and 1 teaspoon beef bouillon for added flavor.
- Cheese Options: Use freshly grated sharp cheddar and pepper Jack cheese for best melting. Alternatively, substitute pepper Jack with Mozzarella, Gruyere, Swiss, Monterrey Jack, Colby Jack, Fontina, or Gouda. Avoid pre-packaged shredded cheese due to anti-clumping agents that hinder melting.
- Variations: Feel free to swap the meat and vegetables with your favorites but keep proportions consistent so the egg mixture envelopes the filling properly.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container or cover tightly and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
- Reheating: Microwave individual portions for about 1 minute or until warmed through. For even heating, cut portions in half before microwaving. To reheat the entire casserole, cover with foil and bake at 325 degrees F for approximately 20 minutes until heated through.
- Overnight Prep: Assemble casserole but do not add the top layer of tater tots. Keep the reserved tater tots frozen. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When ready to bake, remove plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Add frozen tater tots on top and bake as directed, adding 10 to 15 minutes if needed.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 215 mg
