Breakfast Casserole with Tater Tots

Name: Breakfast Casserole with Tater Tots
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 70 min
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 lb apple chicken breakfast sausage (sliced into 1/2-inch pieces); 1/2 yellow or white onion (diced); 1 1/2 lbs frozen tater tots; 1 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese; 8 large eggs; 1 teaspoon salt; 1, 1 oz. package French onion dip mix; 1 1/2 cup 1% or 2% milk

An overhead shot of a pan of breakfast tater tot casserole

Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole: an easy-to-make comforting breakfast or brunch recipe the whole family will love!

Today we are combining two of my favorite things: breakfast and tater tots!

Like hash browns but better (in my humble opinion), tater tots form a potato base for this satisfying warm breakfast. Chicken sausage, onions, and cheddar cheese add protein and staying power, and a not-so-secret ingredient of French onion dip ties it all together with a savory comfort food finish.

You can make this dish ahead of time if you wish (see the notes below the illustrated recipe steps), making it great for busy Saturday mornings or holiday brunches.

A hand scooping out a serving of the breakfast tater tot casserole

With only a one-hour cooking time (most of it being hands-off), this casserole is also delicious made the morning of for weekend brunches with family and friends, kids' sleepovers, and for breakfast potlucks.

Stir in your favorite mix-ins to this recipe; bacon, black olives, green onions, and more would all be delicious. You can switch up the cheeses to make this recipe your own, too.

A large scoop of the breakfast tater tot casserole

This breakfast tater tot casserole recipe is...

Savory
Hearty
Cheesy
Satisfying

Look no further for your next favorite breakfast recipe!

Recipe ingredients

Tater tots
Eggs
Milk - 1% or 2% is best
French onion dip mix - the dried dip mix is what we want for this recipe
Shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Apple chicken breakfast sausage - the precooked (i.e. not bulk or raw) type
Onion
Salt

all the ingredients for breakfast tater tot casserole

Ingredient substitutions

Sausage - raw or bulk chicken breakfast sausage can also work. De-case it before sauteing and cook it through completely, crumbling it as you cook. Pork sausage can similarly work, but will affect the nutritional breakdown of the recipe.
Cheese - shredded white cheddar, monterey jack, mild cheddar, or Mexican cheese blend can substitute for the shredded sharp cheddar.
Milk - dairy milk is best for this recipe, but whole milk or skim milk can substitute for the 1% or 2%. The recipe will be richer with whole milk and not as rich with skim.

An individual serving of breakfast tater casserole on a white plate

How to Make Breakfast Tater Tot Casserole

Preheat the oven and spray an 8 x 13-inch pan with non-stick cooking spray.
Saute the chicken sausage and onion in olive oil over medium-low or medium heat until the onion is translucent and the sausage is browned.
Layer the tater tots in the baking pan.
Scatter the chicken sausage and onion over the tater tots.
Sprinkle the cheddar cheese over the sausage mixture.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, salt, onion dip mix, and milk until combined.
Pour the eggs over the sausage and tater tots. Cover the pan and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the cover and bake until the eggs are set and golden brown around the edges.

A blue baking pan with chicken sausage and shredded cheese

Recipe pro-tips

Mix-ins - make this tater tot casserole your own by stirring in additional mix-ins. Saute diced sweet peppers or green onions along with the sausage and onions or sprinkle sliced black olives, bacon, chopped tomatoes, or minced jalapeno on with the tater tots before pouring the egg mixture over.
Use frozen tater tots - there is no need to thaw the tater tots for this recipe.

An overhead shot of a package of maple chicken breakfast sausage

Recipe FAQs

Where do you buy french onion dip mix?

You can buy french onion dip mix at major US grocery store chains, WalMart, and Whole Foods. I used the Simply Organic brand and loved the flavor!

Can you make this recipe ahead of time?

Yes, you can make this recipe 12-24 hours ahead of time. Just store it covered in the refrigerator until baking and bake the casserole for 55-60 minutes (instead of 60-65).

An overhead shot of a serving of breakfast tater tot casserole on a white plate

Serving suggestions

This casserole is deliciously served for a weekend breakfast or brunch with the family and it's also a hit at breakfast potlucks! If you're feeling adventurous, it's also a great breakfast-for-dinner recipe.

I love to serve it for breakfast with fruit salad and toast. It would also go well with bacon if that's your thing! If serving this for dinner, it is delicious with air fryer green beans, roasted broccoli, or a green salad.

Dietary adaptations

As long as you're using gluten-free tater tots this recipe is naturally gluten-free. Most tater tot brands are, but you may want to double check the ingredients if this is a concern for you.

Storage directions

Leftover casserole keeps covered in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. It does not freeze well.

A pinterest pin for tater tot breakfast casserole with an up-close over head shot of the casserole

Tools needed to make this recipe

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