Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
453kcal
Ingredients
- 1 pound frozen tater tots
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 uncooked smoked thick-cut bacon slices (chopped)
- 1 pound ground mild Italian sausage
- 1½ cups yellow onion
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 6 oz diced red bell pepper
- 6 oz diced green bell pepper
- 3 jumbo eggs
- 1¼ cups whole milk
- ½ teaspoon regular or smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt (or more to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 6 oz freshly shredded cheddar cheese (about 2½ cups, fully packed)
Method
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- In a skillet, heat the oil over low-medium heat. Cook bacon for 8 minutes or until it's crispy. Transfer to a plate.
- Add sausage and onion to the skillet. Cook over medium-high heat for 6 minutes. Add garlic and bell peppers, cook for 1-2 minutes. Set aside and drain well.
- In a mixing bowl, combine milk, egg, black pepper, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Stir well.
- Place the meat mixture in a 2-qt baking dish, sprinkle with 5 oz of cheese (about 2 cups, fully packed) and half of the bacon, then pour the egg and milk mixture over the meat and cheese. Top everything with Tater Tots.
- Bake the casserole, uncovered, for about 35 minutes. Sprinkle the remaining cheese and half of the bacon crumbs over the top, then bake for an additional 5-10 minutes or until the tater tots are lightly browned and cheese is melted.
- Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Calories453kcalCarbohydrates21gProtein17gFat34gSaturated Fat12gPolyunsaturated Fat5gMonounsaturated Fat14gTrans Fat0.01gCholesterol127mgSodium865mgPotassium438mgFiber2gSugar3gVitamin A423IUVitamin C8mgCalcium209mgIron1mg
Notes
Cheesy Tater Tots. Feel free to use more cheese than recommended for an even cheesier result.
Drain the Sausage. Don't skip this important step. It's necessary to drain the sausage and veggies after browning to prevent a watery casserole.
Storage. Store the remaining tater tot breakfast casserole in an airtight container. It can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 4 months.
Reheating. If the tater tot breakfast casserole is frozen, thaw it overnight before reheating in the oven at 350°F for 20-25 minutes or until it is heated through.
As previously mentioned, it's crucial to drain the browned meat and let the casserole sits for 5-10 minutes before serving to prevent a watery casserole. If your casserole appears overly moist or oily after cooking and slicing, you can tilt the baking dish and use a clean paper towel to absorb any excess liquid.