Crispy tater tots, gooey cheese, savory sausage, and fluffy eggs—what more could you ask of a breakfast casserole?
My large extended family goes on a little beach vacation every year. Three families within this large family of mine rent out a beach house together for five days, and we have a ton of fun. Because nobody wants to be responsible for meals every day, we organize meal planning by assigning each family a day on which they’re responsible for planning and preparing all three meals for the whole party. (If this sounds like a lot of responsibility, know that lunchtime on the beach is always sandwiches, and most of us just eat snacks. So it’s really just breakfast and dinner.)
On my assigned meal day, I got up at 5 a.m. to get started on breakfast, because half my family are early risers. I was on a mission to wow my nephews, so I made a tater tot breakfast casserole, because what little boy isn’t interested in tater tots and cheese? When I say this casserole disappeared, I mean it. I barely got half a slice. But I did get a lot of compliments, and everybody was super nice to me all day.
This tater tot breakfast casserole is perfect for chumming up with your nieces and nephews. It’s full of cheese, sausage, eggs, and of course, tater tots, so it’s the perfect start to a fresh vacation morning, when you know lunch will be light (or skipped in favor of fun in the sun!). But take a tip from me: if you’re feeding a crowd, you may want to make two pans, or you might not get any.
Is This Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole Healthy?
While tater tot breakfast casserole provides a decent amount of protein, I wouldn’t say this recipe is entirely healthy. After all, tater tots are a processed food loaded with fat, salt, and carbohydrates. Paired with breakfast sausage and cheddar cheese, this dish is high in calories and sodium and doesn’t have much fiber at all. All things considered, I recommend enjoying this flavorful dish as a weekend treat every now and then.
If you’d like to make this casserole healthier, I have a few simple suggestions. For starters, you can replace the pork sausage with ground turkey or turkey sausage, which is high in protein and low in fat. Dairy-wise, you could opt for a low-fat cheese, and 1% or 2% milk should provide enough creaminess while reducing saturated fat. As for the tater tots, definitely keep those.
Add A Little More Fun
This tater tot breakfast casserole has an excellent base of potato, sausage, egg, and cheese. But if you aren’t entertaining any picky eaters or young nephews, consider adding a few fun and tasty ingredients to increase the flavor profile (and nutrition) of your casserole.
- Add onions and bell peppers: Chop up half an onion and a bell pepper, and add it to the pan after the breakfast sausage is browned. Be sure to drain most of the grease beforehand though, or you’ll end up with a slick casserole!
- Mix up the cheese: I don’t know about you, but I love pepper jack with my cheddar when it’s on potatoes!
- Add some spinach: A little pop of green in this dish makes it prettier and more nutritious.
- Consider swapping the tater tots for cauliflower tots: Cauliflower tots are a tasty product that I see more of these days, and if you’re looking for more vegetables in your casserole, this is a fine way to do it!
- Add bacon: It’s the antithesis of making this casserole healthier, but nobody will challenge you on adding bacon to this dish. Cook and crumble it before adding it to the casserole pan.
How Do I Store Leftovers?
Leftover tater tot breakfast casserole may be even better than its freshly-made version. Leftover casserole, once cooled, can be stored in an airtight container (or the casserole pan itself, covered) in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can also freeze it in portions by transferring it to freezer-safe containers or bags and storing it in the freezer for up to 2 months. Simply thaw it in the fridge overnight before reheating in the oven or air fryer.
Serving Suggestions
Tater tot breakfast casserole is a filling meal on its own, but if you love side dishes, I have many recommendations for you! Serve this as part of a breakfast spread alongside bready options, such as Vegan Coffee Cake, Gluten-Free, Paleo Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins, or Gluten-Free Scones With Blueberries. You can also whip up some Yogurt Parfaits for a healthy option, and, of course, some fresh fruit on the side.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups frozen tater tots
- 1 pound breakfast sausage cooked and crumbled
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 8 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Layer the bottom of the baking dish with tater tots. Evenly distribute the cooked sausage over the tater tots, and sprinkle with 1 cup of cheddar cheese.
- In a bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Pour this mixture evenly over the tater tots and sausage in the baking dish.
- Top with the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until the eggs are set and the cheese is bubbly and golden.
Nutrition Info:
Recipes written and produced on Food Faith Fitness are for informational purposes only.
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