Christmas Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
Golden tater tots sit on top of a baked filling of eggs, sausage, bacon, onion, and cheddar in this savory breakfast casserole. Add the tots straight from the freezer just before baking so they brown on top instead of softening in the egg mixture.
The bake time can vary with the dish, oven, and starting temperature of the filling. Look for browned tots and eggs that are set in the center rather than relying on the clock alone.
Ingredients for Christmas Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
- 32 oz frozen tater tots (about 6 cups; 910g)
- 1 lb pork breakfast sausage (450g)
- 6 slices bacon (170g)
- 1/2 cup finely diced yellow onion (80g)
- 8 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk (365g)
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided (225g)
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
How to Make Christmas Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
- Prepare the oven and dish: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
- Cook the meat and onion: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon until crisp. Transfer it to drain, then crumble it. Brown the sausage in the skillet until no longer pink, drain excess fat, and cook the onion with the sausage briefly until softened.
- Mix the filling: Whisk the eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and optional garlic powder in a large bowl. Stir in the sausage, onion, bacon, and most of the cheddar. Season lightly at first; the meats and cheese already contain salt.
- Assemble: Pour the filling into the prepared dish and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Arrange the frozen tater tots across the top in a single visible layer. Small gaps or slight overlaps are fine.
- Bake: Bake uncovered, beginning to check around 45 minutes. The casserole will usually take about 50 to 60 minutes. The tots should be golden with darker toasted spots, and the eggs in the center should look set rather than liquid when the dish is gently nudged. If the center is still wet, continue baking in 5-minute increments. Tent loosely with foil if the top is well browned before the center sets. Rotate the dish once during baking if your oven browns unevenly.
- Rest and serve: Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes so the egg layer settles. Scatter the green onions over the top and serve from the baking dish.
Why the Tots Go on Top
Keeping the whole tots above the egg filling gives them an exposed surface that can brown. Leave them frozen until you are ready to bake; thawing them or letting them sit against the wet filling during advance assembly can soften the topping.
Make-Ahead Preparation
Prepare the cooked meat and egg filling ahead and refrigerate it, but leave the tots off. Arrange the frozen tots on top just before baking. A chilled filling may need longer in the oven, so check that the center is set even if the tots have browned.
Serving, Storage, and Reheating
Serve warm with fruit, and offer hot sauce or salsa at the table if desired. For a sweet option alongside the casserole, try Christmas Morning Monkey Bread with Walnuts.
Refrigerate leftovers in a covered container within 2 hours and use within 3 to 4 days. Reheat portions until hot throughout. The microwave is convenient, but the tots will soften; reheating in the oven will give the topping a less-soft texture. The texture after freezing is uncertain, particularly for the tots.
Nutrition Information
Approximate nutrition per serving, based on 1/9 of the casserole: 640 calories, 31g protein, 44g fat, and 24g carbohydrates. Approximate nutrition per 100g: 225 calories, 11g protein, 16g fat, and 8g carbohydrates. Values vary with the brands of tots, sausage, bacon, and cheese used.
Christmas Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
Equipment
- 9-by-13-inch baking dish
- Large skillet
- Large mixing bowl
- Whisk
Ingredients
For the Casserole
- 32 oz frozen tater tots (about 6 cups; 910g)
- 1 lb pork breakfast sausage (450g)
- 6 slices bacon (170g)
- 1/2 cup finely diced yellow onion (80g)
- 8 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk (365g)
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided (225g)
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
For Serving
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
- Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Transfer it to drain, then crumble it.
- Brown the sausage in the skillet until no longer pink. Drain excess fat, then cook the onion with the sausage briefly until softened.
- Whisk the eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and optional garlic powder in a large bowl.
- Stir the sausage, onion, bacon, and most of the cheddar into the egg mixture. Season lightly, since the meats and cheese are already salty.
- Pour the filling into the prepared dish and sprinkle with the remaining cheddar.
- Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single visible layer over the filling. Small gaps or slight overlaps are fine.
- Bake uncovered, beginning to check around 45 minutes. The casserole usually takes 50 to 60 minutes, until the tots are golden with darker toasted spots and the eggs in the center are set.
- If the center is still wet, continue baking in 5-minute increments. Tent loosely with foil if the top browns before the center sets. Rotate the dish once if your oven browns unevenly.
- Rest the casserole for 10 minutes. Scatter the green onions over the top and serve.
Tips
- Add the tater tots straight from the freezer just before baking so they brown instead of softening in the filling.
- Check that the center is set rather than relying only on the bake time; a chilled filling may need longer.
- Season lightly at first because the sausage, bacon, and cheese already contain salt.
- Tent the casserole loosely with foil if the tots are browned before the center has set.