Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
This breakfast casserole recipe first appeared on Savory Experiments, where I am a contributor.
Crunchy, gooey and delicious, Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole makes breakfast an occasion for the whole family! Featuring just a handful of ingredients and frozen tater tots, this easy breakfast casserole with eggs and bacon is great for a crowd during an at-home brunch. Makes 10-12 servings.
I’m a big homemade breakfast and brunch person, and even more so in this past year. Why should we NOT celebrate the weekend—or any given weekday—with a delicious meal?
We’ve really been trying to up our savory breakfast game recently (hello, Southwestern Breakfast Burrito Bowls and Scrambled Eggs with Veggies), and this Eggy Tater Tot Casserole with Bacon just checks all the boxes!
Why I love this recipe:
Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole (also known as Tater Tot Egg Casserole or Tater Tot Casserole with Bacon) is our new favorite.
It’s bursting with flavor, incredibly balanced and a crowd-pleaser.
It’s also on the table in less than an hour if you can put it together quickly—and I believe in you!
This casserole has a nice crunch, thanks in part to the tater tots and the crispy bacon. It’s also got some gooeyness, thanks to the cheese. And the eggs cook up beautifully, soaking up all the flavors and just bringing everything together.
Whether you’re making this to celebrate an occasion, a weekend or just because, you’re not going to be disappointed!
Other breakfast recipes to try immediately: Blueberry Breakfast Sausage Pancakes | Coffee Cake Muffins | Praline Candied Bacon | Strawberry Pancakes with Dark Chocolate Drizzle | Mashed Potato Chorizo Breakfast Tacos
What you need to make this breakfast casserole:
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Let’s talk ingredients!
In addition to the tools above, you’re going to need some ingredients to make this recipe, too! Chances are, you might already have some of them in your fridge or pantry. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full measurements and instructions.
Here’s what you need:
- Bacon — because it adds some meatiness and a little crunch, too!
- Eggs — these beauties hold this casserole together!
- Milk — we used whole milk when testing out this recipe, but it will work with whatever milk you’ve got on hand.
- Creole seasoning — this is one of my favorite kitchen seasoning blends to have on hand because it adds so much flavor!
- Kosher salt — but only if your Creole seasoning doesn’t have added salt
- Black pepper
- Cheddar cheese — or your family’s favorite cheese that can be shredded
- Frozen tater tots — grab your favorite brand at the grocery store! I got regular-sized ones, but I know there are mini tots, too. Keep in mind that 16 oz. bags of tater tots are hard to find, so grab a 32 oz. one if you can’t find that. This way, you’ll get two breakfast casseroles out of it or can make tots one day to pair with a meal.
How to make Breakfast Tater Tot Casserole
First and foremost, preheat your oven and spray your 9”x13” baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
As the oven preheats, cook the chopped bacon in a skillet. We want it crispy because nobody likes soggy bacon! Once cooked, scatter most of the bacon the bottom of the baking dish. Reserve a bit of it to go on the top.
In a large bowl, crack the eggs and season them with milk, Creole seasoning, black pepper and salt, if necessary. Whisk together until combined, and then pour them on top of the bacon.
Next, sprinkle most of the cheese on top of the eggs. We want to leave some of the cheese to go on top, so set about a handful of it aside. 😉
Then line the pan with tater tots. I put mine in neat little rows, but you do you and do this however you’d like.
Finish the top of the casserole by sprinkling on the rest of the cheese and bacon, and bake.
We’ll bake the tater tot egg casserole for 30 minutes uncovered before raising the oven temperature and baking for an additional 5-8 minutes. Why do we do this? It sets the eggs, as well as gets those tots nice and crispy.
Finally, remove the casserole from the oven. (Also, confirm that the eggs are cooked, so look for any liquid-y spots.) Let it cool for 10-15 minutes before slicing and enjoying!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can. If you or your family don’t eat meat, omit the bacon and make the casserole without it.
I would assume this would work, but I have not tested it.
If you would rather use turkey bacon or breakfast sausage, feel free! I would use ½ lb. and cook it until crispy, just like the instructions state.
Leave it in its baking dish and wrap it in foil. Store it in the fridge for up to 5 days, and reheat in the microwave in 30 second increments until suitably warm.
Quick tips and tricks to the best tater tot egg casserole:
Make two pans if feeding a crowd! That 32 oz. bag of tots will come in handy for this!
Store the casserole in the fridge in its dish, wrapped in plastic or foil for up to 5 days. You can also freeze the casserole after it’s baked. Pop it into a preheated oven, and bake for the 45-60 minutes.
Customize it to your tastes! This breakfast casserole is excellent because you can easily substitute out ingredients. Here are some ideas of what you can do:
- Cheese: Whatever type of shredded cheese your family likes will work here! I do not suggest using a softer cheese, like cream cheese or goat cheese, though I’m sure it would still taste delicious.
- Meat: If you don’t eat bacon or don’t like it, feel free to substitute the same amount of turkey bacon or even breakfast sausage in place of it. Just crisp it up, as the recipe states, before adding it to the casserole dish.
- Milk: Dairy free? You can use your favorite unflavored non-dairy milk in place of the milk in this recipe. You can skip the cheese or use your favorite vegan cheese, too.
Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
Ingredients
- ½ lb. bacon chopped (5-6 slices, depending on thickness)
- 10 eggs
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning if using salt-free, also add ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 16-20 oz. frozen tater tots
Equipment
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Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Spray a 9”x13” baking dish with nonstick cooking spray, and set aside.
- As the oven preheats, cook the chopped bacon in a skillet until crisp. Scatter most on the bottom of the baking dish.
- In a large bowl, crack the eggs and season with milk, Creole seasoning, black pepper and salt, if necessary. Whisk together until combined.
- Pour on the egg mixture on top of the bacon.
- Sprinkle most of the cheese on top of the eggs.
- Line the pan with the tater tots.
- Add the rest of the cheese and bacon on top of the tater tops.
- Bake for 30 minutes uncovered.
- Raise the temperature to 425°F, and bake an additional 5-8 minutes, or until the eggs are set and the tots are crispy.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for 10-15 minutes before slicing and enjoying!
Notes
- Cheese: Whatever type of shredded cheese your family likes will work here! I do not suggest using a softer cheese, like cream cheese or goat cheese, though I’m sure it would still taste delicious.
- Meat: If you don’t eat bacon or don’t like it, feel free to substitute the same amount of turkey bacon or even breakfast sausage in place of it. Just crisp it up, as the recipe states, before adding it to the casserole dish.
- Milk: Dairy free? You can use your favorite unflavored non-dairy milk in place of the milk in this recipe. You can skip the cheese or use your favorite vegan cheese, too.
Nutrition
About the Author:
Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her…
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