Sausage and Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole with Cheddar (Print version)

A hearty breakfast casserole with browned sausage, cheddar, eggs, and golden tater tots baked until crisp on top and tender in the middle.

# Ingredients:

For the sausage layer

01 - 1 lb (450 g) breakfast sausage, pork or turkey
02 - 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
03 - 1/2 cup (75 g) diced red bell pepper
04 - 1 teaspoon olive oil, if using lean sausage

For the egg custard

05 - 8 large eggs
06 - 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk
07 - 1/2 cup (120 g) sour cream
08 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
09 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
10 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
11 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

For the casserole

12 - 1 bag (32 oz or 900 g) frozen tater tots
13 - 2 cups (225 g) shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
14 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives, for serving
15 - Cooking spray or butter, for the baking dish

# Instructions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
02 - Cook the sausage, onion, and bell pepper in a large skillet over medium heat for 7-9 minutes, breaking up the meat, until the sausage is cooked through. Drain excess grease and let it cool for 5 minutes.
03 - In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, sour cream, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder until smooth.
04 - Spread the sausage mixture in the prepared dish. Sprinkle with 1 1/2 cups of cheddar, then arrange the frozen tater tots in an even layer over the top.
05 - Pour the egg mixture slowly and evenly over the casserole, letting it settle between the tots and sausage.
06 - Bake uncovered for 40-45 minutes, until the center is set and the tater tots are golden. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup cheddar and bake 5-8 minutes more, until melted.
07 - Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Finish with chopped chives and serve warm.

# Good to know:

01 - Use frozen tater tots straight from the bag for the best top texture.
02 - The casserole can be assembled up to 12 hours ahead and baked from the refrigerator.
03 - Let the baked casserole rest before cutting so the slices hold together.

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