Ree Drummon\u2019ds kitchen is always full of family and friends, and she keeps them all happy with comfort food<\/a>. Like most of her recipes, this Pioneer Woman Tater Tot casserole makes enough to feed the whole family\u2014and then some!<\/p>\n With breakfast sausage and eggs, this hot dish<\/a> is a great choice for breakfast or breakfast-for-dinner. And of course, it\u2019s loaded with Tater Tots. They make up the base of this savory casserole, soaking up the egg during an overnight chill.<\/p>\n By chilling the assembled dish overnight, the flavors of the cooked sausage, spices and peppers have a chance to meld and develop before baking. The Tater Tots on the bottom also absorb the milk and egg batter, creating a base that\u2019s browned on the bottom and tender throughout.<\/p>\n That being said, some of the recipe reviewers did confess to successfully baking the casserole as soon as it was assembled. If you\u2019re pressed for time, you can get away with skipping the chilling step. However, putting it together the night before does make for a fantastic make-ahead breakfast. Just pop it in the oven and sip your coffee while it bakes.<\/p>\n Ree Drummond\u2019s Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole<\/a> makes 8 servings. Plan enough time to assemble the recipe the night before and chill it overnight in the fridge.\u00a0Several of the reviewers on Ree\u2019s recipe mentioned using more eggs than she calls for, and I did this too. I increased the amount from four to six eggs, to ensure that the casserole would set up well.<\/p>\n Grease a 13\u00d79-in. baking dish with butter or nonstick spray. Arrange the Tater Tots in long, neat rows in the baking dish to completely cover the bottom.<\/p>\n Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the oil and swirl the pan so it coats the bottom. Crumble the breakfast sausage into the hot pan; add in the diced onion as well. Cook the sausage for about 10 minutes until its cooked through, stirring the mixture occasionally and breaking up the sausage. Move the pan off the heat and let the sausage mixture cool.<\/p>\n Whisk together the milk, half-and-half, seasoned salt, cayenne pepper and eggs in a large bowl. Add in the diced red and green pepper, 1 cup of the grated cheddar, 1\/2 cup of the grated pepper jack cheese and the salt and pepper. Stir to mix everything together.<\/p>\n Spoon the cooled sausage and onion mixture into an even layer over the Tater Tots in the baking dish. Pour the milk and egg mixture over the sausage, then use a spoon to spread out the cheese and peppers evenly. Sprinkle in the remaining grated cheddar and pepper jack cheeses. Finally, add 10-12 Tater Tots over the top of the casserole. (This step isn\u2019t in Ree\u2019s original recipe, but I like a crispy top!)<\/p>\n Tightly cover the pan with foil and refrigerate it overnight.<\/p>\n Preheat the oven to 350\u00b0F. Place the covered casserole in the oven and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 30-35 minutes. You know it\u2019s done when the casserole is set with no liquidy pockets and a knife inserted into the center comes out mostly clean.<\/p>\n Cut the Tater Tot casserole into slices and serve them while they\u2019re warm.<\/p>\n All that cheese and all those Tater Tots? Yeah, this is a pretty easy casserole to enjoy!<\/p>\n With sausage, eggs, onions and spice, it checks all the boxes for a delicious, savory breakfast recipe<\/a>. The Tater Tots on the bottom get browned, but because they soak up the batter overnight, they become a tender base layer for the casserole. We had Tater Tot casserole for Sunday breakfast and then reheated slices the next day for lunch.<\/p>\n Diced, fresh bell peppers keep their crunch in the baked casserole. While they\u2019re fine this way, the next time I make this recipe I plan to saute the peppers first, so they\u2019ll be soft and more flavorful in the finished dish.<\/p>\n The original Pioneer Woman Tater Tot casserole recipe is easy to riff off of. For example, I added some Tots to the top of the casserole. You can swap out the breakfast sausage for ground beef or turkey cooked with taco seasoning.<\/p>\n You can sneak more veggies into this casserole too, like fire-roasted corn, diced tomatoes and chopped, fresh spinach. Sliced, sauteed mushrooms would also be delicious.<\/p>\n The Best Casseroles to Make with Tater Tots<\/p>\n I like to make this cheesy tater tot casserole when time before supper is short. It serves two to three people, but if we have unexpected company I double the ingredients and use a 9-in. x 13-in. pan. The I call it my “Please Stay Casserole”! \u2014Jean Ferguson, Elverta, California<\/p>\n Get Recipe<\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Ground beef, sausage and cheese make this tater tot casserole with green beans a crowd-pleaser. Cayenne pepper and hot Italian sausage give it a pleasant kick. \u2014Ryan Jones, Chillicothe, Illinois<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Running a bed-and-breakfast keeps us busy. Once in a while I get creative and try to improve on an already good dish. That’s how I came up with this one. It’s a favorite among our guests.\u2014Ellen Berdan, Salkum, Washington<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n My chicken and rice bake is a lovely example of midwestern cuisine. The dish is ideal for hosting because it can bake away on its own while you turn your attention to other party preparations. \u2014Suzanne Greenslit, Merrifield, Minnesota<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n I sometimes make turkey just so I have the extras for the casserole! \u2014Mary Jo O’Brien, Hastings, Minnesota<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n I love Tater Tot casserole, but wanted a lighter version of the recipe. The Taste of Home Test Kitchen slashed the fat in this classic dish, while keeping all the Tots my family loves. Who know you could have healthy Tater Tots?! \u2014Scott Woodward, Shullsburg, Wisconsin\n<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n My husband had a poor perception of healthy food until he tried this beefy casserole. The combination of pasta, oregano, mushrooms and green peppers makes it a favorite healthy pasta recipe<\/a> in our house. \u2014Theresa Smith, Sheboygan, Wisconsin<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n I keep frozen spuds on hand for meals like this Tater Tot breakfast casserole. It\u2019s a super brunch, breakfast or side dish for kids of all ages. \u2014Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n What’s not to love about classic Tater Tot casserole<\/a>\u2014especially when it’s made in the slow cooker? You’ll want to add this family-pleasing potluck favorite to your regular rotation. \u2014Nick Iverson, Denver, Colorado<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n This bacon cheeseburger tater tot casserole<\/a> is the perfect dish to bribe your kids; homework, chores, piano practice\u2014consider them done! \u2014Deanna Zewen, Union Grove, Wisconsin<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n For a seniors potluck at church, I wanted to create a recipe that would incorporate a meat dish and side dish in one. This casserole proved to be a crowd-pleaser, and many people asked for the recipe. \u2014Joann Fritzler, Belen, New Mexico<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n This quick and creamy Tater Tot bake is great comfort food, especially on a cold night. \u2014Donna Donhauser, Remsen, New York<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n One of my best friends shared this recipe with me. My family loves it because it includes one of our favorite vegetables: broccoli. For potluck, it’s a delicious and colorful way to use leftover ham. \u2014Margaret Allen, Abingdon, Virginia<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n You’ll please everyone in the family with this inviting and filling chicken Tater Tot casserole. It tastes like a chicken potpie topped with Tater Tots. \u2014Fran Allen, St Louis, Missouri<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n This recipe makes two cheesy, delicious casseroles. Have one tonight and put the other on ice for a future busy weeknight. It’s like having money in the bank when things get hectic! \u2014Kari Adams, Fort Collins, Colorado<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n For a spin on a classic casserole, try this easy version. For a fun twist, just add your family\u2019s favorite pizza toppings! \u2014Sharon Skildum, Maple Grove, Minnesota<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n I’ve relied on this recipe many times as a soothing finish to a hectic day…and since I usually have all the ingredients on hand, there’s no last-minute rush to the store, either. \u2014Judy Larson, Greendale, Wisconsin\n<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"slice](\"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/TOH-pioneer-woman-tater-tot-GettyImages-156649536-Nancy-Mock-for-TOH-JVedit.jpg?fit=680,454\")
Nancy Mock for Taste of Home, Getty Images<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nDo I Really Need to Chill This Casserole Overnight?<\/h2>\n
How to Make The Pioneer Woman\u2019s Tater Tot Casserole<\/h2>\n
![\"removing](\"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Pioneer-Woman-Tater-Tot-Breakfast-Casserole.TOH_.Nancy-Mock-3-2-JVedit.jpg?fit=680,454\")
Nancy Mock for Taste of Home<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIngredients<\/h3>\n
\n
Directions<\/h3>\n
Step 1: Build a Tater Tot crust<\/h4>\n
Step 2: Cook the sausage<\/h4>\n
Step 3: Make the egg batter<\/h4>\n
Step 4: Assemble the casserole and chill<\/h4>\n
Step 5: Bake<\/h4>\n
Here\u2019s What I Thought<\/h2>\n
![\"Tater](\"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Pioneer-Woman-Tater-Tot-Breakfast-Casserole.TOH_.Nancy-Mock-2-JVedit.jpg?fit=680,454\")
Nancy Mock for Taste of Home<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nHow to Make It Your Own<\/h2>\n
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