Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole With Sausage and Peppers

Ingredients

• 1 pound bulk pork breakfast sausage, casings removed (454 g)
• 1 medium red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and diced (150 g)
• 1 small yellow onion, peeled and finely diced (110 g)
• 10 large eggs, at room temperature (500 g)
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk (360 g)
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt (5 g)
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (1 g)
• 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (226 g)
• 1 2-pound bag frozen tater tots, unthawed (907 g)

Instructions

1. Prepare dish. Heat the oven to 375°F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish and place it on a rimmed sheet pan. Keep the frozen tater tots in the freezer while preparing the filling. A rimmed pan catches any drips and makes the full dish easier to move safely.
2. Cook filling. Cook sausage, bell pepper, and onion in a large skillet over medium heat, breaking sausage into small crumbles, for about 8 minutes. Drain the mixture well in a colander. Drain until the crumbles no longer leave a glossy puddle beneath them.
3. Mix eggs. Whisk eggs, milk, salt, and pepper in a large bowl until fully combined. Stir in 1 1/2 cups of the cheddar, saving the remaining cheese for the dish.
4. Fill pan. Spread the sausage mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish. Pour the egg mixture over it, then scatter the reserved cheddar across the surface. Do not add the tots yet. This keeps the topping dry.
5. Set custard. Bake uncovered for 22 minutes, until the outer edge is set and the center still wobbles slightly. Remove the dish from the oven and raise the temperature to 425°F.
6. Add topping. Arrange frozen tater tots in a close single layer over the casserole. Bake uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden and the center reaches 160°F. Rest 10 minutes before slicing into eight squares.

Notes

• A shallow 9-by-13-inch dish gives potatoes direct heat. Set a dish on a baking sheet before moving it to or from the oven.
• Arrange frozen tots in rows with edges touching, never stacked; covered surfaces stay pale and soft.
• Freeze cooled squares for up to two months. Reheat thawed portions in a toaster oven after microwaving to restore browned edges.

Nutrition Facts