Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole

You’ll love this Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole that only requires 15 minutes of prep! With no meat included, this hearty casserole is a delicious and easy dish that features roasted peppers, spinach, and melty cheese.

It’s perfect for a holiday brunch or a special weekend breakfast. You can even serve it as a fun meatless weeknight dinner that’ll be on the table in under an hour!

There are a lot of tater tot casseroles out there, but this one isn’t necessarily a side dish. With the fresh spinach, roasted red peppers, savory cheddar, and eggs, it’s got everything you need to be the foundation of your meal. This is also a great recipe if you are looking for a tater tot casserole without meat. With the eggs and cheese, you have plenty of protein. In fact, this is a perfect recipe if you do a meatless Monday or for Fridays during Lent! From dizzybusyandhungry.com.

Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole


Ingredients:

⅔ cup roasted red peppers (from a jar without problem ingredients)
4 ounces baby spinach
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper (if tolerated)
8 eggs
1 ½ cups shredded cheddar
16 ounces tater tots (frozen and without problem ingredients)


Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Chop the roasted red peppers into bite-sized pieces.

3. Place the spinach in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high for 1 minute. Once wilted, pick at the spinach with a fork to separate the leaves.

4. Place the eggs in a medium bowl and whisk.

5. Add in the roasted red pepper pieces and the salt and pepper and mix. Then fold in the spinach and shredded cheddar.

6. Spray an 11x7 baking dish with nonstick spray. Line the dish with frozen tater tots.

7. Pour the egg mixture over the tater tots, spreading out the veggies and cheese to evenly distribute them over the tater tots.

8. Bake for 40-45 minutes, until the egg mixture is set.



❔ FAQs

Do I need to cook the tater tots before adding them to the casserole?
Nope! Not only do you NOT have to cook them, you don't even have to thaw them! Use them right of the bag, still frozen.

Can I add meat to this easy tater tot casserole recipe?
Absolutely, feel free to add your choice of protein! Ground beef, ground turkey, and ground chicken would all work great in this casserole. Cook them just until done before adding to the egg mixture.

Why is my tater tot casserole runny?
This can happen if there's too much liquid, either from the veggies or meat, if you're adding it. Be sure to drain any excess liquids before baking to prevent a runny casserole.



💭 Expert Tips and Tricks

• Be sure to spread the egg mixture evenly over the tater tots to ensure equal distribution of ingredients.
• To get an extra cheesy and crispy top, sprinkle the top of the casserole with extra cheese once fully baked and stick it under the broiler for a minute or two until golden brown. Just be sure to watch it closely so it doesn't burn.
• Feel free to add additional seasonings to your liking and experiment and see what flavors you like!



💡 Substitutions and Variations

Try different cheeses! Go ahead and substitute.

Not a fan of roasted red pepper? Substitute 8 ounces of sliced mushrooms. You will want to cook them slightly first to give them a softer texture in the finished casserole. A quick and easy way to do this is to microwave them for about 2 minutes, drain, and then add to the egg mixture.

Is spinach not your thing? Asparagus would be a great substitute for the spinach. Similar to the mushrooms, chop 8 ounces of asparagus into bite-sized pieces, microwave them for about 2 minutes to soften, drain, and add to the egg mixture. You could also add canned green beans.

Looking to use this as a tater tot casserole side dish? This can definitely be a side dish! Serve alongside an entree of grilled kielbasa or other sausage, or even a beef roast or steak!



🥫 Storage and Reheating

Keep your delicious casserole leftovers stored in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-4 days. You could also cover with plastic wrap or aluminum foil.

You could heat up leftovers in the microwave. Sprinkle a few drops of water on top to keep it moist and help the cheese get super gooey again.

But, if you have the time, the best way to reheat this no-meat tater tot casserole recipe is in the oven. Just cover it lightly so it doesn’t get too browned on top and reheat it until the center is warm.



⏲️ Make Ahead Instructions

You absolutely can prep your tater tot egg casserole ahead of time. Go ahead and make it up the night before, cover it tightly, and keep it in the fridge until morning.

When you wake up, slide it into the oven and turn on the heat. But here’s the trick: put into a cold oven so you don’t shatter the glass of your casserole dish. It will slowly heat as the oven warms. If you do this, you may need to slightly adjust cooking times; just check the center for doneness.



🍴 What To Serve With This Dish

Consider serving it up with Parmesan garlic bread and maybe a small side salad to make this easy tater tot breakfast casserole into a cheesy, delicious, simple cheesy tater tot casserole with veggies, just right for dinner.

It's also great with a fruit salad as a side, just to add a little contrasting sweetness to the meal!



NOTES

• There is no need to cook or even thaw the tater tots. Use them right out of the bag, still frozen!

• If you like, you can prep this casserole ahead of time. Make it up the night before, cover it with plastic wrap, and keep it in the fridge until morning.

• When you are ready to bake it, slide it into the oven and turn on the heat. It will slowly heat as the oven warms and avoid shattering your baking dish. (You may need to slightly adjust cooking times; just check the center for doneness.)

• To reheat leftovers in the microwave, sprinkle a few drops of water on top to keep it moist and help the cheese get super gooey again.

• To reheat leftovers in the oven (recommended), just cover them lightly so they doesn’t get too browned on top and reheat them at 350 degrees F until the center is warm.