Description
This Tater Tot Sausage Casserole is a comforting and hearty dish perfect for family dinners. It features ground breakfast sausage cooked to perfection, mixed with creamy mushroom soup, sour cream, and shredded cheddar cheese, all layered under a crispy blanket of golden-brown tater tots. Baked to bubbly, cheesy goodness, this casserole is both easy to prepare and irresistibly delicious, making it an ideal meal for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Dairy
- 1 lb ground breakfast sausage (regular or spicy, as preferred)
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Other Ingredients
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup (10.5 oz)
- 1 package frozen tater tots (32 oz)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Optional Toppings
- Chopped green onions
- Extra shredded cheese
- Crumbled bacon
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it reaches the right temperature while you prepare the other ingredients.
- Cook the Sausage: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground breakfast sausage until browned and crumbled. Drain off any excess grease to keep the casserole from being too oily.
- Mix the Filling: In a large bowl, combine the cooked sausage with the cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, and shredded cheddar cheese. Season with salt and pepper to your taste and mix everything until well incorporated.
- Assemble the Casserole: Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and spread the sausage mixture evenly on the bottom. Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer over the sausage mixture for an even crispy topping.
- Bake: Place the assembled casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown and the casserole is bubbling hot.
- Optional Garnish: If desired, sprinkle extra cheese, chopped green onions, or crumbled bacon on top of the casserole. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes to melt the cheese and warm the toppings.
Notes
- You can use either regular or spicy breakfast sausage depending on your preferred level of heat.
- For a thicker casserole, drain more grease from the cooked sausage than usual.
- If using extra cheese or bacon as toppings, add them near the end of baking to preserve texture and flavor.
- This casserole freezes well; assemble it ahead and freeze before baking for a convenient meal later.
- Adjust salt carefully as the cream of mushroom soup and cheese already contribute saltiness.
