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    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes

    Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole

    Published: May 9, 2023 Modified: May 9, 2023 by Kristin King / This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe | Pin Recipe
    Side close up shot of a piece of tater tot casserole garnished with chives on a black plate.
    Side close up shot of a piece of tater tot casserole garnished with chives on a black plate.
    Overhead shot of tater tot casserole in a casserole dish on a wooden surface with a black serving spoon on the side.

    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!

    Overhead shot of tater tot casserole in a casserole dish on a wooden surface with a black serving spoon on the side.
    With the sweet and slightly smoky flavor of roasted red peppers, fresh spinach, and savory cheddar cheese, this tater tot egg casserole is about to become a family favorite!
    Jump to:
    • 💚 Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • 🧂 Ingredients Needed
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • ❔ FAQs
    • 💭 Expert Tips and Tricks
    • 💡 Substitutions and Variations
    • 🔊 What readers are saying...
    • 🥫 Storage and Reheating
    • ⏲️ Make Ahead Instructions
    • 🍴 What To Serve With This Dish
    • ✔️ More Casserole Recipes You'll Love
    • 📋 Recipe Card
    • 💬 Reviews and Comments

    💚 Why You'll Love This Recipe

    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!

    And, here's the BONUS: Your kids are going to completely miss the fact that you’re serving them nutrient dense veggies and protein packed eggs when they bite into this cheesy potato deliciousness. You’ll be getting requests for this regularly!

    And with the bright red of the peppers and the vibrant green of fresh spinach, this is perfect for Christmas morning brunch, too.

    But this tater tot egg casserole is also just the thing for a busy weeknight when you want simple and delicious on the table with a minimal of fuss. Pair it with a Fruit and Vegetable Salad for a full and balanced meal!

    🧂 Ingredients Needed

    Overhead shot of ingredients - spinach, tater tots, eggs, shredded cheddar, roasted red pepper, pepper, and salt.
    With only six simple ingredients, this tater tot casserole without meat is the perfect breakfast!
    • roasted red peppers - provide a nice bold flavor and gorgeous red color.
    • baby spinach - add more nutritional value and contrast beautifully with the peppers.
    • salt and black pepper - for a solid base of flavor that enhances the other ingredients.
    • eggs - form the main part of the casserole and bake up perfectly in the oven.
    • shredded cheddar cheese - gives your casserole a cheesy twist.
    • tater tots - forming a delicious base for this casserole, you can use frozen tater tots for super easy prep!

    🔪 Instructions

    Four panel grid of process shots 1-4 - prepping vegetables and combining with eggs.
    With only 15 minutes of prep work required, this easy tater tot casserole recipe is perfect to make in the morning!
    1. Cut the red peppers into smaller pieces.
    2. Microwave the spinach in a microwave-safe bowl for 1 minute, then use a fork to separate the leaves.
    3. Crack your eggs into a medium or large bowl and whisk well.
    4. Mix the spinach and peppers in with the whisked egg, as well as the salt, pepper, and cheese.
    Two panel grid of process shots 5-6 - layering tater tots and egg mixture in a casserole dish and baking.
    Filling and delicious, you can customize this recipe foe easy tater tot casserole however you want!
    1. Line the bottom of a casserole dish with a single layer of tater tots.
    2. Pour the egg mixture over the tater tots. Top with additional shredded cheese if desired, then bake at 350 degrees F for 40 to 45 minutes.

    ❔ 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.

    Overhead shot of tater tot casserole in a casserole dish on a wooden surface with a black serving spoon on the side.
    Just look at all that yummy melted cheese on top of the baked cheesy tater tot 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. Garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, and red pepper flakes are some great options, but experiment and see what flavors you like!

    📌 This is the BEST tater tot casserole recipe without meat! Tasty and hearty, it's perfect as a special side dish, a main breakfast-for-dinner course, or as a holiday breakfast or brunch.

    💡 Substitutions and Variations

    • Try different cheeses! Go ahead and substitute colby, or Swiss, or may I even suggest a nice spicy pepper jack? I even found a habenero-infused shredded cheddar recently that would be AWESOME in this recipe.
    • 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!

    🔊 What readers are saying...

    "I LOVE this recipe, especially having the veggies on top instead of the potatoes. I made changes to reduce dairy by substituting ¾ cup Parmesan cheese and used egg white instead of whole eggs. I added turkey bacon, sauteed onions, cumin, paprika, cayenne and fresh cilantro. Sooooo good that I made it 2x in 1 week!!"

    - Debra

    🥫 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 Quick 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 this Berry Delicious Fruit Salad as a side, just to add a little contrasting sweetness to the meal!

    ✔️ More Casserole Recipes You'll Love

    • Corn Dog Casserole - This nostalgic recipe tastes just like fairground corn dogs but has a bit of a healthier approach.
    • Crock Pot French Toast Casserole - Looking for another yummy breakfast casserole to pair with this easy tater tot casserole recipe? Try this sweet and comforting french toast!
    • Vegan Baked Hummus Casserole - Healthy and full of flavor, this unique casserole combines hummus with veggies for a nutritional and delicious meal.
    • Southern Sweet Potato Casserole - This decadent casserole from Add a Pinch is perfect as a holiday side dish or even a dessert!
    Side close up shot of a piece of tater tot casserole garnished with chives on a black plate with a fork on the side and a casserole dish in the background.
    Filling and satisfying, this cheesy and delicious tater tot casserole is the perfect breakfast!

    The Best Tater Tot Casserole without Meat

    Love this recipe? Awesome! Snap a photo and tag me on Instagram. You can find me at DizzyBusyandHungry or #dizzybusyandhungry!

    ⭐ Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below! ⭐

    📋 Recipe Card

    Overhead shot of tater tot casserole in a casserole dish on a wooden surface with a black serving spoon on the side.

    Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole

    Recipe Author: Kristin
    Only 15 minutes of prep! This cheesy tater tot casserole is a delicious and easy dish, featuring roasted red peppers, fresh spinach, and melted cheddar!
    4.93 from 98 votes
    Print Recipe Share by Email Bookmark Saved!
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 40 minutes mins
    Total Time 55 minutes mins
    Course Breakfast
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8 people
    Calories 254 kcal

    Ingredients
     

    • ⅔ cup roasted red peppers (from a jar)
    • 4 ounces baby spinach
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon pepper
    • 8 eggs
    • 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar
    • 16 ounces tater tots (frozen)
    US Customary - Metric
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
    • Chop the roasted red peppers into bite-sized pieces.
      ⅔ cup roasted red peppers
    • 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 ounces baby spinach
    • Place the eggs in a medium bowl and whisk.
      8 eggs
    • Add in the roasted red pepper pieces and the salt and pepper and mix. Then fold in the spinach and shredded cheddar.
      ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar
    • Spray an 11x7 baking dish with nonstick spray. Line the dish with frozen tater tots.
      16 ounces tater tots
    • Pour the egg mixture over the tater tots, spreading out the veggies and cheese to evenly distribute them over the tater tots.
    • Bake for 40-45 minutes, until the egg mixture is set.

    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.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 254kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 185mg | Sodium: 680mg | Potassium: 327mg | Fiber: 1g | Vitamin A: 1840IU | Vitamin C: 13.7mg | Calcium: 204mg | Iron: 1.7mg

    Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.

    Want to make cooking even easier?Sign up here to receive FREE DBH exclusive content, including my favorite kitchen shortcuts and hacks, and unlock access to the DBH resource library with many other free downloads!

    Thanks so much for reading! I also invite you to follow me on FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, or INSTAGRAM to keep up with what's going on in my kitchen.

    And you might want to check out my Dizzy Busy and Hungry store on Amazon for a whole bunch of great kitchen products I love!

    Happy cooking!

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Julie

      May 09, 2023 at 3:02 pm

      5 stars
      I was looking for recipes to serve some guests that were staying with us. They thought I was a regular chef making this casserole. I loved how easy it was to put together!

      Reply
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    👋 Hey there, I'm Kristin! As a full-time working wife and mom, my life is such a whirlwind, it makes me dizzy sometimes! So I have been working to develop quick, easy, family-friendly recipes for 20+ years, and this site is where I share them with you! Happy cooking!

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