Working for the Weekend Casserole is a sausage, tater tot and egg breakfast casserole that can be cooked in your Instant Pot, slow cooker or oven. You can prepare it the night before and then bake in the morning. An easy way to work ahead to enjoy a relaxing weekend!
Working for the Weekend Casserole
One thing I love to do these days (as my kids have grown up and I have time to myself during the day time) is work ahead so that my weekends are relaxing and not jam packed with errands, chores and cooking. One way that you can do this is work for your weekend (just like the song!) by preparing a weekend breakfast casserole ahead of time.
This tater tot breakfast casserole is a delicious and hearty breakfast dish that is perfect for prepping the night before you want to enjoy it and it also feeds a crowd. It’s a classic breakfast casserole that combines crispy tater tots, scrambled eggs, 2 different types of cheeses, browned sausage and a secret ingredient…cottage cheese. The cottage cheese gives the eggs a creamy texture, similar to starbucks egg bites.
What makes this recipe even better is that it is flexible. You can prep it the night before or the day of. You can cook it in the Instant Pot, slow cooker or oven. You can customize the ingredients by adding in other ingredients like bell peppers, green chiles, sauteed mushrooms or diced tomatoes. You can switch up the seasonings and types of cheeses. You can serve it for breakfast or for dinner. Give this recipe a try this weekend and enjoy!
Ingredients/Substitution Ideas
- Ground breakfast sausage–I used Jimmy Dean brand
- Onion–yellow or white
- Garlic–fresh or jarred
- Eggs
- Half and half–or evaporated milk
- Cottage cheese–or greek yogurt
- Pace Picante Sauce–or chunky salsa
- Dried parsley
- Paprika
- Ground mustard
- Dried oregano
- Black pepper
- Kosher salt
- Tater tots
- Shredded cheddar cheese–or colby jack cheese
- Shredded mozzarella cheese
Instant Pot Steps
Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the sausage and break it up. Add in the onions. Brown the sausage for about 5 minutes. Drain off excess grease. Stir in the garlic. Turn off saute setting.
Add half of the tater tots and half of the cheeses into the Instant Pot with the sausage. Stir.
In a mixing bowl whisk together the eggs, half and half, cottage cheese, picante sauce, parsley, paprika, ground mustard, oregano, pepper and salt.
Pour egg mixture over the sausage mixture.
(Optional: cover the pot and refrigerate overnight.) When ready to bake turn Instant Pot to the slow cooker “more” setting. Set the time to 3 hours.
Add the remaining tater tots on top.
Use an air fryer lid to air fry the tots for 5 minutes at 400 degrees, or until crispy. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top and air fry for 1 more minute, until cheese is melty. (If you don’t have an air fryer lid you can cook the tater tots in the oven and sprinkle on top along with the cheeses.)
Serve and enjoy!
Notes/Tips
- Serve as breakfast, brunch or breakfast for dinner! Serve alongside a side of fresh fruit.
- I used my 6 quart Duo Crisp Instant Pot*. It works well for this recipe because it comes with an air fryer lid. You can also make this in an 8 quart pot.
- This recipe makes a lot! If you’re cooking to serve only 4-5 people I would halve the recipe. Halve all the ingredients and keep the cooking time the same.
- You can store leftovers in an airtight container* in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. The tater tots on top won’t be crispy though.
- Other recipes you can make with tater tots are Instant Pot Tater Tot Casserole and Instant Pot Totcho Casserole.
More Instant Pot Breakfast Recipes…
Instant Pot Cheesy Bacon Breakfast Potatoes
Tender cubed potatoes tossed in seasonings with bacon, green pepper, onions and cheese. Perfect for breakfast (or dinner)!
Instant Pot Southern Sawmill Sausage Gravy
The easiest way to make a big batch of rich and flavorful sausage gravy to serve over warm cooked biscuits!
Tennessee Hashbrown Casserole
Tennessee Hashbrown Casserole has cheddar, hashbrowns, peppers, sausage and a creamy sauce. It’s the ultimate hashbrown casserole!
Farmer’s Breakfast
A hearty breakfast of eggs, bacon and potatoes that will fill you up and keep you full until lunch or even dinner! Use your Instant Pot to quickly steam the potatoes.
Loaded Overnight Breakfast Casserole
Loaded Overnight Breakfast Casserole is a winning breakfast! It has eggs, hashbrowns, bacon crumbles and cheddar cheese. Prep it the night before and then bake it in the morning in your Crockpot, Instant Pot or in the oven!
Did you know you can filter the recipes on my website to search by meat type, IP or Crockpot, low carb, gluten free, etc.? Use the filter to find exactly what you are looking for.
Working for the Weekend Casserole
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 10–12 servings 1x
Description
Working for the Weekend Casserole is a sausage, tater tot and egg breakfast casserole that can be cooked in your Instant Pot, slow cooker or oven. You can prepare it the night before and then bake in the morning. An easy way to work ahead to enjoy a relaxing weekend!
Ingredients
- 1 (16 oz) package ground breakfast sausage
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 8 eggs
- 1/2 cup half and half
- 1/2 cup cottage cheese
- 1/2 cup Pace Picante Sauce (I use mild)
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp ground mustard
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 (20 oz) bag tater tots
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
Instant Pot Instructions:
- Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the sausage and break it up. Add in the onions. Brown the sausage for about 5 minutes. Drain off excess grease. Stir in the garlic. Turn off saute setting.
- Add half of the tater tots and half of the cheeses into the Instant Pot with the sausage. Stir.
- In a mixing bowl whisk together the eggs, half and half, cottage cheese, picante sauce, parsley, paprika, ground mustard, oregano, pepper and salt. Pour egg mixture over the sausage mixture.
- (Optional: cover the pot and refrigerate overnight.) When ready to bake turn Instant Pot to the slow cooker “more” setting. Set the time to 3 hours.
- Add the remaining tater tots on top. Use an air fryer lid to air fry the tots for 5 minutes at 400 degrees, or until crispy. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top and air fry for 1 more minute, until cheese is melty. (If you don’t have an air fryer lid you can cook the tater tots in the oven and sprinkle on top along with the cheeses.)
- Serve and enjoy!
Slow Cooker Instructions:
- Heat a pan over medium high heat. Add in the sausage and break it up. Add in the onions. Brown the sausage for about 5 minutes. Drain off excess grease. Stir in the garlic.
- Spray the slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray. Add the sausage mixture into the slow cooker.
- Add half of the tater tots and half of the cheeses into the slow cooker with the sausage. Stir.
- In a mixing bowl whisk together the eggs, half and half, cottage cheese, picante sauce, parsley, paprika, ground mustard, oregano, pepper and salt. Pour egg mixture over the sausage mixture.
- (Optional: cover the pot and refrigerate overnight.) When ready to bake, cover slow cooker and cook on high for 2-3 hours.
- Cook the remaining tater tots in the oven or an air fryer according to package directions. Sprinkle tots on top of casserole along with the cheeses. Cover the pot and cook on high for a few minutes until cheese has melted.
- Serve and enjoy!
Oven Instructions:
- Heat a pan over medium high heat. Add in the sausage and break it up. Add in the onions. Brown the sausage for about 5 minutes. Drain off excess grease. Stir in the garlic.
- Spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Add the sausage mixture into the pan.
- Add half of the tater tots and half of the cheeses into the pan with the sausage. Stir.
- In a mixing bowl whisk together the eggs, half and half, cottage cheese, picante sauce, parsley, paprika, ground mustard, oregano, pepper and salt. Pour egg mixture over the sausage mixture. Sprinkle the remaining tater tots on top.
- (Optional: cover the pan and refrigerate overnight.) When ready to bake, bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 70 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Bake for another 5-10 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy!
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Instant Pot/Slow Cooker/Oven
*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Do u have vegan recipes?
Not many…but here are some: https://www.365daysofcrockpot.com/tag/vegan/