Step by step

Method

4 steps

1. 1

   Heat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Brown 1 lb breakfast sausage over medium-high, breaking it up, 6–8 minutes; drain the fat.

2. 2

   Scatter half of a 32 oz bag of frozen tater tots in the dish, then the sausage and 1 cup shredded cheddar. Top with the remaining tots in a fairly even layer — they'll crisp as they bake.

3. 3

   Whisk 8 large eggs with 1½ cups milk, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Pour evenly over the casserole, then sprinkle the remaining 1 cup cheddar on top.

4. 4

   Bake 45–55 minutes until the eggs are set in the center (no wet jiggle) and the tots are deep golden and crisp. Rest 10 minutes, then garnish with sliced green onions. You want set custardy eggs under shatter-crisp tots — not a soggy middle or undercooked egg puddle.