Spice up your morning with this easy chorizo breakfast casserole! Super easy to prep ahead of time, this chorizo egg bake comes together quickly and will make tummies happy.
Why I Love This Recipe
One of the first recipes I ever perfected was an egg bake very similar to this chorizo breakfast casserole. I remember guests raving about it and that's when I knew that my obsessing over the details was well worth it.
I've since perfected my breakfast bake skills and thrown ease and love into this very recipe. Here are its shining features:
- The ingredients are simple, easy to find and also easy to replace or omit when needed.
- It is the most delicious breakfast casserole I make on a regular basis and this is not an exaggeration.
- The cooked chorizo, cheese and egg combo gives this dish such big flavor!
- The tiny bit of spice adds so much flavor and deliciousness but it's easy enough to make it mild if that's more your style.
- It's the perfect make-ahead meal. Prep it the night before, toss in the frozen tots and pop it in the oven the next day!
Recipe Ingredients
Ground chorizo - Chorizo gives this recipe a spicy twist, but feel free to replace it with a different type of sausage for a less spicy recipe. Any ground meat will work here, including ground beef or ground turkey.
Bell pepper - Red, orange, yellow or green bell peppers will work great and can be used interchangeably.
Yellow onion - Add a bit more spice by replacing the yellow onion with a red onion.
Mushrooms - If you aren't a mushroom fan, feel free to omit this ingredient or replace with another veggie of your choice.
Eggs - If you have the time, let the eggs sit at room temperature before whisking them together with the other ingredients. This will allow the sour cream from clumping.
Sour cream - Let the sour cream sit at room temp for 30 minutes before using to avoid clumping, if you have the time for it.
You can replace this with yogurt if trying to slim down the recipe or omit it altogether for a healthier recipe or if you'd like a dairy free option.
Milk - Any type of milk will work great here, including whole milk, 2%, 1%, skim or a non-dairy variety such as almond milk or oat milk.
Cheese - Use any kind of shredded cheese, including cheddar cheese, monterey jack cheese, colby jack, mozzarella or provolone.
To make the recipe vegan, use your favorite vegan cheese and appropriate milk and sour cream replacements.
Tater tots - There's no need to thaw the tots before throwing them into the baking dish!
If you are aiming for a gluten-free dish, be sure to read the labels when purchasing tater tots as some varieties do contain gluten.
Prep Chorizo Egg Casserole Ahead of Time
- Prepare the recipe as directed through pouring the egg mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- Do not add the tater tots!
- Cover dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.
- When ready to bake, preheat oven and drop the tater tots into the egg mixture.
- Bake as directed!
How To Make Chorizo Breakfast Casserole
Step 1
In a large skillet, cook chorizo over medium heat until almost cooked through. Add bell pepper, onion and mushrooms to the skillet and cook till the veggies are tender and meat is cooked all the way through, about 5 minutes. Drain the grease and set aside.
Step 2
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and coat a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray. In a large mixing bowl, whisk eggs, sour cream, milk and 1 cup of the cheese. Add the sausage-veggies mixture and mix well.
Pour egg mixture into the bottom of the baking dish. Drop in the tater tots. (If prepping the night before, leave out the tater tots until just before baking.)
Step 3
Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 55 minutes. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup of cheese and bake an additional 10-15 minutes, or until cheese is melted and eggs are cooked through. Let sit for 10 minutes before serving.
Recipe Notes
- Spice up this recipe even more, if that's your thing! Create a delicious and spicy Mexican breakfast casserole by using extra spicy chorizo and add 1-2 diced jalapeno peppers and/or diced green chiles to the skillet along with the bell pepper, onions and mushrooms.
- Sprinkle sliced green onions or chopped fresh cilantro over top of the cheese toward the end for extra color and flavor.
- Add toppings just before serving such as fresh avocado slices, a dollop of sour cream, hot sauce, pico de gallo or salsa.
Can You Freeze Breakfast Casserole
Once baked, breakfast casserole is perfect for freezing and enjoying at a later date. Either cover the pan it was baked in with aluminum foil or transfer individual pieces to a heavy duty freezer bag or airtight container.
Place in the freezer and freeze for up to 4 months for best results.
How To Reheat Breakfast Casserole
If your egg bake has been in the freezer, allow it to thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
To reheat your breakfast casserole, place it in a 350-degree F oven for 20 minutes or until the top is golden brown and it is heated all the way through.
You may also reheat individual servings on a microwave-safe plate in the microwave in 1-minute intervals until heated through.
Add a splash of milk or water to the baking pan or plate if desired to avoid it drying out during the reheating process.
How Do You Know When Chorizo Is Done
It can be difficult to tell when chorizo is fully cooked through since it has a different color and texture than ground beef.
The most accurate way to determine doneness is to make sure it has reached 160 degrees F with a meat thermometer.
In addition, you will be able to tell if it is done by its color. It starts out as a dark orange color when it is raw. After it's cooked it will have more of a consistently dull red or light brownish color.
It should resemble the texture of ground sausage or beef when stirred. There should be no sticky or bright orange/red pieces before consuming.
Beef vs Pork Chorizo
Beef chorizo and pork chorizo have a few key differences.
Pork chorizo is made from ground pork and tends to contain more grease and flavor than beef does. It is also a bit softer in texture, richer and spicier.
Beef chorizo is made from ground beef, it is less greasy and therefore a little bit less flavorful than its pork counterpart. This version has less fat, making it a healthier alternative to pork.
Easy Brunch Dishes
Chorizo Breakfast Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chorizo
- 1 bell pepper seeded and chopped
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 8 oz mushrooms sliced
- 12 eggs
- 8 oz sour cream
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded, divided
- 32 oz tater tots
Instructions
- In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until almost cooked through. Add bell pepper, onion and mushrooms to the skillet and cook till the veggies are tender and meat is cooked all the way through, about 5 minutes. Drain the grease and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and coat a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray. In a large bowl, beat together eggs, sour cream, milk and 1 cup of the cheese. Add the sausage-veggies mixture and mix well. Pour contents into prepared the baking dish. Drop in the tater tots. (If prepping the night before, leave out the tater tots until just before baking.)
- Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 55 minutes. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup of cheese and bake an additional 10-15 minutes, or until cheese is melted and eggs are cooked through. Let sit for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Spice up this recipe even more, if that's your thing! Create a delicious and spicy Mexican breakfast casserole by using extra spicy chorizo and add 1-2 diced jalapeno peppers and/or diced green chiles to the skillet along with the bell pepper, onions and mushrooms.
- Sprinkle sliced green onions or chopped fresh cilantro over top of the cheese toward the end for extra color and flavor.
- Add toppings just before serving such as fresh avocado slices, a dollop of sour cream, hot sauce, pico de gallo or salsa.
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