We're layering up breakfast totchos (aka tater tot nachos) with crispy golden tater tots, fluffy scrambled eggs, bacon, chopped scallions, and a homemade cheese sauce that takes the entire recipe over the top.
These breakfast totchos are 100% kid-tested (and approved), crowd-pleasing, and makes breakfast way more fun.
I know the idea of making totchos is not new, but breakfast tater tots are just so fun, delicious, and after making this several times, I can confirm they are great reheated and used for breakfast meal prep, especially for the kiddos.
Breakfast Totchos at a Glance
- 👩🏼🍳 Prep Time - 10 Minutes
- ⏱️ Cook Time - 20 Minutes (everything sort of cooks at once).
- 😋 Taste - Savory, creamy, crunchy, salty, and utterly satisfying.
- 🍽️ Best Served With - You can serve this up with a stack of protein banana pancakes, a broccoli cheddar quiche (for all the egg lovers), or an iced lemon loaf if you're looking to be extra fancy.
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Trusted Tips and Reminders
- To make super fluffy scrambled eggs, keep the flame low, and slowly push the eggs into the center of the pan. Let the eggs gather and fold with each push of the spatula (I also suggest using a rubber spatula for this). Once the eggs become more and more solid, season with salt and pepper. Fold a few times until your desired consistency. Scrambled eggs should be a little of the softer side.
- Toss the tater tots in just a little salt after they bake, then lay onto a platter or even a sheet to start layering the other ingredients. Be sure to gather then in the center so that the tots resemble a "nacho" feel.
- Day old bacon actually works better here as it's already crunchy and is easily cut into smaller pieces. You can also use turkey bacon or chorizo. No need to actually heat up the bacon either.
- When making the roux (melted butter whisked together with flour to thicken the cheese sauce), you want to make sure the butter and flour come together to form a paste, then add the milk and bring to rolling boil. Add in the cheese and turn off the heat to prevent the cheese sauce from breaking.
Totchos Ingredients
- Tater Tots - Crispy little nuggets of potato, tater tots are the vessel that carries all of the delicious loaded toppings. You could also use crumbled hashbrowns or even sweet potato rounds if you're feeling extra fancy.
- Egg - I love scrambled eggs, and I despise (yes, that's strong, I know) runny eggs. If you DO like runny eggs, you could top the tater tots with over easy or over medium eggs.
- Cheese Sauce - A homemade sauce of melted butter, flour, milk, and cheese. It comes together fairly quickly and can be made while the tots are baking. I use a cheese sauce in my easy baked macaroni and cheese and it always delivers on flavor and creaminess.
- Bacon - Traditional bacon works, or you can opt for applewood smoked, thick cut, turkey bacon, or a plant-based bacon.
- Scallions - Aka spring onions are used to add a little color, garnish, and some added crunch.
Be sure to check out the recipe card at the end of this post for more information about quantities, measurements, and specific cooking instructions.
How to make Breakfast Totchos (tater tot nachos)
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400º and bake the tater tots for 20 minutes, tossing halfway. Once the tater tots are in the oven, melt the butter in a medium saucepan, then whisk in the flour until it forms a paste. Pour in the milk and bring to rolling boil. Turn off the heat, add the cheese, then whisk until the cheese melts and it becomes a thick, creamy sauce. Set aside.
Step 2: Add the baked tater tots to a platter, then top with scrambled eggs, cheese sauce, chopped bacon and scallions. Serve as is or top with a drizzle of hot honey, hot sauce, or guacamole.
Simple Swaps and Substitutions
- You can swap out the bacon for crumbled sausage, plant-based bacon, turkey bacon, or omit the meat entirely.
- Drizzle some hot sauce on top for some added heat.
- Use a different type of potato or tater tot like sweet potato tots or sweet potatoes chopped into thick cubes, or simply use layered hashbrowns.
- Instead of making your own cheese sauce, you can use a can of cheese sauce or queso from the grocery store.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can place any leftover tater tots in an airtight container, then place in the fridge for up to 3 days.
For reheating any of the leftovers, simply add the tots and the other toppings to a lined baking sheet. Preheat the oven to 350º and warm for 8-10 minutes. For any leftover cheese sauce, this can warm up in a small saucepan over low heat or for one minute in the microwave.
Instead of using a cheese sauce, you can top this with cottage cheese or yogurt, add in black beans or crumbled chicken sausage.
Come check out some of my other favorite breakfast recipes:
Did you love this recipe? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you're just as in love with this recipe as I am, please share a comment below and rate it! Better yet, share this recipe with family and friends!! Thank you!
Breakfast Totchos
Equipment
- baking sheet
- Medium Saucepan for cheese sauce
- Small Frying Pan for eggs
Ingredients
- ½ bag Frozen Tater Tots
- 4 large Eggs whisked
- 4 pieces Bacon cooked; chopped
- 2 medium Scallions sliced; the light green parts
- 1 cup Cheese Sauce
For the Cheese Sauce
- 2 tablespoon Butter
- 2 tablespoon Flour
- 1 cup Milk
- 1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400º and bake the tater tots for 20 minutes, tossing halfway.
- Once the tater tots are in the oven, melt the butter in a medium saucepan, then whisk in the flour until it forms a paste.
- Pour in the milk and bring to rolling boil. Turn off the heat, add the cheese, then whisk until the cheese melts and it becomes a thick, creamy sauce. Set aside.
- Once the tater tots are done baking, add them to a serving platter (or keep on the baking sheet) and top with scrambled eggs, then pour the cheese sauce on top to coat the area of the eggs and the tater tots.
- Top the breakfast tater tots with chopped bacon and scallions. Serve as is or top with a drizzle of hot honey, hot sauce, or guacamole.
Lilly P says
I mean…. They are breakfast totchos (need I say more?). Seriously though these were delicious and a great way to mix up our weekend breakfast routine. The cheese sauce MADE them. Can’t wait to make them again!
Morgan Peaceman says
Isn't the cheese sauce fantastic?! It's the queso of all dreams!!