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Quick, easy and hearty, this is the kind of breakfast bake that gets requests. All you need is ham, eggs, tater tots, cream and cheese. Everything else is just assembly.
One tip before you get started: par-bake your tater tots in a pre-heated oven. Just 15 minutes on a tray while you whisk the eggs – this step will set you up for a nice crunchy base.
After that, arrange the toasted tots and diced ham pieces at the base of the pan (or oven safe casserole dish), pour in the seasoned egg mixture, top with cheese and bake until it turns golden brown and delicious. Serve hot.
Everything in this dish is a freezer or fridge staple, which means no special grocery run and no complicated prep. You can even swap out the ham for shredded chicken or add roasted vegetables to the mix for an even heartier slice.
Leftovers are just as good the next day, served cold or reheated in the microwave (if you’re lucky enough to have any!)
Ham & Cheese Tater Tot Breakfast Bake
Ingredients
- 12 ounces frozen tater tots / hash brown nuggets
- 5 ounces diced ham (thick-cut)
- 5 large eggs
- ½ cup thickened cream or half & half
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ small yellow onion, finely diced
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon butter or cooking spray
Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Grease your casserole dish with butter or cooking spray and set aside.
- Par-bake the tater tots: Spread the tater tots in a single layer on a baking tray. Bake for 15 minutes until just starting to crisp — they don't need to be fully cooked through. This is the step that keeps them from going soggy once the egg mixture goes in.
- While the tots are par-baking, whisk together the eggs and cream in a large bowl until smooth. Add the garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper and whisk to combine. Stir in the onion and ham.
- Reduce the oven to 350°F (180°C). Arrange the par-baked tater tots in an even layer across the bottom of the prepared casserole dish. Pour the egg and ham mixture evenly over the top, letting it settle down between the tots. Scatter the cheddar and mozzarella evenly over the top of the dish.
- Bake uncovered for 35–40 minutes until the egg is fully set in the centre. Insert a knife or skewer into the middle — it should come out clean with no wet egg. The cheese on top should be golden and bubbling. If the centre still has a jiggle, give it another 5 minutes and check again.
- Allow the bake to rest for 5 minutes before slicing into portions and serving.
Recipe by Conscious Eats