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Golden baked tater tot breakfast casserole in a baking dish with melted cheddar cheese and savory ham.

Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole

Rebecca Blumer
This hearty tater tot breakfast casserole bakes frozen tots, savory diced ham, melted cheddar, and a rich sour cream egg custard in a 9x13 dish for an effortless, crowd-pleasing morning bake.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Breakfast, Brunch
Cuisine American
Servings 12 servings
Calories 380 kcal

Equipment

  • 9x13-inch baking dish
  • large bowl
  • Whisk

Ingredients
 

  • 1 30-32 Ounce Bag Frozen Tater Tots
  • 16 Ounces Diced Ham
  • 1 1/2 Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
  • 1 Cup Shredded Mozzarella or Monterrey Jack Cheese
  • 8 Large Eggs
  • 1/2 Cup Milk
  • 1 Cup Sour Cream
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Pepper
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Onion Powder
  • 1-2 Teaspoons Hot Sauce Optional

Instructions
 

  • Heat the oven to 375°F and coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. The prepared pan should have a thin, even coating so the browned potato edges release cleanly.
  • Add the frozen tater tots, diced ham, 1 cup of cheddar, and 1 cup of mozzarella or Monterrey Jack to the dish, then gently toss them together with clean hands. Distribute the ham and cheese throughout the tots so each portion gets savory filling instead of a single heavy pocket.
  • Whisk the eggs, milk, sour cream, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and hot sauce if using in a large bowl. Continue until the custard looks uniform and the seasonings are fully dispersed with no sour cream lumps or spice clumps.
  • Pour the egg mixture slowly over the tot mixture in the baking dish. The custard should settle into the gaps and leave some potato surfaces exposed for browning.
  • Bake for 45 minutes, then scatter the remaining 1/2 cup of cheddar over the top and bake for 5 minutes more. The center should look puffed and spring back gently, while the cheese is melted and golden at the edges.

Notes

Texture tip: Keep the tater tots completely frozen during assembly so they crisp properly and prevent a soggy base.
Serving tip: Allow the casserole to rest for 10 minutes after baking so the egg custard finishes setting for clean slices.
Reheating: Reheat leftovers in an oven, toaster oven, or air fryer with dry heat to restore the crisp potato exterior.
Nutrition information is an estimate based on common ingredients and serving sizes. Values may vary depending on brands, portions, and substitutions.
Keyword breakfast casserole, egg custard bake, tater tot breakfast casserole