Denver Omelet Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

Disclosure: This recipe post is sponsored by Cabot Cheese.

Ham, green bell peppers, onions, Cheddar cheese, eggs, and tater tots join forces in this easy and show-stopping breakfast casserole.

Hailing from the Midwest, I am no stranger to the casserole. And this recipe in particular is likely to bring anyone into the fan club. The diner classic Denver omelet is transformed into a crowd-pleasing breakfast dish with its delightful mix of ham, vegetables, eggs, Cheddar cheese, and tater tots.

What Is a Denver Omelet?

When I hear the words “Denver omelet,” I am transported to the classic American diners that are found all across the country. As for the dish itself, it’s eggs with ham, green peppers, onions, and cheese. (Some people also include mushrooms, but I don’t believe that is standard.) As far as its origins, one tale claims that a pioneer woman used those ingredients to mask the taste of rotten eggs, but most historians agree that is false and instead believe it’s likely an adaptation of egg foo young. Regardless of where it came from, the Denver omelet is a delicious classic.

Denver Omelet Casserole Ingredients

To turn the classic omelet into a casserole, it gets baked in a cast iron skillet and includes tater tots to make it an even heartier dish. For the ham, I used diced ham steaks from the grocery store, but this is also a great way to use up leftover ham from Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter. Thick slices are preferred, but deli ham could be used in this recipe too if that’s all you have access to.

I always love using sharp Cheddar cheese in recipes, so I grabbed Cabot’s Vermont Sharp Cheddar, which is a company I’m proud to support because it’s a cooperative company owned by family farms throughout New York and New England with 100% of the profits supporting the farmers.

The other main ingredients are one diced onion, a diced bell pepper (green is classic for this dish, but any color will do), and frozen tater tots. You won’t use the entire bag, but I’m sure you won’t need to be forced to somehow use up the rest.

How to Make a Denver Omelet Casserole

Start by sautéing the diced pepper, onion, and ham in a skillet.

Then you mix that all together with the shredded cheese and eggs.

Lastly, arrange the tater tots on top anyway you wish before baking it in the oven until set. The recipe instructions are written for a 10-inch cast iron skillet, but a larger skillet will work too. However, you should reduce the baking time. Alternatively, if you don’t have an oven-safe skillet, you can cook the casserole in a baking dish.

Make Ahead Breakfast Casserole

If you want to plan ahead, you can sauté all of the ham and veggies the day before so that in the morning all you need to do is assemble the casserole and put it in the oven. But one of the most beautiful things about this recipe is that it reheats beautifully in the microwave, making this casserole great for breakfasts—or any meal of the day, really—throughout the week.

Disclosure: This recipe post is sponsored by Cabot Cheese.

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

Denver Omelet Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Ham, green bell peppers, onions, Cheddar cheese, eggs, and tater tots join forces in this easy and show-stopping breakfast casserole.

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Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 14 ounces diced ham (about 2 cups)
• 8 ounces Cabot Vermont Sharp Cheddar, shredded
• 8 large eggs
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• One bag frozen tater tots
• Sliced scallions, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350˚F.
2. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a 10-inch cast iron skillet over medium-high heat; add the onion, bell pepper, salt, and pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables start to soften and brown slightly, about 5 minutes.
3. Add the ham and continue to cook until it starts to brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool for a few minutes.
4. Whisk together the eggs and the milk. Add to ham mixture along with most of the cheese and give it a stir. Top with the tater tots.
5. Bake the casserole until the eggs are almost set, about 45 minutes. Top with the remaining cheese and continue baking until fully set, 5 to 10 minutes more. Let cool; garnish with sliced scallions, if using, before serving.

Notes

Reserve extra tots for another use.

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  10-inch cast iron skillet