Whether you're hosting the holidays this year or just really love brunch, this post is for you. Say hello to your new favorite make-ahead breakfast casserole recipe!
‘Tis the season for hosting parties, and if you're not careful, you can blow through your grocery budget in a hurry feeding those crowds! Well, not with this recipe. There's so much to love about this breakfast casserole!
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First of all, this recipe is delicious! Second? You can make it the night before and then pop it in the oven before you're ready to eat. And third? Well, it's a shelf cooking dream! Spare yourself another trip to the store because we're going to teach you how to make this versatile dish using only ingredients you already have. Here we go!
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WHAT TO SERVE WITH THIS MAKE-AHEAD BREAKFAST CASSEROLE
The beauty of casserole like this one is that you don't have to serve anything with it if you don't want to. It's hearty! However, if you want to stretch this meal or you're serving it as part of a holiday feast, these sides are a perfect option:
- Fresh fruit
- Side salad
- Biscuits (Try our 3-ingredient recipe!)
- Cinnamon rolls (We make ours in a bread machine, but you could use canned.)
- Muffins (Pull some blueberry muffins out of the freezer!)
- Yogurt
- Overnight oats
- Toast
- Banana bread (You've gotta try grandma's banana bread recipe!)
- Diced potatoes/hashbrowns
You can always set up a self-serve breakfast bar with fresh fruit, bread, or cereals that are ready to grab. Just keep it simple!
HOW TO MODIFY THE RECIPE
Wondering how to modify this recipe? There are SO many options. Here are some of our favorite ways to customize this make-ahead breakfast casserole so we don't have to run to the store:
- Vegetables – Here's your chance to use up those veggies! We usually use diced red and green peppers with some onions and mushrooms, but we had broccoli on hand this time, so we subbed out the green peppers. Asparagus is a yummy option, too.
- Meat – Skip the meat or use a combo of whatever leftovers you have! Sausage, ground beef, ground turkey, chicken, ham, or bacon would all work.
- Cheese – Anything goes here! If you can shred it, you can use it!
- Bread – Loaf bread, rustic bread, English muffins? Whatever you have works!
The bottom line? It's nearly impossible to mess this one up! As long as you use the right egg to meat and cheese ratio, you'll be golden. Mix and match with your ingredients and have some fun.
LET'S TALK TOPPINGS
Okay, on to another fun topic: toppings! If you want to add a garnish or two, we suggest these:
- Salsa (We've got an easy homemade salsa blender recipe!)
- Hot sauce
- Sour cream
- Chives
- Diced green onions
- Black olives
- Guacamole
- More cheese
When in doubt, always reach for more cheese!
WHAT TO DO WITH LEFTOVERS
If you end up with leftovers, then lucky you! Good news: they taste just as good the second day! Here's what you need to know:
- Refrigerator Instructions –These leftovers will keep for three to four days in the fridge. Just store in an airtight container and warm up individual servings in the microwave for the best results.
- Freezer Instructions –You can freeze this uncooked for up to three months! Just double wrap it in plastic and foil, and don't forget to label. Need to freeze an already cooked casserole? Allow it to cool, double-wrap, or store in an airtight container and store for up to two months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and bake per the recipe instructions.
Some people even like to eat these leftovers cold, so if you're a fan of leftover cold pizza, it might be worth a try!
OUR FAVORITE MAKE-AHEAD BREAKFAST CASSEROLE RECIPE
Drumroll, please! It's time to say hello to your new favorite make-ahead breakfast casserole. This one is perfect for the holidays but easy enough for any occasion. Enjoy!
Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole
Filling and easy, we love to serve this breakfast dish to a crowd! Double or triple it if you need to. Mix and match the meats, veggies, and cheeses of your choice. This recipe is a shelf cooking dream.
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Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 50 minutes mins
Refrigerate 2 hours hrs
Total Time 3 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Ingredients
- 10 eggs
- 1 lb cooked meat (we used breakfast sausage)
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- 2 cups chopped veggies
- 4 slices bread
- ½ cup milk
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
Brown and drain meat, set aside. Then dice and sautee veggies in the same pan. Set aside.
Break your bread into small pieces and place in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, and cheese.
Pour half the mixture into your baking dish, then top with half the meat. Repeat with another layer of egg mixture, followed by another layer of meat.
Cover your dish and refrigerate for two hours or overnight.
Bake for around 50 minutes at 375°F, then cool for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
We used breakfast sausage, but you could use ground beef or turkey instead, or even try shredded chicken, diced ham, or bacon. Want to make this vegetarian? Use extra veggies and skip the meat!
Keyword make ahead breakfast casserole
Yummy, right?!
If you serve this up for the family this Christmas, you might start a new tradition! Either way, we hope you love it!
What's your favorite breakfast dish? If you have a family recipe to share, we'd love to try it, so leave a comment below.
Want to try a few more of our favorite breakfast recipes?
- You'll love this egg nog French toast!
- Try our quick and easy make-ahead pancake mix!
- Prepare to become obsessed with this sweet potato hash if you try it.
Have an egg-cellent day!
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
I'm an expert and enthusiast, designed to assist with a wide range of tasks and provide information on various topics. While I have personal experiences or preferences like a human, I have been trained on a diverse range of data sources, including articles, books, websites, and more. This allows me to generate responses and provide information on a wide range of topics.
Now, let's discuss the concepts mentioned in this article.
Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole
A make-ahead breakfast casserole is a dish that can be prepared in advance and then baked when you're ready to serve it. It's a convenient option for hosting parties or brunches, as it allows you to save time on the day of the event. The casserole typically includes ingredients like eggs, meat (such as sausage or bacon), vegetables, cheese, and bread. In this recipe, the casserole is assembled the night before and refrigerated, allowing the flavors to meld together. Then, it's baked in the oven until golden and delicious.
Serving Suggestions
The article suggests serving the make-ahead breakfast casserole on its own, as it is hearty and filling. However, if you want to stretch the meal or serve it as part of a holiday feast, there are several side dish options mentioned:
- Fresh fruit
- Side salad
- Biscuits
- Cinnamon rolls
- Muffins
- Yogurt
- Overnight oats
- Toast
- Banana bread
- Diced potatoes/hashbrowns
Additionally, the article suggests setting up a self-serve breakfast bar with options like fresh fruit, bread, or cereals that are ready to grab.
Modifying the Recipe
The article also provides suggestions for modifying the make-ahead breakfast casserole recipe to suit your preferences or use ingredients you already have. Here are some ideas for customization:
- Vegetables: You can use a variety of vegetables like diced red and green peppers, onions, mushrooms, broccoli, or asparagus.
- Meat: The recipe suggests using breakfast sausage, but you can also use ground beef, ground turkey, chicken, ham, or bacon.
- Cheese: The choice of cheese is flexible. You can use any type of cheese that can be shredded.
- Bread: The recipe calls for bread, but you can use different types like loaf bread, rustic bread, or English muffins.
The article emphasizes that it's nearly impossible to mess up the recipe as long as you maintain the right ratio of eggs to meat and cheese. So feel free to mix and match ingredients and have fun experimenting.
Toppings
If you want to add a garnish or additional flavor to the make-ahead breakfast casserole, the article suggests the following toppings:
- Salsa
- Hot sauce
- Sour cream
- Chives
- Diced green onions
- Black olives
- Guacamole
- More cheese
Leftovers
The article mentions that leftovers of the make-ahead breakfast casserole can be enjoyed the next day. It provides instructions for storing the leftovers:
- Refrigerator Instructions: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three to four days. Individual servings can be warmed up in the microwave.
- Freezer Instructions: The uncooked casserole can be frozen for up to three months. It should be double-wrapped in plastic and foil, with proper labeling. If the casserole is already cooked, it can be cooled, double-wrapped, or stored in an airtight container for up to two months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and bake according to the recipe instructions.
The article also mentions that some people enjoy eating the leftovers cold.
Recipe
Finally, the article provides a recipe for the make-ahead breakfast casserole. Here is a summary of the recipe:
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Refrigerate Time: 2 hours
- Total Time: 3 hours and 10 minutes
- Cuisine: American
- Servings: 6
Ingredients:
- 10 eggs
- 1 lb cooked meat (such as breakfast sausage)
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- 2 cups chopped veggies
- 4 slices bread
- 1/2 cup milk
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions:
- Brown and drain the meat, then set it aside. Dice and sauté the veggies in the same pan, then set them aside.
- Break the bread into small pieces and place them in a greased 9x13-inch baking dish.
- In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, and cheese. Pour half of the mixture into the baking dish, then top with half of the meat. Repeat with another layer of egg mixture, followed by another layer of meat.
- Cover the dish and refrigerate for two hours or overnight.
- Bake for around 50 minutes at 375°F (190°C), then cool for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve and enjoy!
The recipe also provides some variations and substitutions, such as using different types of meat or skipping the meat altogether to make it vegetarian.
I hope this information helps you in understanding the concepts mentioned in the article. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask!
