Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole (2024)

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Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole is loaded with sausage, cheese and eggs. Assemble it the night before for a simple, delicious breakfast in no time!

Everyone should have those go-recipes in their recipe box that are tried and true and can be depended on time and time again.

This Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole is just that.

It’s perfect for Christmas morning, Sunday brunch, or a pot-luck.

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THE BEST MAKE-AHEAD BREAKFAST CASSEROLE FOR A CROWD

I first stumbled upon this recipe from Jimmy Dean years ago and clipped it from a magazine for my recipe binder. (That sentence makes me feel old.)

10-plus years later, it’s still one of my favorite breakfasts to share with a crowd.

When I was teaching, we often had early morning, potluck-style breakfast meetings on teacher work days.

We’d all bring a dish to share and this casserole was my go-to because it’s so easy, but it was always one of the first things to disappear.

Okay, the bacon was always the first thing to disappear, but this casserole was a close second.

Even though there are a number of potato breakfast casserole recipes out there, my Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole is made with bread as the base along with the eggs.

The bread soaks up the eggs overnight and it almost ends up like a savory French toast casserole.

HOW TO MAKE THIS BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

Making this Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole is so easy, you can practically do it in your sleep.

All you need to do is cook the sausage, and then layer it into a baking dish with the cubed bread, cheese and veggies. I like to toast my bread while the sausage is cooking, but that’s completely optional.

From there, just whisk together eggs with some milk and seasoning, and pour them over the rest of the casserole. After a rest in the fridge, it’s ready to bake.

HOW TO CUSTOMIZE THIS RECIPE

In addition to the bread and eggs, I like to load up this breakfast casserole with sausage, cheese, and red bell peppers.

But you can totally customize it by adding in all sorts of vegetables like mushrooms, onions, jalapeno peppers, or tomatoes to make it even more flavorful.

Don’t like sausage? No problem! Try frying up a pound of bacon and crumbling it into the casserole instead.

MORE MAKE-AHEAD BREAKFAST RECIPES

If you’re looking for more delicious make-ahead breakfast ideas, I’ve got ya covered.

Be sure to check out this Make-Ahead Banana Bread Coffee Cake , Baked Eggs and these Cranberry Orange Scones.

You can also try making cinnamon rolls ahead! I love Overnight Toffee Cinnamon Rolls and Overnight Chai Spice Sweet Rolls.

And of course, there’s always granola. Whip up some Salted Dark Chocolate Granola ahead of time, and serve with berries, milk or yogurt in the morning.

Serve any of these make-ahead breakfast recipes with Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole and spend the morning enjoying a feast, instead of cooking away in the kitchen.

Yield: 8 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 55 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole is loaded with sausage, cheese and eggs. Assemble it the night before for a simple, delicious breakfast in no time!

Ingredients

1 (16 ounce) package pork sausage
10 eggs, lightly beaten
3 cups milk
1 teaspoon salt
6 cups cubed bread*
2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup diced red pepper, optional
sliced green onion, optional

Instructions

Butter a 9 x 13 x 2 inch casserole dish.
In large skillet, cook sausage over medium-high heat, stirring frequently until thoroughly cooked and no longer pink.
In large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, and salt until thoroughly combined.
Evenly distribute half the bread into the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle with half the cheese, half the black pepper, half the red pepper, and half the sausage. Repeat layers.
Pour egg mixture evenly over casserole.
Cover and refrigerate overnight, or bake immediately.
When you're ready to bake the casserole, preheat oven to 325 F. Bake uncovered for 55-60 minutes, or until eggs are set. If the top begins to brown too quickly, loosely cover the casserole dish with foil.
If desired, sprinkle the casserole with sliced green onions. Serve warm.

Notes

*I toast my bread before incorporating it into the casserole, but this step is optional.

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Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts

As an expert and enthusiast, I have first-hand expertise or personal experiences. However, I can provide you with information related to the concepts used in this article.

This article is a recipe for a Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole. It is a dish made with sausage, cheese, eggs, bread, and various other ingredients. The casserole is assembled the night before and can be easily baked in the morning for a quick and delicious breakfast.

Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole

The Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole is a popular dish that can be prepared ahead of time, making it convenient for busy mornings or when serving a crowd. It is a versatile recipe that can be customized to suit individual preferences.

Ingredients:

1 (16 ounce) package pork sausage
10 eggs, lightly beaten
3 cups milk
1 teaspoon salt
6 cups cubed bread*
2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup diced red pepper (optional)
Sliced green onion (optional)

Instructions:

Butter a 9 x 13 x 2-inch casserole dish.
In a large skillet, cook the sausage over medium-high heat until thoroughly cooked and no longer pink. Stir frequently.
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and salt until thoroughly combined.
Evenly distribute half of the bread into the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle with half of the cheese, black pepper, red pepper (if using), and sausage. Repeat the layers.
Pour the egg mixture evenly over the casserole.
Cover and refrigerate overnight, or bake immediately.
When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C). Bake the casserole uncovered for 55-60 minutes, or until the eggs are set. If the top begins to brown too quickly, loosely cover the casserole dish with foil.
If desired, sprinkle the casserole with sliced green onions. Serve warm.

*Note: The recipe suggests toasting the bread before incorporating it into the casserole, but this step is optional.

Customization and Variations

The Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole recipe can be customized to suit personal preferences. Here are a few ideas for customization:

Vegetables: In addition to the red pepper mentioned in the recipe, you can add other vegetables like mushrooms, onions, jalapeno peppers, or tomatoes to make the casserole more flavorful and nutritious.
Meat: If you don't like sausage, you can try frying up a pound of bacon and crumbling it into the casserole instead.

Additional Make-Ahead Breakfast Recipes

If you're looking for more delicious make-ahead breakfast ideas, the article suggests checking out the following recipes:

Make-Ahead Banana Bread Coffee Cake: A coffee cake made with bananas that can be prepared ahead of time.
Baked Eggs: A recipe for baked eggs that can be made in advance.
Cranberry Orange Scones: Scones made with cranberries and orange zest that can be prepared ahead of time.
Overnight Toffee Cinnamon Rolls: Cinnamon rolls with toffee flavor that can be made the night before.
Overnight Chai Spice Sweet Rolls: Sweet rolls flavored with chai spice that can be prepared in advance.
Salted Dark Chocolate Granola: Granola made with dark chocolate and salt that can be made ahead of time.

These recipes provide options for a variety of tastes and preferences, allowing you to enjoy a delicious breakfast without spending too much time cooking in the morning.

I hope this information helps! Let me know if you have any more questions.