Easy Breakfast Casserole Recipe (2024)

by Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) · Updated

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This Easy Breakfast Casserole Recipe (Made on Good Morning America with How To Video) is filled with fluffy eggs, irresistible bacon, garlicky greens, hearty hash browns and cheese! You can even make it ahead to serve for brunch!

Table of Contents

Perks and Highlights of the Best Breakfast Casserole

Cuisine Inspiration: American Comfort
Primary Cooking Method: Baking
Dietary Info: High Protein, Gluten-Free options available
Key Flavor: Savory, Cheesy Goodness
Skill Level: Easy Peasy!

Sweet Highlights:
All in One: Packed with proteins and veggies, this dish is a balanced breakfast all by itself!
Make Ahead Magic: Prepare the night before, refrigerate, and just pop it in the oven in the morning. More zzz’s for you!
Custom-Friendly: Easily swap in your favorite veggies or cheese for a new twist every time.
Feeds a Crowd: Perfect for holiday mornings or family brunches, this casserole has plenty to go around.
Kid-Approved: With its gooey cheese and savory bacon, it’s a hit with the youngsters, making mornings a breeze!

Every now and then I crave a little more substance to my morning: something warm and comforting. So, I bust out the casserole dish and crack a few eggs for this scrumptious Breakfast Casserole. I recently made it on Good Morning America! It might take a little extra time but I NEVER regret it. You won’t either!

Ingredients

I’m a big fan of a recipe that allows room for customization. This casserole is one I can make a thousand times over and still find a way to make it new again. There are endless ways to make it healthier, cheesier or heartier.

Choose Your Meat Filling (Skip If Vegetarian)

  • Sausage
  • Bacon
  • Ham
  • Steak
  • Turkey Bacon

If you’re using a raw meat be sure to cook it (at least partially) before adding it to the rest of the mixture.

Pick Your Veggies

  • Bell Peppers
  • Mushrooms
  • Greens (spinach, collard, asparagus, broccoli, etc.)
  • Diced Tomatoes (roma, heirloom or cherry)
  • Summer Squash or Zucchini
  • Jalapeno or Serrano (adjust to heat preference)

This is a great chance to use up the last bit of frozen veggies hiding out in the freezer! Briefly microwave the veggies to defrost them and use paper towels to clean up the excess water. Added moisture will make for a soggy casserole.

Add Some Cheese

  • Mozzarella
  • Feta
  • White or Yellow Cheddar (choose your own sharpness)
  • Gouda
  • Pepper Jack

Okay, the varieties of cheese out there are seemingly endless. You can pretty much use anything you want as long as it melts well. Again, this is a great opportunity to use any leftover cheese you’ve got in the fridge.

Use this recipe as an outlet to get creative and make a casserole that is all your own. Don’t forget to tell me about your masterpiece in the comments!

How to Make Breakfast Casserole

  1. Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13 dish. Cook bacon until crispy, then chop. Sauté onion, peppers, and greens in bacon grease; let cool.
  2. Mix: Whisk eggs and milk. Add vegetables, hash browns, most bacon, and cheese. Season with salt and pepper.
  3. Bake: Pour into dish, add cheese. Bake 25 minutes, add remaining bacon, then bake 20-25 more minutes until set.
  4. Plan Ahead: Prepare casserole, refrigerate for up to 24 hours, and bake when needed. Perfect for easy mornings!

Can you make ahead?

Want to save some time in the morning? Why not make this casserole the night before and give yourself more time to lounge in those cozy pajamas?

Assemble the casserole according the instructions then cover the dish and refrigerate overnight. Before baking, let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Build A Brunch Menu

Let’s face it, it’s too cold outside to make it to this weekends’ brunch. Why bother to bundle up if you can have the same yummy breakfast treats at home? Make it a potluck and share a few of these recipes with your family and friends!

  • Big Mama’s Biscuits
  • Brown Sugar Baked Turkey Bacon
  • Buttermilk Waffles
  • Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
  • Biscuits and Gravy Casserole
  • Chorizo Breakfast Skillet
  • Baked Cheese Grits
  • Creamy Grits

Easy Breakfast Casserole Recipe (5)

Easy Breakfast Casserole Recipe

This Easy Breakfast Casserole Recipe (Made on Good Morning America with How To Video!) is filled with fluffy eggs, irresistible bacon, garlicky greens, heartyhash brownsand cheese! You can even make it ahead to serve for brunch!

5 from 3 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 10 servings

Calories: 432kcal

Author: Jocelyn Delk Adams

Ingredients

  • 1 lb bacon thinly diced
  • 1 onion finely diced
  • 1 1/2 cup greens I use collard greens or spinach, diced
  • 1/2 green bell pepper seeds removed and finely diced
  • 1/2 red pepper seeds removed and finely diced
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 12 large eggs
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 3 cups frozen hash browns (you don’t have to thaw these)
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • chopped parsley for garnish

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray or butter and set aside.

  • In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat, stirring occasionally to ensure they don’t stick. Cook until bacon is crispy and golden brown. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon leaving the bacon grease in the skillet and drain on a paper towel lined plate. Once drained, roughly chop the bacon and set aside.

  • Add the onion, red and green peppers and greens to the skillet with bacon grease and cook over medium heat until tender. Once tender, add garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes. Set aside and let cool for about 10 minutes.

  • In a large bowl, add eggs and milk and whisk together until well beaten and combined. Stir in the cooked vegetables, hash browns, and 1 cup of cheddar cheese. Add the majority of bacon to eggs as well and stir together. Finally season to taste with salt and pepper.

  • Pour the eggs into the baking dish and top with remaining cheese. Bake for 25 minutes so the eggs start to set up. Carefully add remaining chopped bacon to the top of the eggs. Bake for an additional 20-25 minutes or until the eggs are firm and the top is slightly golden brown. Let stand for 10 minutes.

  • To save time, Make Ahead! Pour the egg mixture in the pan and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Bake when ready to serve.

Video

Notes

For the greens, you can also use other greens like mustard greens or turnip greens.

To make this head, assemble the casserole according the instructions then cover the dish and refrigerate overnight. Before baking, let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 432kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 253mg | Sodium: 543mg | Potassium: 451mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 844IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 233mg | Iron: 2mg

Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @GrandbabyCakes or tag #grandbabycakes!

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Easy Breakfast Casserole Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a breakfast casserole made of? ›

To make a breakfast casserole you beat some eggs, add milk and cheese, add cubed bread, add "mix-ins" like mushrooms, veggies, sausage, and herbs, put it in a casserole dish, and bake.

What is the key to making a good casserole? ›

  1. Choose the right baking dish. If you're all about the crunchy topping, use a shallow dish. ...
  2. Undercook your pasta. ...
  3. Drain your meat. ...
  4. Beware of mushy vegetables. ...
  5. Know your cheeses. ...
  6. Master the art of casserole assembly. ...
  7. Don't skip the topping. ...
  8. Make it now, but bake it later.
Nov 1, 2021

How do you thicken egg casserole? ›

Make a cornstarch slurry for a fast and easy thickener.

Use one tablespoon of cornstarch per cup of liquid you would like to thicken. Stir out all the lumps. A few minutes before your casserole is done, add it a little at a time until you are happy with the thickness. Then, let the casserole finish baking.

Can you make egg casserole 2 days ahead without? ›

Cover the casserole and store it (unbaked) in the refrigerator overnight or up to one day. Bake in the morning, according to recipe instructions. To freeze breakfast casserole prepare the recipe and add to your pan. Cover well with plastic wrap and then tinfoil and freeze for 2-3 months.

What is the main ingredient in a casserole? ›

In the United States, a casserole or hot dish is typically a baked food with three main components: pieces of meat (such as chicken or ground meat) or fish (such as tuna) or other protein (such as beans or tofu), various chopped or canned vegetables (such as green beans or peas), and a starchy binder (such as flour, ...

What are 5 components of a casserole? ›

So what's inside? Let's talk anatomy: A standard dinner casserole usually includes a protein, a starch, a vegetable, a sauce (or other binding ingredient), and cheese.

Do I bake my casserole covered or uncovered? ›

Uncovering the foods promotes browning and crisping, and reduces the amount of liquid in the finished dish. If a casserole looks soupy when it's ready to bake, bake it uncovered unless the ingredients include pasta or rice, which absorb liquid.

Is it better to cook casserole the day before or? ›

Make-ahead meals (especially baked casseroles) are terrific because you can completely assemble them in advance and bake them just before serving. They're the ultimate comfort food as they come bubbling hot and delicious straight from the oven to the table to the delight of family and friends.

How long should a casserole be in the oven? ›

The time a casserole takes to cook will vary from 2-2½ hours for chuck, blade and thick flank, up to 4 hours for shin, leg and neck. Pork cuts for braising and casseroling normally take 1½ hours, and lamb much the same.

Why is my breakfast casserole soupy? ›

This is often due to high water content in some vegetables and dense meats that are used in these dishes. Browning /cooking the meats (and draining off any excess liquid) and sautéing the vegetables before cooking often helps this issue.

How to tell when breakfast casserole is done? ›

How do you know when breakfast casserole is done? Just stick a knife into the center of your egg casserole recipe after 55 minutes of baking. If it comes out clean, your baked egg casserole is ready!

Why is my egg casserole rubbery? ›

Don't Overcook Your Eggs

The best way to make sure your eggs don't turn dry and rubbery is to not overcook them. When less heat is applied, there isn't time to squeeze out all the moisture. So your eggs stay tender, not chewy.

Why do you have to refrigerate breakfast casserole overnight? ›

The casserole is covered and refrigerated overnight to allow the liquid ingredients to be absorbed into the bread. This is a perishable mixture and should be cooked the morning or day after assembly. Bake in an oven set no lower than 325 °F. Most recipes suggest 350 °F.

Can you make a casserole with raw eggs ahead of time? ›

Can You Make Egg Casserole Ahead of Time? This easy egg casserole is the perfect make-ahead breakfast. Simply combine the ingredients the night before and place the mixture in a prepared baking dish, then cover it tightly with storage wrap or foil. In the morning, bake the casserole according to the recipe.

What are casserole dishes made of? ›

“A casserole dish and a baking dish are the same thing, an oven-safe piece of cookware, usually made of ceramic, porcelain, or glass,” says Anthony Contrino, Emmy-awarded culinary producer and food stylist. "They can come in various shapes, with the most common being rectangular, oval, or square.

What is the difference between a quiche and a breakfast casserole? ›

Egg Casserole

They are heartier than a quiche, leaning more towards a strata in texture. If you are dairy-free, you can use almond, cashew, coconut, hemp, rice, soy milk, or any other non-dairy milk you prefer.

What makes a casserole a casserole? ›

Casseroles Are Largely Defined by Their Baking Dish

agrees, telling us that "a casserole is baked in a casserole dish—a deep baking dish. The word casserole comes from a French word meaning 'saucepan. '"

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