Christmas Breakfast Casserole

Christmas morning is a special time with my kids and the last thing I want to do is being in the kitchen. I can easily prepare the breakfast the night before and place it in the oven while we are opening gifts. Prep time is minimal and the ingredients are simple.

Breakfast casserole is one of my favorites to prepare for breakfast or brunch but I have also made Overnight French Toast Recipe, Crock Pot Cinnamon Roll Casserole and Crock Pot Monkey Bread Recipe.

Why We Love This Breakfast Casserole

We love this easy breakfast casserole recipe is to put together. I can easily customize it to the ingredients we have on hand and this casserole always turns out amazing.

The savory flavors and the simple ingredients makes this casserole a family favorite. In fact, we make it throughout the year because of how easy it is to make.

Ingredients

• French bread – Cut day old bread into about 1-inch pieces
• Breakfast Sausage – Feel free to use mild or hot sausage
• Red Bell Pepper, Green Bell pepper, and Onion – Dice veggies ahead of time. Learn How to Freeze Vegetables. We have even added in slice mushrooms, asparagus and chopped broccoli for even more veggies.
• Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese – Use shredded cheese of choice
• Eggs – Main ingredient to bind everything together
• Whole Milk – Use milk of choice

Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and ingredients in the recipe card.

Variations Ideas

• Change Meat – Feel free to change the meat to chopped bacon, diced ham or use maple sausage
• Bread – We like using French Bread because it is a thick, sturdy bread but you can also use sourdough bread or other types of thick bread.
• Change the Cheese – You can easily use cheese of your choice such as Mozzarella Cheese or Pepper Jack Cheese for added flavor.

How to Make Christmas Breakfast Casserole

• Step 1 – Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish and set aside.
• Step 2 – In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the breakfast sausage, breaking it up into crumbles, until browned and cooked through. Drain any excess fat.

Step 3 – In the same skillet, sauté the diced bell peppers and onions until softened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

Step 4 – Spread half of the cubed bread evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top with half of the cooked sausage, sautéed veggies, and shredded cheddar cheese. Repeat with the remaining bread, sausage, veggies, and cheese.

Step 5 – In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, sour cream, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, thyme, salt, pepper, and nutmeg until well combined.

Step 6 – Pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread, sausage, and veggies. Press down gently with a spatula to ensure the bread soaks up the liquid. Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight (or for at least 4 hours).

• Step 7 – The next morning, preheat the oven to 350°F. Remove the casserole from the fridge and let it sit at room temperature while the oven preheats. Uncover and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the center is set.
• Step 8 – Allow the casserole to rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley, if desired.

Breakfast Casserole Tips

• Bread Pieces – Using day-old bread is important because it soaks up the egg mixture better. If your bread is too fresh, you can toast it lightly to dry it out.
• Soaking Casserole – The overnight soaking is key to the casserole’s texture, but if you’re short on time, let it soak for at least 4 hours before baking.
• Sausage – We like to cook the sausage ahead of time to save time but you can also prepare the same day.

Can I Use Potatoes Instead of Bread?

Yes, you can easily use frozen shredded hashbrowns instead of bread to make this casserole. The texture will change slightly but the flavor will still be amazing.

In fact, we have even made Chorizo Breakfast Casserole with hash browns and my family loved it!

Serving Suggestions

Breakfast casserole makes a delicious breakfast. We love to serve with Fruit Salad Recipe, Fruit and Yogurt Parfait and Air Fryer Bacon.

It is even delicious served with Biscuits and Gravy Recipe for a rich and hearty breakfast. Make sure to add a cup of coffee with Homemade Coffee Creamer Recipe or a cup of Crockpot Peppermint Hot Chocolate.

Frequently Asked Questions