Start your day right with our delicious Breakfast Casserole! This easy recipe combines eggs, bread, veggies, and your choice of meat, all smothered in melted cheese, making it an instant favorite. Pair it with muffins or potatoes and your favorite beverage for a fulfilling meal.
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Prepare it the night before to simplify your busy mornings, and enjoy a warm, hearty breakfast with your family. It’s perfect not just for breakfast but also for brunch, lunch, or dinner. Break away from your regular morning routine with this comforting, make-ahead casserole that’s tasty and ready whenever you are.
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Ingredients and Substitutions Overview
For your Breakfast Casserole, you'll need veggies, herbs, seasonings, and toppings, which you can easily find at your local store. Let's take a closer look at the ingredient details below.
Breakfast Casserole Essentials:
- Eggs: The backbone of your casserole, eggs bind all the ingredients with their creamy goodness, ensuring every bite is deliciously cohesive.
- Your Choice of Meat: Whether it's ground beef, pork, turkey, or chicken sausage, pick your favorite to add some hearty richness to the dish.
- Bread or Potatoes: I love using torn pieces of crusty bread for a soft, chewy texture, or cubed potatoes for a more rustic touch. Both are great at soaking up the flavorful egg mixture.
- Veggies & A Touch of Herbs: Brighten up the casserole with your favorite veggies like bell peppers, mushrooms, onions, or spinach. Don't forget a handful of fresh herbs like chives or parsley to sprinkle on top for that fresh, garden-inspired zing.
Seasoning and Topping:
- Seasonings: Sprinkle in garlic powder, black pepper, chili flakes, and Italian seasoning to really make the flavors in your casserole pop.
- Half & Half: Add this to the egg mixture for a beautifully creamy texture. If you prefer, whole milk is a great substitute.
- Cheeses: I love blending cheddar and mozzarella for their creamy texture and deep flavor, but feel free to mix and match cheeses according to your taste.
- Olive Oil: Begin by gently sautéing the vegetables in olive oil to lay down a subtle, flavorful base for the casserole.
How to Make Breakfast Casserole at Home?
Join us on a cozy journey into homemade casserole making with our step-by-step visual guide. From mixing the rich, flavorful ingredients to watching it turn perfectly golden in the oven, we've captured all the key steps to create this classic comfort dish. Let's jump right in!
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Breakfast Casserole
Ingredients
For Cassarole Mixture
- 3 tsp Olive Oil
- 1 Onion, sliced
- ¼ cup Green Bell Pepper
- ¼ cup Red Bell Pepper
- 2 cups Mushroom, sliced
- 2 lb Ground Meat, chicken, beef, turkey, or pork
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- ¾ tsp Black Pepper Powder
- ½ tsp Chili Flakes
- ½ tsp Italian Seasoning
- Salt, to taste
- 3 cups Spinach, tightly packed
For Egg Mixture
- 10 Eggs
- ½ cup Half & Half
- ½ Black Pepper Powder
- Salt, to taste
- 3 tbsp Cheddar Cheese
- 3 tbsp Mozzarella Cheese
Toppings
- Cheddar Cheese
- Mozzarella Cheese
- Spring Onion
Other Ingredients
- 3 cups Bread, stale bread preferred
Instructions
Preparing Casserole Mixture
- In a pan over medium heat, drizzle olive oil, then add onions and bell peppers. Sauté them until they soften and start releasing their aromas.
- Toss in the mushrooms and continue to sauté until they're tender and nicely browned, bringing out their earthy flavors.
- Add your preferred ground meat to the pan—whether it’s beef, pork, or turkey. Cook it until it changes from pink to white, ensuring it's thoroughly cooked and juicy.
- Sprinkle the mixture with garlic powder, black pepper, and chili flakes. Add salt to taste, adjusting the seasoning to get the perfect balance of flavors.
- Lastly, stir in some fresh spinach and sauté it briefly until it wilts. This not only adds a vibrant touch of color but also infuses the dish with a burst of nutrients. Once done, take the pan off the heat and let the mixture cool down, making it easier to handle later.
Preparing Egg Mixture
- In a large mixing bowl, crack open the eggs and pour in the half & half. Season with salt and ground black pepper to enhance the flavors. Whisk vigorously until the mixture is fully combined and smooth, ensuring a uniform texture for the casserole.
- Gently fold in the previously prepared veggie and meat mixture along with your choice of cheeses to the egg mixture.
- Mix everything well to distribute the cheese evenly throughout to ensure every bite is rich and flavorful. Your casserole mixture is now perfectly prepped and ready to be assembled in the baking dish.
Assembling and Baking
- Grease a baking dish with oil and arrange a bottom layer of cubed crusty bread, spreading it evenly. Alternatively, you can use diced potatoes, leftover breakfast potatoes, or hash browns. These will help absorb excess moisture from the liquids.
- Pour the prepared casserole mixture over the bread, ensuring it's spread evenly to cover the base.
- Sprinkle a generous layer of cheddar and mozzarella cheese on top, and scatter some spring onions over it for a burst of freshness.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or overnight, allowing the flavors to meld and the mixture to set. When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C), remove the foil, and bake the casserole for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Once baked, remove the Breakfast Casserole from the oven and let it cool for at least 10 minutes. This resting period helps everything set and makes slicing easier. Your delicious breakfast casserole is now ready to enjoy!
Serving
- Serve this loaded Breakfast Casserole alongside breakfast potatoes, muffins, black coffee, or orange juice for a complete and satisfying breakfast meal. For more pairing ideas, refer to the Serving Suggestions below.
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Recipe Video
Chef's Notes and Tips
Preparation Basics:
- Use Fresh Ingredients: I always recommend using fresh and high-quality ingredients. Fresh veggies, meats, and eggs really do make a difference, bringing out the best flavors in your casserole.
- Balance Flavors: It’s important to get a good mix of savory, salty, and a little spice if you like it that way. The right balance makes every bite enjoyable.
- Season Thoughtfully: Don’t be shy with your herbs and spices. I love adding a variety of seasonings, especially fresh herbs like spring onions, parsley, or chives, which add a lovely freshness.
- Prepare Veggies Properly: Make sure to sauté your veggies just enough to remove excess moisture; this keeps the casserole from getting too watery.
Texture and Layering:
- Choose the Right Bread: If you’re using bread, go for something crusty or a bit stale. It soaks up the egg mixture beautifully without getting too soggy.
- Cheese Selection: I like using cheeses that melt well and add a creamy richness, like cheddar, mozzarella, or parmesan. They make every forkful luxurious.
- Layer Ingredients: I always start with a base of bread or potatoes, then layer on the casserole mix, cheese, and any other toppings. It makes the casserole well-structured and delightful.
Cooking and Serving:
- Refrigerate Before Baking: Letting the casserole sit in the fridge before baking really helps the flavors meld together and the dish to set properly.
- Baking Time and Temperature: Always follow the recommended baking time and temperature to ensure your casserole is perfectly cooked.
- Test for Doneness: A toothpick or knife should come out clean when it's fully cooked. This is my go-to check.
- Rest Before Serving: Giving the casserole a few minutes to rest after baking makes it easier to cut and lets the flavors settle just right.
Convenience Tip:
- Make Ahead: To save time in the morning, I prepare my Breakfast Casserole the night before. Just cover it with aluminum foil and pop it in the fridge. Overnight, the flavors deepen and the texture sets perfectly, so you can wake up to a delicious, no-fuss breakfast.
- Pan & Baking Dish Size: For your convenience, I use an 11-inch diameter pan to prepare the casserole mixture, and the baking dish I use in this recipe measures 11 by 8 inches. I hope this information helps you!
Nutrition Info
Disclaimer
We're not nutrition experts, and the nutritional information provided is an estimate. Please use it as a guide. For precise details, it's best to consult a professional. To learn more, please view our Detailed Disclaimers.
Serving Suggestions
A Breakfast Casserole is wonderfully versatile and pairs beautifully with a variety of sides. Here are some of my favorite tasty ideas to complement it:
- Fresh Fruit Salad: Serve a vibrant fruit salad with a mix of seasonal fruits for a sweet, refreshing contrast to the savory casserole.
- Yogurt with Honey and Granola: A creamy side of yogurt topped with honey and crunchy granola makes a delightful addition.
- Sliced Avocado: Creamy avocado slices add a healthy, rich touch to your breakfast plate.
- Toast or Croissants: Toasted bread or warm, buttery croissants are perfect for rounding out a hearty breakfast.
- Salsa: Top your casserole with some fresh tomato salsa or pico de gallo for a zesty flavor boost.
- Sausages or Bacon: If you’re in the mood for something extra hearty, add cooked sausages or crispy bacon.
- Hash Browns or Breakfast Potatoes: For potato lovers, hash browns or breakfast potatoes are a fantastic match.
- Muffins or Pastries: Why not sweeten the morning with some muffins, pastries, or scones alongside your casserole?
- Coffee and Juice: Finally, a cup of freshly brewed coffee or a glass of orange juice completes this delightful breakfast spread.
Storage Suggestions
You can keep this Breakfast Casserole fresh in the fridge for up to 4-5 days by storing it in an airtight container. When you're ready for a warm, comforting meal, simply heat it in the microwave until it's nicely warmed through.
Laurie
What size pan did you use?
Sangeetha Vel
Laure, the pan I use to prepare the casserole mixture is 11 inches in diameter, and the baking dish measures 11 by 8 inches. I hope this helps!