Christmas Breakfast Casserole Recipe
This Christmas Breakfast Casserole is a hearty, savory dish perfect for holiday mornings. It combines flavorful breakfast sausage, sautéed bell peppers and onions, cubed white bread, shredded cheddar cheese, and a rich egg and milk custard. Prepared ahead and baked until golden, this casserole offers a delicious and comforting way to start your festive day.
- Author: zara
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes (plus optional overnight refrigeration)
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Sausage and Vegetables
- 1 pound breakfast sausage
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
Bread and Cheese
- 6 slices white bread, cubed
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Egg Mixture
- 10 large eggs
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Cook the sausage: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the breakfast sausage until browned and crumbly, about 6-8 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
- Sauté vegetables: Add the diced onion, chopped green bell pepper, and chopped red bell pepper to the skillet with the sausage. Sauté lightly until the vegetables are tender, approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Prepare the baking dish: Grease a large baking dish with butter or cooking spray. Evenly layer the cubed white bread on the bottom of the dish.
- Add sausage and vegetables: Spread the cooked sausage and sautéed vegetables evenly over the bread layer.
- Top with cheese: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly across the top of the sausage and vegetable layer.
- Mix egg custard: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, whole milk, salt, and black pepper until well combined and smooth.
- Combine and soak: Pour the egg mixture evenly over the casserole layers, making sure the bread soaks up the custard thoroughly.
- Refrigerate (optional): Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate overnight if desired, allowing flavors to meld and bread to absorb the custard.
- Preheat oven: When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake the casserole: Uncover the casserole and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the center is set.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, substitute the sausage with a plant-based sausage alternative or omit it and add extra vegetables.
- Feel free to use whole wheat or gluten-free bread if desired.
- This casserole can be assembled the night before and refrigerated for convenience on busy mornings.
- Ensure the casserole is thoroughly cooked and set before serving to avoid any runny eggs.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and can be reheated in the oven or microwave.
Keywords: Christmas breakfast, breakfast casserole, sausage casserole, holiday breakfast, savory casserole, egg casserole, easy breakfast recipe