Plus, this breakfast egg casserole is incredibly easy to whip up. You can even prepare it the night before and bake it the next day, making your mornings smoother than ever. From busy weekdays to holiday morning brunch, breakfast casserole recipes are a staple in my house. I hope they will be in yours, too!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for a breakfast egg casserole, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
Olive Oil – Used for sauteing the meats and veggies. Avocado oil, butter, or any neutral cooking oil works here. Meat – I made this breakfast casserole with ham, but any cooked meat will work. You can’t go wrong with crumbled baked bacon (on top or mixed in), air fryer turkey bacon, breakfast sausage (or pork sausage), beef (think finely chopped top sirloin), leftover Instant Pot chicken breast, or even Mexican chorizo. To keep it vegetarian, simply omit the meat. Veggies – I used diced yellow onion, bell peppers, and white mushrooms, but this is the perfect opportunity to use up anything you have on hand. Try roasted red peppers, frozen or sauteed spinach, celery, roasted asparagus, seeded tomatoes, or other leftover roasted vegetables or sauteed vegetables. Cut the veggies to the same size, so they cook at the same rate. For a more hearty breakfast casserole, add diced roasted potatoes or hash browns, or place a layer of tater tots on top before adding the cheese. Garlic – I recommend using fresh minced garlic for the best flavor, but you can also use jarred for convenience, or substitute 3/4 teaspoon of garlic powder instead (just mix it with the eggs). You can also chop leftover roasted garlic if you have some. Eggs – For a fluffier casserole, it’s best to use room temperature eggs. You can also use just egg whites if you want to lighen it up. This breakfast casserole recipe calls for 12 eggs, so you’d need 18 if using only the whites. Milk Or Cream – Whisking the eggs with half and half makes light and airy eggs that taste rich and savory. You can also use regular milk, watered down heavy cream, coconut milk, or almond milk. Cheese – I used sharp cheddar cheese in this recipe for breakfast casserole, but feel free to use any kind you have in your fridge, like mozzarella, American, Swiss cheese, Monterey Jack, or Pepper Jack cheese. You can also omit the cheese (and use a dairy free milk above) if you need that option. Salt & Pepper – For simple seasoning. You could also add 2 teaspoons dried herbs or 2 tablespoons fresh herbs, such as parsley, oregano, basil, or Italian seasoning. Garnish – I garnished with green onions, but you can also use fresh herbs here or just skip it. You could also drizzle with my blender hollandaise sauce for added flavor and creaminess.
See below for the formula I use for all my breakfast casserole recipes, so you can use whatever you have on hand!
How To Make A Breakfast Casserole
This section shows how to make this (or virtually any) easy breakfast casserole recipe, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
Storage Instructions
Store: Cover the entire dish tightly with plastic wrap, or place slices in an airtight container, and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Make ahead: For a make ahead breakfast casserole follow all the steps except the baking at the end. You can cover it and store it in the fridge for 1-2 days. You can bake it right from the fridge, but it will cook more evenly if you let it come to room temperature before baking. Reheat: You can reheat individual portions in the microwave if you need to. For better results, bake at 350 degrees F for 20-30 minutes for the whole casserole, or 5-10 minutes for individual slices. Freeze before baking: Follow all the steps in the easy egg casserole recipe above, except for baking. Cover the casserole with plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before baking. Freeze after baking: Cover the casserole with plastic wrap and foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. If you prefer single pieces, cut them and wrap each one. Defrost in the fridge overnight before reheating.
What To Serve With Breakfast Casserole Recipes
Whether you want an early breakfast or a late brunch, there’s so many easy sides to serve with breakfast casserole recipes! Here are a few ideas: Follow this easy ingredient formula for the best breakfast casserole — you can use it with any ingredients you have on hand:
1 pound cooked meat 6 cloves garlic 3 cups cooked veggies (and/or potatoes) 12 large eggs 1/2 cup milk or cream 2 cups shredded cheese 2 tablespoons fresh herbs (optional) 1/4 teaspoons each salt & pepper
Potatoes – For a classic breakfast, serve with roasted potatoes, hash browns, or sweet potato hash (with no added egg). If you want a lighter option, try my cauliflower hash browns instead. Bakery Favorites – Try my easy chocolate chip banana muffins, some healthy breakfast bars, chocolaty protein donuts, or moist almond flour zucchini bread. Pancakes & Waffles – If you have the time, whip up some almond flour pancakes with maple syrup (I prefer sugar-free maple syrup), or repurpose similar ingredients to make chaffles. Breakfast Meats – If you have some vegetarian family members, you can omit the meat from the casserole itself (replace it with additional veggies) and serve bacon or sausage on the side for those that want them. Salads – Serve this easy breakfast casserole with brunch-inspired salads, like arugula salad or burrata salad. Fruit – Make a platter of fresh fruit (plain, with yogurt, or with healthy fruit dip), a fruity acai bowl, or an easy fruit salad.
More Make Ahead Breakfast Casseroles
Want to make your mornings even easier? From full-sized breakfast casserole recipes to smaller ones, you can prep these recipes ahead of time to make your mornings a breeze: Please enter your first name for your account. Your saved recipe will also be sent to your email. The nutrition info does not include optional green onions. You can customize this easy breakfast casserole recipe to use up any meats, veggies, or cheeses you have! See the post above for the formula to do that. 📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Keto Cheat Sheet System, Keto Ebook Bundle, and Winter Ebook Bundle!
