Christmas Morning Breakfast Casserole
An overnight breakfast casserole with bread, crispy bacon, cheddar cheese, and eggs. Assemble it the night before and bake in the morning. Makes 12 servings in a 9 × 13-inch baking dish.
Servings 12 servings
Equipment
- 1 9x13 baking dish
- 2 mixing bowls
- 1 whisk
- 1 large skillet
Ingredients
- Butter for greasing the baking dish
- 10 slices white bread cubed
- 2 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 pound bacon cooked until crisp, drained, and cut into bite-size pieces
- 7 large eggs
- 2 1/2 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Extra shredded cheddar cheese for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the bacon until crisp. Drain, let cool slightly, and cut or crumble into bite-size pieces.
- Grease a 9 × 13-inch baking dish with butter.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the bread cubes, shredded cheddar cheese, and cooked bacon. Spread evenly in the prepared baking dish.
- In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, dry mustard, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread mixture. Gently press the bread down to help it absorb the liquid.
- Cover with food-safe plastic wrap, gently pressing the wrap directly against the surface of the food to help prevent it from drying out. Refrigerate overnight.
- In the morning, preheat the oven to 350°F. Completely remove and discard the plastic wrap. Sprinkle extra shredded cheddar cheese over the top, if desired.
- Bake uncovered for 45–60 minutes, until the center is set and the top is golden. If the top browns before the center is done, loosely cover with foil while it finishes baking.
- Let stand for 5–10 minutes before cutting into 12 portions and serving.
Notes
Bread: I prefer sliced Italian bread, but regular white bread also works. Slice size and thickness can affect how much liquid the bread absorbs.
Mustard: Substitute 1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard for the 1 teaspoon dry mustard, if desired.
Cheese: I use cheddar and like to sprinkle a little extra on top before baking.
Overnight preparation: Press the food-safe plastic wrap directly against the surface of the casserole to help keep the bread from drying out. Completely remove and discard the wrap before baking.
Baking dish: If using glass or ceramic, follow the manufacturer’s directions for transferring a refrigerated dish into a preheated oven.
