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Mornings just got easier and more delicious with this Overnight Breakfast Casserole! Quick to prep the night before, it’s loaded with fluffy eggs, melty cheese, bread, and sausage (or your favorite breakfast meat). Let the magic happen while you sleep! Just pop it in the oven the next morning and enjoy a warm, bubbling dish that’s perfect for feeding family and friends!
I started making this recipe back in the early ’90s when I was newly married and working in the corporate world. My friend Drew used to bring this casserole to our breakfast potlucks at work, and it was always a hit. Thankfully, he shared the recipe with me, and it quickly became a part of our family’s traditions. Over the years, it’s turned into a staple for Christmas morning at our house. We love starting the day with a big breakfast, and this casserole fits perfectly—plus, it lets us relax and enjoy the morning opening gifts and spending time together.
But honestly, it’s not just for the holidays. This dish is perfect for weekend breakfasts, meal prep for the week, or any time you’re feeding a crowd. One of the best things about it is how flexible it is! You can swap out the breakfast meats to fit your family’s favorites or mix in some veggies to switch things up. It’s easy to make, always delicious, and one of those recipes you’ll come back to again and again.
Why you’ll love this Overnight Egg Casserole
- Make Ahead: All the prep is done ahead of time. All you have to do the morning of is bake and enjoy.
- Easy to Adapt: The casserole shining stars are the cheese and breakfast meat, and they are easy to adapt to your family’s tastes.
Overnight Breakfast Casserole Ingredients
- Breakfast Sausage: Use any brand you love. You can even buy this when it is on sale and freeze it until ready to use.
- Bread: I usually use plain white bread. Egg bread or wheat bread work too! This is perfect to use up what you have in your pantry.
- Eggs: Whip the eggs up nice and fluffy for a nice texture and airy bite.
- Milk: I use whole milk for a creamy texture, but what you have on hand works.
- Cheese: A sharp cheddar is a good choice or a blend of your favorite cheeses.
- Ground Mustard, Salt, & Pepper: Spices to add extra flavor. Just keep in mind that depending on which breakfast meat you use you may not need to add salt or you can adjust to your taste.
How to Make Overnight Egg Casserole
✱ Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact ingredients and full recipe instructions!
Step 1 | Cook Breakfast Sausage, Bacon, or Ham
- In a skillet, cook sausage and break into crumbles while cooking. Cook until it is no longer pink and has some browning on it. (You can also use bite-sized bacon pieces or diced ham)
- Drain on paper towels and let cool while preparing the remaining ingredients.
Step 2 | Prepare Egg Mixture
- Cut or tear bread into cubes and set aside.
- Whisk the eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and ground mustard together. Then add in meat, cheese, and bread cubes.
Step 3 | Prepare Baking Dish, Fill and Refrigerate Overnight
- Butter or spray a baking dish with cooking spray. Pour the breakfast casserole mixture into the dish.
- In a large bowl, whisk eggs and add in milk, salt, pepper, and ground mustard, and whisk until fluffy. Add in bread, cheese, and sausage (or meat of choice) and stir together until combined.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Step 4 | Remove Dish & Bake
- Pull the dish out of the fridge a half hour before baking.
- Bake at 350° for 40 to 50 minutes or until done.
- Let rest for 5 minutes and enjoy while hot!
TIPS
- Make sure to drain the sausage so the casserole isn’t too greasy.
- Grease your casserole dish before adding the egg mixture so it is easy to remove. If you are baking in a cast iron or oven-safe skillet, you can cook the meat in the skillet and pour it out onto paper towels to drain. The grease left behind is typically plenty to keep the casserole from sticking, but you can also take the paper towel you drained the meat on and coat the pan or baking dish.
- Make sure to take the make-ahead casserole out of the refrigerator 20 to 30 minutes before baking. This will ensure even cooking and prevent a glass or porcelain dish from breaking in the oven (going from extreme cold to hot).
- The casserole is done when the edges are set and there is just a slight jiggle in the center.
Variations and Substitutions
The great thing about this overnight breakfast casserole is how versatile it is. You can make this over and over and change up the flavor combinations. The combinations are endless!
- Change up the meat: This really is good with any kind of breakfast meat. Breakfast sausage, bacon, ham, chorizo, leftover steak, or even diced smoked sausage work well.
- Add in veggies: You can add bell peppers, spinach, kale, green chilies, or jalapenos for some spice.
- Meat replacement: Mushrooms are perfect for a meat replacement, and a plant-based meat replacement will work, too.
- Change up the cheese: I love a blend of cheddar and gouda, but any cheese you love works. Mozzarella, swiss, provolone, or Colby Jack. I have it on my list to try a steak, gouda, and blue cheese version. YUM!
- For a Mexican-flavored casserole, use taco meat or chorizo and a taco blend cheese or cotija cheese. So delicious!
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What to Serve With Breakfast Casserole
As I mentioned before, this sausage breakfast casserole is a meal in itself; however, there are many amazing options to pair with this dish.
It really goes well with fruit and toast, biscuits, or bagels. We love grits on the side or even some sweetbreads or cinnamon roll casserole.
On Christmas morning, my family wants this creamy chipped beef gravy!
This casserole isn’t just for breakfast. Serve it for brunch or even for dinner. Add a nice green salad, and you have a meal.
Any way you serve it – This easy breakfast casserole is delish!
How to Store this Easy Make Ahead Breakfast Casserole
Storage:
Cover with foil or plastic wrap or place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
Can you Freeze Breakfast Casserole?
This sausage casserole freezes really well. I recommend baking it completely first. Completely cool and then wrap it tightly with freezer-safe wrap and foil. It will keep well for up to 2 months.
If you plan to make ahead and freeze, using a disposable tin pan works really well.
Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
How to Reheat Breakfast Casserole
To reheat individual servings, place the desired amount on a microwave-safe dish and reheat. Microwave in 30-second intervals until heated to your liking.
To reheat a whole casserole in the oven, cover it with foil and bake it at 350°F for 20 to 30 minutes or until heated through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! To make this meat-free, you can omit the sausage or replace it with a plant-based sausage. You can also add any other meat you love. Bacon, ground beef, or even shredded chicken can be used.
Yes, you can! Substitute the bread with gluten-free bread or even hashbrowns, diced potatoes or sweet potatoes will work too.
More Delicious Breakfast Recipes
- Sausage Gravy and Biscuits
- Skillet Apple Pie Biscuit Bites
- Apple and Pecan Monkey Bread
- Best Ever Banana Bread
- Cranberry Orange Streusel Muffins from Norine’s Nest
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Overnight Breakfast Casserole With Bread
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound sausage, bacon, or ham, cooked and drained
- 6 slices bread, cut into cubes or torn into bite sized pieces
- 12 eggs, beaten
- 2 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon salt, optional or to taste
- ½ pepper, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard, (optional)
- 4 cups cheese, cheddar, gouda, or mozzarella
Instructions
- In a skillet cook sausage and break into crumbles while cooking. Cook until no longer pink and has some browning on it. Drain on paper towels and let cool while preparing the remaining ingredients. (You can also use bite-sized bacon pieces or diced ham)
- Cut or tear bread into cubes, set aside.
- In a large bowl whisk eggs and add in milk, salt, pepper, and ground mustard and whisk until fluffy. Add in bread, cheese, and sausage (or meat of choice) and stir together until combined.
- Butter or sprayed with cooking spray a 3-quart or 9 x 13 casserole dish. You can also use an oven-safe dutch oven or cast iron skillet. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Remove from the refrigerator 20 to 30 minutes before baking. Bake at 350° for 40 to 50 minutes or until eggs are cooked through (the center will be just slightly jiggly) and casserole is bubbly.
- Let set for 5 minutes and enjoy while hot.
Want to Save this Recipe?
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Notes
- Make sure to drain the sausage so the casserole isn’t too greasy.
- Grease your casserole dish before adding the egg mixture, so it is easy to remove. If you are are baking in a cast iron or oven safe skillet, you can cook the meat in the skillet and pour out onto paper towels to drain. The grease left behind is typically plenty to keep the casserole from sticking, but you can also take the paper towel you drained the meat on and coat the pan or baking dish.
- Make sure to take the make ahead casserole out of the refrigerator 20 to 30 minutes before baking. This will ensure even cooking and prevents a glass or porcelain dish from breaking in the oven (going from extreme cold to hot).
- The casserole is done when the edges are set and there is just a slight jiggle in the center.
Nutrition Information
Nutritional Disclaimer
Soulfully Made is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
©️Soulfully Made
Update 2/19/2022
Can you freeze this casserole?
Yes you can freeze this. Freeze the casserole, either cooked or uncooked, for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking or reheating.
This is the easiest most delicious egg casserole I have ever made. It was a huge hit at a recent family brunch. The basic ingredients
appeal to everyone. I used deli ham cubed, ciabatta bread, cheddar and Gouda and half & half. Mix and match according to your preferences. I will use this casserole again and again. Perfect!
Thank you, Tina. I love your combination. Gouda, ciabatta, and ham- a favorite here. I love the versatility of this one- it can be a brand new casserole each time you bake it.
Enjoyed this for breakfast this morning and started my day off right! Was easy, hearty and delicious; definitely, a new favorite recipe!
Thank you, Sara! It’s a family favorite at our house!
This is perfect for holiday mornings or sleepovers – I’m looking forward to making it!
I agree! It is the perfect make-ahead breakfast for an easy morning meal.
I love a good breakfast casserole. On Easter, my family spends the night and they look forward to them in the morning!
That is a wonderful tradition! I love it!
I love a good breakfast casserole, and this one looks phenomenal. I’m going to give it a try next week and hopefully add it to my menu for the holidays!
Thank you, Nathan! I hope you enjoy this during the holidays! It’s always on our menu Christmas morning.
I am always looking for ways to save time in the morning and this was perfect. Really tasty too.
Thank you, Dannii! It’s a perfect make ahead breakfast too!
This would be perfect the next time the kids come to visit!!
I love to make this when I have a house full! It’s you can switch out the ingredients with your favs also!
I’m all for an overnight casserole so I don’t have to rush around in the mroning and this one sounds so good!
Love how fluffy this looks! Gimme gimme!
It is so delicious! I will save you a slice!
Happy Easter!!! I make a similar casserole—always a hit!!!!
Happy Easter Liz! It is always a crowd pleaser. I like change up the flavors each time I make it!
This looks delicious! I bet these flavors really intensify over night!
Fast and easy casseroles are on my keeper list!