Easy Breakfast Casserole - The Yummy Bowl (2024)

· Modified: by Julia | The Yummy Bowl · 20 Comments

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Breakfast Casserole - layers of delicious fluffy bread soaked in milk and egg mixture and then baked with crispy bacon & cheese until perfection.

Easy Breakfast Casserole - The Yummy Bowl (1)

A perfect casserole dish for breakfast or weekend brunch! Serve it along with a simple salad or a smoothie.

Jump To
  • Why It's Yummy
  • Ingredients
  • How To Make Breakfast Casserole
  • Tips
  • How To Serve Breakfast Casserole
  • Variations
  • Storing and Freezing Instructions
  • Recipe
  • FAQs
  • More Easy Breakfast Recipes? Try These Next Time!
  • Comments

Why It's Yummy

  • It's a clever recipe for reusing day-old bread or vegetable scraps and leftovers.
  • Overall, the breakfast egg casserole hits all the marks - fast prep, make-ahead potential, fridge cleanup, customizable, and kid-friendly nutrition. No wonder it's such a popular breakfast dish.
Easy Breakfast Casserole - The Yummy Bowl (2)

Ingredients

  • Cheese - Cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack, or mozzarella, Havarti, Fontina. Gruyere. For extra flavor add parmesan, crumbled feta, goat, or cotija cheese for garnish when the breakfast casserole is ready.
  • Bacon - or ham, ground chicken, turkey or chopped breakfast sausage without casing.
  • Bread - Baguette, challah, ciabatta, sourdough, buns, and most of the gluten-free options will work here too.
  • Milk - makes the casserole rich and creamy. The fat in whole milk binds with the egg proteins to give a custard-like consistency that can't be achieved with non-fat or low-fat milk.
  • Vegetables - mix & match! Bell peppers, spinach, kale, mushrooms, asparagus, tomatoes, onions. To prevent sogginess, pre-cook/saute the veggies lightly on the stove before hand.

If you use crusty day-old bread you’ll have a mix of soft and textured bites, crispy edges, cheesy pockets, and plenty of crunchy bacon in every bite. You don’t necessarily have to leave the bread soaking in the mixture overnight, 1-2 hours is enough.

How To Make Breakfast Casserole

STEP 1: In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk/cream, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning.

Set egg mixture aside.

Easy Breakfast Casserole - The Yummy Bowl (3)

STEP 2: Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy.

Drain on paper towels.

STEP 3: Add to egg mixture, reserving 2-3 tablespoons bacon for garnish.

Easy Breakfast Casserole - The Yummy Bowl (4)

STEP 4: Stir bread, green onions, and cheese (reserve about ½ cup for later) into egg mixture.

STEP 5: Refrigerate 1+ hour until bread absorbs liquid. Let come to room temperature before baking.

STEP 6: After 1 hour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180°C) and grease a casserole dish with butter.

Easy Breakfast Casserole - The Yummy Bowl (5)
  • Related: Fried cabbage with bacon

Transfer soaked bread-egg mixture to prepared dish. Top with reserved cheese and bacon. Bake covered 20-25 mins.

STEP 7: Uncover and bake 15 mins more until set (test with toothpick) and top is crispy golden brown.

After removing from the oven, let the strata sit for 15-20 minutes.

SERVE! For garnish add parsley, green onions and more bacon on top.

  • Want something sweet for breakfast? Try these easy cranberry overnight oats.

Tips

  • To check doneness, insert a knife in the center. If it comes out clean, the breakfast casserole is ready. Be careful not to overcook or the dish will dry out.
  • Day-old or stale bread with a firm texture will work best for breakfast casserole. French bread like baguette, Italian Ciabatta, sourdough or whole grain are all great options here. If the bread is too fresh and overly soft the casserole will turn too soggy too fast.
  • Older bread will work too, but make sure to soak at least 3 hours in the egg mixture, for even better results leave it overnight.
  • For baking - place a tray in the bottom of the oven or under the casserole as some juices may leak out of the casserole while it's baking. It will also depend on your baking dish, ideally 9 (9x13) or 8 inch (I used 8x11) will fit the strata but I’ve used smaller ones too.
  • Grate the cheese from a block - Pre-shredded cheese may not melt well due to added preservatives. Shred fresh mozzarella for improved melting; it takes a bit more prep time but yields better results.
  • Every oven is different, and I the breakfast casserole starts to become too brown, cover it with aluminum foil until the end of baking time.

How To Serve Breakfast Casserole

  • cucumber salad or tomato basil mozzarella salad
  • Fruit salad: watermelon salad or strawberry cucumber salad
  • Muffins: cornbread jalapeno muffins or oatmeal zucchini muffins
  • Hashbrowns
  • Scones
  • smoothies
  • granola + yogurt
  • banana bread
  • zucchini bread
  • baked apples

Variations

  • Instead of bacon - sausage, mini pepperoni, chorizo, kielbasa, ham, pulled chicken (rotisserie, slow cooker bbq chicken), ground beef, salmon or leftover pork chops or ribs. The meat options should be cooked before adding to the casserole.
  • Just like in frittata, you can add spinach and cherry tomatoes.
  • For more flavors - add 1-2 tablespoons of green or red pesto to the egg mixture.
  • Mediterranean - artichoke, plum or sun-dried tomatoes, olives, onions (red or white), feta and crumbles and ruccola leaves on top for garnish.
  • Dairy free - milk can be substituted with plant-based milk and cheese as well.
Easy Breakfast Casserole - The Yummy Bowl (6)

Storing and Freezing Instructions

  • To Store. 4-5 days refrigerated in an airtight container.
  • To Freeze, allow strata to cool completely first. Wrap in foil then place in an airtight container or freezer bag, store for 2-3 months.
  • To Reheat, rewarm the breakfast bake in oven at 300F for 10-20 minutes until warmed through and crispy. You can also reheat individual slices in the air fryer at 350F for 5-10 minutes.

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Recipe

Easy Breakfast Casserole - The Yummy Bowl (7)

Breakfast Casserole Recipe

Julia | The Yummy Bowl

Breakfast Casserole - Layers of delicious fluffy bread soaked in milk and egg mixture and then baked with crispy bacon & cheese until perfection. A perfect casserole dish for breakfast or weekend brunch! Serve it along with a simple salad or a smoothie.

5 from 18 votes

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Servings 8 servings

Calories 423 kcal

INGREDIENTS

  • 7 large eggs
  • ¾ of a whole baguette or sourdough (gluten free if needed) about 6-7 cups, sliced into 1-2 inch thick pieces, see notes
  • 10-12 ounce bacon diced
  • 2 teaspoon Italian seasoning Herbs de Provence
  • 1 ¼ cups milk (full cream or low fat) or heavy cream for custard like texture
  • salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 ⅓ cups cheddar cheese grated
  • 2 tablespoon parsley
  • 2-3 tablespoon green onion chopped
  • butter for greasing the casserole
  • olive oil for cooking

INSTRUCTIONS

  • In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk/cream, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning. Set egg mixture aside.

  • Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy. Drain on paper towels. Add to egg mixture, reserving 2-3 tablespoons bacon for garnish.

  • Stir bread, green onions, and cheese (reserve about ½ cup for later) into egg mixture. Refrigerate 1+ hour until bread absorbs liquid.

  • After 1 hour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180°C) and grease a casserole dish with butter.

  • Transfer soaked bread-egg mixture to prepared dish. Top with reserved cheese and bacon. Bake covered 20-25 mins. Uncover and bake 15 mins more until set (test with toothpick) and top is crispy golden brown.

  • After removing from the oven, let the strata sit for 15-20 minutes. For serving, add parsley, green onions and more bacon on top. We love shredded parmesan too. Enjoy!

VIDEO

NOTES

  • Baguette sizes vary, when cut into pieces my bread made about 6-7 cups.
  • To check doneness, insert a knife in the center. If it comes out clean, the strata is ready. Be careful not to overcook or the dish will dry out.
  • Day-old or stale bread with a firm texture will work best for breakfast casserole. French bread like baguette, Italian Ciabatta, sourdough or whole grain are all great options here. If the bread is too fresh and overly soft the casserole will turn too soggy too fast.
  • If you only have fresh bread … in this case leave the bread to dry out. First, cut or tear the bread into the size pieces you need. Then spread the pieces on a baking sheet and let them sit uncovered at room temperature for a few hours or up to overnight. As the bread sits, the surface will become dried and hardened from evaporation.
  • To Store. Leftover strata keeps 4-5 days refrigerated in an airtight container. To reheat, bake at 300F for 10-20 minutes until warmed through. You can also reheat individual slices in the air fryer at 350F for 5-10 minutes.

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NUTRITION

Calories: 423kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 21gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 204mgSodium: 665mgPotassium: 251mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 721IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 338mgIron: 2mg

Tried this recipe?@theyummy_bowl and tag #theyummy_bowl! Thank you!

Note:Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on products used.

Full Nutrition Disclaimer can be foundhere.

FAQs

What is the difference between frittata and strata?

Frittata is more of an omelet with different ingredients, without the bread. It is often prepared in a skillet or cake pan.

Strata is a breakfast casserole too, and made with soaking the bread in the milk and egg mixture overnight (preferably). It is then baked in a casserole dish and is thicker and fluffier than a frittata dish.

How will I know when breakfast casserole is fully baked?

Cooking time varies based on thickness. Check doneness by jiggling - it should be set, not jiggly. A clean toothpick also indicates doneness.

Can I bake the breakfast right away instead of leaving it in the fridge overnight?

Letting the bread soak for at least 1 hour (ideally 1-2 hours) before baking allows full absorption so the strata won't turn out to be soggy.

Can I make it gluten-free?

This breakfast strata can easily be made gluten-free by using your favorite gluten-free bread, and this is what I used as well.

Why do you use bread in strata?

Dry, crusty bread chunks are the secret to a chewy, chunky casserole texture. The crusty cubes soak up liquid, preventing a spongey, dense dish. Homemade sourdough or crusty artisan bread works best.

The key is using really crisp, dry bread - never soft sandwich slices. With ultra-crisp chunks throughout, your casserole will have incredible staying power and texture.

This recipe is inspired by Recipe Tin Eats - Cheese & Bacon strata cake.

More Easy Breakfast Recipes? Try These Next Time!

  • Healthy Vegetable Frittata
  • Oatmeal Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins
  • Bacon, Egg and Cream Cheese Breakfast Sandwich
  • Gluten Free Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole (Farmer's Casserole)

« Baked Candied Yams (Candied Sweet Potatoes)

Air Fryer Baked Potato »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Marge

    Easy Breakfast Casserole - The Yummy Bowl (12)
    Made this casserole yesterday but in different dish and it was so good and so fluffy!

    Soaked the bread for 5 hours only. Delicious!!

    Reply

    • Julia

      Thank you Marge, so glad that you liked it!

      Reply

    • Karyn Roesler

      Never bacon…hate mushy bacon…just a personal opinion. Ham or breakfast sausage, but again…the sausage gets mushy and I like links that have a crispy outside…I know…I’m difficult! Other than that I will try this because it looks delicious! Just with ham! Thank you

      Reply

      • Julia | The Yummy Bowl

        absolutely! Ham is a great substitute. Another thing with bacon is to perhaps choose the thickest bacon and cut it into larger pieces or leave whole strips inside. But I haven't tried it this way yet:)

        Reply

  2. Lyn

    Easy Breakfast Casserole - The Yummy Bowl (13)
    What a great make ahead breakfast idea!! I haven't made a strata before, but thinking now that I will need to try it out!

    Reply

    • Julia

      thank you, hope you'll love this one!

      Reply

  3. Deb

    Easy Breakfast Casserole - The Yummy Bowl (14)
    Recipe sounds easy and delicious! Approximately how many cups of bread would equal one baguette cut into cubes?

    Reply

    • Julia | The Yummy Bowl

      great question, I will have to measure it out soon. But an average length about 26-30 cm I thin would be 4 cups?

      Reply

  4. Robin

    I used dried out Baguettes and soaked them overnight. I didn't add the cheese, bacon or chives until this morning, because I don't like mushy bacon either. It appeared dry to me (probably because the Baguettes were dried out) so I added 4 more eggs over the top. Put the toppings on after taking the foil off to help crunchy it up.

    Reply

    • Julia | The Yummy Bowl

      Interesting! I soak the mixture for just one hour, with medium-old bread. Some baguettes vary indeed, and it is good advice to soak them separately until softened enough. My casserole was pretty juicy after baking!

      Reply

  5. Dina and Bruce

    Easy Breakfast Casserole - The Yummy Bowl (15)
    Made for the family! Thumbs up all the way around!

    Reply

    • Julia | The Yummy Bowl

      thank you Dina and Bruce!

      Reply

  6. Ned

    Easy Breakfast Casserole - The Yummy Bowl (16)
    Everything is better with bacon! This was so amazing, I can't wait to make it again. Thank you!

    Reply

    • Julia | The Yummy Bowl

      thank you Ned!

      Reply

  7. Sisley

    Easy Breakfast Casserole - The Yummy Bowl (17)
    What a way to start the day! I love a breakfast casserole and adding bacon like this was yummy!

    Reply

    • Julia | The Yummy Bowl

      thank you Sisley!

      Reply

  8. Gina Abernathy

    Easy Breakfast Casserole - The Yummy Bowl (18)
    I made this breakfast strata for dinner last night and it was a total winner with the family. Everyone loved it!

    Reply

    • Julia | The Yummy Bowl

      thank you Gina!

      Reply

  9. kate

    Easy Breakfast Casserole - The Yummy Bowl (19)
    Thank you for this yummy breakfast casserole recipe. It was delicious and the leftovers were great re-heated. I didn't have time to do the air-fryer method so I just used the microwave to reheat my piece and it was totally fine.

    Reply

    • Julia | The Yummy Bowl

      sounds awesome, glad you enjoyed Kate, thank you!

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Easy Breakfast Casserole - The Yummy Bowl (2024)

FAQs

Can you refrigerate a breakfast casserole 2 days ahead? ›

The version written below with sausage, mushrooms, bell peppers, spinach, and cheddar cheese is generally the most popular with guests. You can assemble the entire dish and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking.

What's the difference between a breakfast casserole and a strata? ›

Strata is otherwise known as “the breakfast casserole that your overnight guests will think you toiled away on all morning when in reality, you simply whipped it up the night before and just popped in the oven.” “Strata” is much shorter. Stratas are egg casseroles made with bread—lots of it.

Can I freeze a breakfast casserole? ›

Cover the casserole and store it (unbaked) in the refrigerator overnight or up to one day. Bake in the morning, according to recipe instructions. To freeze breakfast casserole prepare the recipe and add to your pan. Cover well with plastic wrap and then tinfoil and freeze for 2-3 months.

Can you freeze Strata? ›

Bake until the center of the casserole reaches an internal temperature of 160 °F as tested with a food thermometer. After baking, any leftovers must be refrigerated within two hours and can be kept three to four days in the refrigerator or frozen for about three months. Uncooked egg strata should not be frozen.

Can you make a casserole with raw eggs ahead of time? ›

Can You Make Egg Casserole Ahead of Time? This easy egg casserole is the perfect make-ahead breakfast. Simply combine the ingredients the night before and place the mixture in a prepared baking dish, then cover it tightly with storage wrap or foil. In the morning, bake the casserole according to the recipe.

Can you leave raw egg mixture in fridge? ›

If you've got raw egg yolks or whites left over from a recipe which you don't want to waste (let's face it, why would you?), you can store them in the fridge as long as you plan to use them within the next few days.

How long can strata be refrigerated before baking? ›

Use cooking oil spray to grease the underside of the aluminum foil you will use to cover the strata, then crimp it tightly around the edges. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, and up to 12 hours before baking. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Why is my strata soggy? ›

(Just don't skip the sautéing. It's crucial because it cooks out excess liquid, which prevents the strata from becoming soggy.)

Which is healthier frittata or quiche? ›

While often compared to quiche, a frittata is a healthier option because it doesn't have a crust. The benefits are a lot like those of an omelet. At home, you can pile on vegetables and control the amount of oil you use to make it even healthier.

Is it better to freeze a breakfast casserole cooked or uncooked? ›

The answer depends on what's in it. Casseroles with raw protein (meat, poultry, seafood) should be completely cooked before freezing. However dishes with pre-cooked meats or no meat are fine to go in the freezer uncooked.

Is it better to freeze breakfast casseroles cooked or uncooked? ›

Baked casserole may be frozen, up to 2 months. Thaw in refrigerator overnight and bake at 350ºF (177ºC) for about 20 minutes or until heated through. To freeze this casserole: you can freeze unbaked casserole up to 2 months. Cover very tightly with plastic wrap and foil.

Why is my egg casserole not done in the middle? ›

High heat cooks the outside faster than the inside, leaving the middle uncooked. Reducing the temperature distributes heat more evenly, allowing the middle to cook through. If uncooked in the center then cover at the same temperature and ad 15 minutes before checking again.

Should you freeze strata before or after baking? ›

This also makes this dish perfect for holidays, overnight guests and busy brunches. A whole strata can be frozen, after it's baked. Just allow the strata to cool completely. Tightly cover with 2 layers of foil, completely wrapping the dish and place in the freezer for up to 2 months.

How do you freeze and reheat breakfast casserole? ›

If you want to freeze the casserole and reheat

Pre-bake the casserole as instructed above, then cool to room temperature and cover tightly with foil. Freeze for up to 1 month, then reheat in a 350 F oven for 1 hour. Uncover and bake for 30 minutes more, until completely warmed through and browned on top.

Can I freeze an egg? ›

According to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), you can freeze eggs for up to one year. When you're ready to use frozen eggs, thaw them overnight in the refrigerator or under running cold water. Use egg yolks or whole eggs as soon as they're thawed.

How long can you refrigerate a casserole before baking? ›

Unless food will be frozen, it's safest and will provide the best quality product to start preparing most perishable foods no more than a day before a meal. For example, assemble a vegetable casserole a day in advance, refrigerate and then bake the day of your dinner.

How long can breakfast casserole stay in the fridge? ›

Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 5 days. Reheat individual servings in the microwave as needed. Baked casserole may be frozen, up to 2 months. Thaw in refrigerator overnight and bake at 350ºF (177ºC) for about 20 minutes or until heated through.

How long can a premade casserole stay in the fridge? ›

The following foods will keep 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator: Fully cooked ham slices. Cooked meat and meat casseroles. Cooked chicken and chicken casseroles (Learn more about how to tell if chicken is bad)

How many days can you keep a casserole in the fridge? ›

Most leftovers, such as cooked beef, pork, seafood or chicken, chili, soups, pizza, casseroles and stew can be safely kept for three to four days.

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