This website may contain affiliate links and advertising so that we can provide recipes to you. Read my disclosure policy.
The Best Breakfast Casserole is a thick and creamy egg base with shredded potatoes, chunks of ham, and flavorful cheese blends that bake up in no time. Make this to enjoy Christmas morning or brunch.
Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to Make: This is so easy to throw together. It only takes about 5 minutes to get everything together. The hard part is waiting for it to be done cooking!
- Make Ahead: Make this ahead of time, and when ready to bake, simply take it out of the refrigerator and bake.
- Family Favorite: Your family will love this easy breakfast casserole this holiday season. I have our traditional Sticky buns on the menu for Christmas along with this amazing casserole.
What you need to make a Breakfast Dish
This breakfast is perfect any time of the year but great for Christmas! All the simple ingredients come together quickly. Try it out for yourself! You will agree that it is amazing! Exact measurements are at the bottom of the post.
- Shredded potatoes: You can use frozen ones, and they do not need to be thawed.
- Salt and pepper: To taste!
- Eggs: Used to bind everything together.
- Half and half: Adds creamy texture and thickness.
- Season salt: The secret ingredient that adds all of the right flavors.
- Cheddar & Pepper Jack Cheese: Gives the melty cheesy top and complements the ham.
- Ham: Gives a hearty, meaty flavor and texture.
How to Make a Breakfast Casserole
This breakfast casserole is the BEST for so many reasons. One of which, is how simple this breakfast casserole recipe comes together and is in the oven in minutes. This tried and true breakfast casserole is so simple, and everyone loves the flavor.
- Prepare pan and add ingredients: Grease a 9×13 inch pan. Add the frozen and shredded potatoes to the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Whisk eggs: In a large bowl, whisk the eggs together.
- Add remaining ingredients: Then add half and half, season salt, cheddar cheese, pepper jack, and chopped ham.
- Pour into pan and refrigerate: Pour over the top of the frozen potatoes, then cover with foil and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.
- Bake your breakfast casserole: Bake covered in foil at 350 degrees for 90 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
What to Serve with a Delicious Breakfast Casserole
This casserole can stand alone, but if you are looking for a more complete meal, add some tasty side. Here are some ideas of what will go well with this breakfast casserole during the holiday season.
- Fruit: Christmas Fruit Salad or The Best Winter Fruit Salad
- Bread: Buttermilk Biscuits
- Potatoes: Skillet Potatoes with Peppers or Baked Parmesan Hash browns Recipe
- Meat: Bacon, sausage or ham from my Classic Honey Glazed Ham recipe.
- French Toast: Secret Ingredient French Toast Recipe or Creme Brûlée French Toast
- Pancakes: The Best Buttermilk Pancakes or Best Ever German Oven Pancake
- Muffins: Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins or Fruit Explosion Muffins
Mix It Up!
Try some of these fun variations in this breakfast casserole and find what you enjoy best!
- Vegetables: Add in some veggies like bell peppers, spinach or kale, tomato (fresh or canned), broccoli, mushrooms, or onions are great.
- Meat: You can use bacon, variations of sausage, shredded chicken, ground beef, or leftover turkey.
- Cream: I’m not a fan of half and half; you can use whipping cream for a thicker, richer breakfast or simply use milk you have on hand.
- Cheese: Switch up which cheese you use. Try swiss cheese, Colby jack, or mozzarella which all work well and melt perfectly when baked.
- Spicy: By adding red pepper flakes, green chilies, or green onions, is a fun way to add a little heat.
- Potatoes: Diced or flavorful frozen potatoes will work great in place of shredded potatoes.
Tips for Making the Perfect Breakfast Casserole
Here are some tips for making this breakfast casserole even better and easier on you. This recipe is fun to make with different variations, make ahead, or even make it the morning of. There are so many great things that make this casserole the BEST! These tips will help you better understand how to bake this breakfast for you to enjoy with your family.
- Covering or Not Covering: This is an option. I recommend not covering the baking dish, so the topping can get that nice crisp edge. If you prefer to cook it covered be sure to uncover the last 10 to 15 minutes.
- Keep your potatoes frozen: There is no need to thaw the potatoes, because they will cook frozen.
- How to know when breakfast is done: Once the outside edges become golden brown and the egg mixture in the middle is firm (check by rocking the pan). Use a toothpick or knife to check if it is completely cooked through. You can also use a thermometer to see if the breakfast casserole has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Drain grease: If you use any other meat in the breakfast casserole, drain the meat before adding it to the dish.
- Gluten-free: Make this gluten-free by following this breakfast recipe. Check your labels on other ingredients to make sure.
Storing Breakfast Casserole
There are so many options and plans for this breakfast casserole to make your holiday mornings even easier and better.
- Reheat: To reheat the breakfast casserole, add it to the microwave or cover it in the oven. Check it occasionally until it has been warmed through.
- Make Ahead: Simply follow the instructions until you are ready to bake. Cover it with aluminum foil or a lid and place it in your refrigerator. When you are ready to bake, simply take it out of the refrigerator and bake it according to the instructions. This can sit in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Can you freeze a casserole? Yes, this is perfect for freezing. Make and bake your breakfast casserole. Once it has completely cooled down, place it in an airtight container or ziplock bag. Lay flat in your freezer for up to 1 month. When ready to warm up, place on a baking sheet and bake until warmed through about 50 min.
More Breakfast Casserole Ideas
Pin this now to find it later
Pin It
The Best Breakfast Casserole
Ingredients
- 24 ounces frozen shredded potatoes
- salt and pepper
- 12 eggs
- 2 cup half and half
- 1 teaspoon season salt
- 1 1/2 cup cheddar cheese grated
- 1 1/2 cup pepper jack cheese grated
- 2 cup chopped ham Or your preferred meat, sausage would also be great
Instructions
- Grease a 9×13 inch pan. Add the frozen and shredded potatoes to the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- In a large bowl, whisk the eggs together. Then add half and half, season salt, cheddar cheese, pepper jack, and chopped ham.
- Pour over the top of the frozen potatoes. Cover with foil and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.
- Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 90 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
If using sausage do you cook it first before adding it?
Yes. Cook the sausage before adding it. 🙂
You say grease the pan, are you talking Crisco or can I use pam? It will be refrigerated over night so I’m not sure how the pam will hold up.
You can lightly spray with Pam or cooking spray. 🙂
Question on the grated cheese- can you just use shredded cheese?
Yes. You can use packaged shredded cheese.
Can I substitute like potatoes obrien( chopped potatoes with peppers ) instead of hash Browns? and also my family is small. Would I BA able to cut this recipe in half u think? And just cut down the baking time by half ? Thanks 🙂
I personally like shredded potatoes and I am not sure how chopped potatoes would turn out. I just made this and halfed the recipe and kept the cooking time the same. It turned out great!
You said leave the foil on..when asked way up in the beginning. Now you said “without the foil”. So which is it?
Did I say with the foil? It is supposed to be baked with the foil on. Just made this yesterday and it turned out amazing!
I’m confused. Do you bake this with or without foil on top. You say both ways in different questions. Ty!
Bake with the foil on. I have noted it in the directions. Thanks! 🙂
I have looked back through the responses and I never saw a response that said ‘without the foil’, always noted ‘WITH the foil’.
Thanks for the recipe. I intend to try this with the hash browns and ham instead of my usual bread cubes and sausage.
I was going to do this last night for my Bunco group tonight. I didn’t get a chance to. Will it be ok if I cook it right when I get home tonight and serve ??
Yes. It just needs to rest in the fridge for a few hours.
Do you bake this with or without the foil?
With the foil. 🙂
OK, now I’m confused, cook with or without the foil? Earlier in this thread you say to cook with the foil on. Thanks!
I have noted it in the directions. Bake with the foil on. 🙂
Does anyone know cooking time for half the recipe
I just made it yesterday and halved the recipe. I still baked it for the same time and it turned out great!
I have also used frozen Potatoes O’Brien w the onions and green pepper in them . Makes for a very flavorful casserole. I thaw out before using them.
I halved this recipe recently and it turned out great. I used whole milk instead of half and half. I am making it again but this time I want to add veggies (gr and red pepper, onion). Any advice? Thanks!
I added saute’ed mushrooms, red bell pepper, red onions and spinach. I used chicken sausage, homemade frozen hashbrowns and three different cheeses I had in the fridge. I layered it like a lasagna, topping each layer with the different veggies and cheese. The final topping was cheese. I made sure to season each layer with salt, pepper and some crushed red peppers as I cooked them. Just now putting it in the oven. I’ll let you know how it turns out if you like.
This sounds amazing!!
Hi there! Can this be baked the night before and reheated in the morning? I need this for an early brunch that is 2 hours away!! Thanks!
Thats a good question! I am not sure if an egg casserole can be reheated??
Yes, it can be reheated. Actually tastes better the next day!
I am a vegetarian. Instead of meat, I used portabello mushrooms (rough chop). For the seasoned salt, I used Morton’s Nature’s Seasons. The casserole was delicious! My family loves it. Thank you!
Can you freeze this recipe?
Do I have to refrigerate it for two hours or can I just pop it in the oven?
Can you easily just cut this in half and reduce baking time?