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.
Loved this recipe! Used tator tots instead of hash browns and made half vegetarian with broccoli and other half with broccoli and sausage. Want to try this in individual muffin cups for quick single serving breakfast!
I made this Breakfast Casserole for New Years Day Brunch and it was a hit! I used mild Italian sausage (browned) and it was so delicious. I highly recommend it!
Made it for Christmas morning, and we loved it. I don’t think I let it soak long enough? That was my own rush, I will give it at least 6 hours. I think definitely need to spice the the potatoes more next time. We all like spice! So good the next day. At first I thought I may have made to much? 36 hours later, there was nothing left:)
Made this for Christmas morning brunch yesterday and it was a hit. I added a box of frozen chopped spinach (drained and squeezed dry). So easy to make, with different variations and loved by all.
This will be gracing our Christmas brunch table every year.
If I cut this recipe in half, will it be ok to use an 8×8 glass baking dish for the same cooking time/temp?
Yes, that will be correct! Enjoy!
We loved this egg bake! Great family breakfast! It only took an hour instead of 90 minutes for it to be done in my oven.
If I cut this recipe in half (I have a small family) would I still use a 9×13? Or would you suggest a 8×8? And would I still cook at 350 / 90 mins?
I would suggest using a smaller pan. The 9×13 will cook a lot quicker and may burn.
If you use bacon instead of ham, do you have to cook the bacon first before using?
Yes, I would at least have it precooked just like the ham.
I was wondering if this should be baked covered with the foil or uncovered? In the earlier portions of the post it says to bake covered, however in the directions in the printable recipe portion is says to bake uncovered. Thanks!
Thank you for letting me know. I just edited the post. Yes, uncovered would be best to get the crisp edges and top.
i found that drying out hash browns in the oven removed the wet stickie starch, toastie brown potatoes seem better
Was really hoping to love this. Flavor is very bland for my taste. Could have used some additional spices, but if you prefer mild flavors, it’s ok. Should not be cooked for an hour I pulled out at an hour and cheese was very toasty on top. Only refrigerated it for an hour before cooking so that could have affected things.
I make this all the time. I usually make it when I want clear out the fridge when food that’s on the verge of getting tossed out. I used almost everything under the sun to make this dish. Never the same twice. I do have one issue. My hashbrowns never crisp up, why is that? Is it the dish I’m cooking it in? I’m using a glass pyrex casserole dish.
Oh, it’s time for this berry and I cooked this pie in the evening. I try to eat sweets only in the morning, and this is the most delicious addition to my morning coffee. Thanks for the recipe.
This is my go to breakfast casserole. I use Potatoes O’Brien vs the hash browns and it adds extra flavor and texture with the added peppers and onions.
Looks delicious…and so colorful! I can’t wait to try in the morning! Thanks!
I’ve made this recipe a lot …..let me make this really simple for you …..get a very large bowl mix every thing together in this recipe..except the eggs and the half & half …..mix that together …..also hold back one cup of the cheese to top the dish 15min…at the end. 90min at 350. This recipe is the BEST!!!
This is a winner in our house!