Breakfast Casserole Recipe (Easy, Delicious, and Healthy)

Made with savory sourdough bread, crispy bacon, colourful bell peppers, flavorful mushrooms, and creamy eggs, this breakfast casserole is a crowd-pleaser that’s certain to turn into a breakfast staple in your house.

Easy methods to Make Breakfast Casserole

Breakfast casserole in my view is among the best breakfast dishes to make.  There isn’t an over mixing challenge, or burning of something on a griddle, or over cooking eggs on a pan.  All of it simply does its suppose proper within the pan when you get to run round doing all of your morning issues. That is one in every of our favourite issues to make on holidays – particularly Christmas morning! 

To make this casserole, begin by preheating your oven to 350°F. Then, cook dinner the bacon in a big skillet till it’s crispy, and set it apart to chill. Subsequent, cube the bell peppers, onions and mushrooms, and sauté them in the identical skillet till they’re tender.

Whereas the greens are cooking, whisk collectively the eggs, cottage cheese, milk and shredded cheddar cheese in a big bowl.   Layer the sourdough bread, frozen hash browns, and veggie combination in a 9×13 baking dish.   Pour the egg combination over every little thing and stir to mix. 

The wonderful thing about breakfast casserole is you can make it forward after which let it sit in your fridge till you’re able to bake it.  The longer it sits, the extra the flavors mix and so at the very least half-hour is really useful.  However you may let it sit in a single day after which bake within the morning!  

Components Wanted for this Recipe

These elements are scrumptious, however you may swap them out to your preferences and dietary wants. You need to use several types of bread, meats, greens, and cheese, or add in extra elements like spinach, ham, or tofu. Be at liberty to get inventive and make the casserole your personal!

• Sourdough Bread – I favor sourdough bread as a result of it has a dense crumb that holds up properly in a breakfast casserole and likewise provides a scrumptious taste
• Bacon – thick reduce bacon provides that scrumptious salty taste and holds up its texture with out getting soggy
• Hash browns – frozen hash browns work greatest
• Onion – yellow or white
• Bell Pepper – I like to make use of pink bell pepper so as to add a pop of coloration
• Garlic – pre-minced or cloves are nice
• Mushrooms  – you should utilize any form you want, however i like to make use of white button on this recipe
• Eggs – massive eggs are what is known as for
• Cottage Cheese – small curd works greatest
• Milk – you should utilize any kind of unsweetened milk for this, however a better fats share will provide you with a richer taste and texture. 
• Cheddar Cheese – you should utilize medium or sharp cheddar.  

Greatest Veggies for Breakfast Casserole

There are many greens that work properly in a breakfast casserole, and actually it comes right down to your private preferences.   Listed below are a number of greens which can be generally utilized in breakfast casseroles and the way they’ll add taste and vitamins to your dish:

• Bell peppers: Bell peppers add a pop of coloration and a candy, gentle taste to a casserole. They’re additionally a very good supply of vitamin C and different antioxidants.
• Onions: Onions add depth of taste to a casserole and may also help to stability out the richness of the eggs and cheese. They’re additionally a very good supply of vitamin C, potassium, and different vitamins.
• Spinach: Spinach provides a lift of vitamins to a casserole, together with nutritional vitamins A and Ok, folate, and iron. It’s additionally a great way so as to add extra greens to your weight-reduction plan.
• Mushrooms: Mushrooms add a savory, earthy taste to a casserole and are a very good supply of vitamin D and different vitamins.
• Tomatoes: Tomatoes add a burst of taste and coloration to a casserole, and so they’re a very good supply of nutritional vitamins A and C, potassium, and lycopene.
• Broccoli: Broccoli provides a crunchy texture and a lift of vitamins to a casserole, together with nutritional vitamins C and Ok, fiber, and antioxidants.
• You need to use any of those greens on their very own or combine and match to create a casserole that’s tailor-made to your style. Don’t be afraid to experiment and take a look at new greens to see what you want greatest!

Do You Should Refrigerate Breakfast Casserole In a single day?

There are a number of explanation why some breakfast casseroles name for letting it refrigerate in a single day earlier than cooking:

1. To permit the flavors to mix and deepen: When elements are mixed and left to sit down for a time frame, their flavors mix leading to a extra flavorful casserole.
2. To save lots of time within the morning: For those who’re quick on time within the morning, making a breakfast casserole the evening earlier than permits you to pop it within the oven and have a sizzling, scrumptious breakfast prepared while you get up.
3. To make meal prep simpler: Making ready a breakfast casserole prematurely could make meal prep simpler for the week. You may make a big batch and portion it out for breakfast all through the week, or freeze particular person servings for a fast and simple breakfast possibility.

Do You Cowl a Breakfast Casserole When Baking it?

It is determined by the precise recipe and the kind of casserole you’re making. Right here are some things to contemplate when deciding whether or not or to not cowl a breakfast casserole:

• The kind of casserole: Some breakfast casseroles, resembling these made with bread or different elements which can be liable to drying out, might profit from being coated whereas baking to maintain them from turning into too dry. Alternatively, casseroles made with elements which can be liable to turning into soggy, resembling eggs, might not have to be coated.
• The specified texture: For those who favor a crispy, golden brown prime in your casserole, it’s possible you’ll wish to go away it uncovered whereas baking. Numerous breakfast casserole recipes name to cowl it for almost all of the baking time, after which take away the foil and let the highest get browned and crispy. 
• The baking time: If the casserole is baking for a very long time, it’ll assist to cowl with foil to forestall the highest from turning into too brown.

How Do you Know When Breakfast Casserole is Achieved?

There are a number of methods to inform when a breakfast casserole is completed cooking:

• The sides of the casserole are golden brown and the highest is barely crispy: It is a good indication that the casserole is cooked by way of and the elements are absolutely heated.
• The casserole is about and doesn’t jiggle while you shake the pan: That is one other signal that the casserole is cooked by way of and the eggs are absolutely cooked.
• The interior temperature of the casserole reaches at the very least 165°F: Utilizing a meals thermometer is probably the most correct strategy to decide if a casserole is absolutely cooked. Insert the thermometer into the middle of the casserole and ensure the temperature reaches at the very least 165°F.

For those who’re uncertain if the casserole is completed, you may at all times reduce into it and test the middle to ensure it’s absolutely cooked. If the casserole remains to be undercooked, you may return it to the oven and cook dinner it for a number of extra minutes till it’s accomplished.

Why is My Breakfast Casserole Runny? 

There are a number of explanation why a breakfast casserole might prove runny:

• The eggs have been overcooked: If the eggs are overcooked, they’ll turn into rubbery and launch extra liquid, leading to a runny casserole. To keep away from this, be sure you observe the recipe and cook dinner the eggs for the really useful period of time.
• The casserole was underbaked: If the casserole is underbaked, the eggs might not be absolutely cooked, leading to a runny consistency. To make sure that the casserole is absolutely cooked, be sure you bake it for the really useful period of time and use a meals thermometer to test the interior temperature.
• The casserole was made with an excessive amount of liquid: If the casserole accommodates an excessive amount of liquid, it can lead to a runny consistency. To keep away from this, be sure you observe the recipe and measure the elements precisely.

In case your breakfast casserole seems runny, you may attempt returning it to the oven and cooking it for a number of extra minutes to see if that helps to agency it up. Alternatively, you may attempt including a number of tablespoons of breadcrumbs or shredded cheese to the casserole to assist take up a number of the extra liquid.

How To Retailer and Reheat Breakfast Casserole

To retailer a breakfast casserole:

1. Let the casserole to chill fully. If the casserole remains to be sizzling, it will probably increase the temperature of the fridge and doubtlessly spoil different meals.
2. Cowl the casserole tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. 
3. Retailer the casserole within the fridge for not more than 3-4 days. After that, the casserole might begin to lose its high quality.

To reheat a breakfast casserole, observe these steps:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
2. Take away the plastic wrap or aluminum foil from the casserole.
3. Cowl the casserole with foil and bake it for 15-20 minutes, or till it’s heated by way of.
4. If the casserole remains to be chilly within the heart after 15-20 minutes, proceed baking for a further 5-10 minutes, or till the casserole is sizzling and the highest is crispy.

For those who simply wish to reheat a small portion of the casserole, you are able to do it within the microwave. Place a single serving of the casserole in a microwave-safe dish, cowl it with a paper towel, and microwave it for 30 seconds to 1 minute, or till it’s heated by way of.

How Lengthy Does Breakfast Casserole Final within the Fridge?

As soon as your casserole is baked, it’ll keep good within the fridge as much as about 4 days.  After that, the feel or taste would possibly begin to get a bit off.

What goes with breakfast casserole?

• Recent fruit: A fruit salad or sliced contemporary fruit can add a refreshing and wholesome factor to a breakfast casserole. Berries, oranges, apples, and pears are all good choices.
• Yogurt or smoothies: Yogurt or a smoothie can present a cool and creamy distinction to a savory casserole. You may as well add some fruit or greens to the smoothie for an additional increase of vitamins.

For those who like make-ahead breakfast dishes, attempt these too:

• 1/2 loaf sourdough bread 5 cups cubed
• 1 pound bacon thick reduce
• 1 medium pink bell pepper diced
• 1/2 medium onion diced
• 1 cup mushrooms diced
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 2 cups frozen hash browns
• 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
• 12 massive eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup cottage cheese small curd
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper floor

• Preheat oven to 350 levels F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish; put aside.

• Lower bacon in chunk measurement items. Warmth a big skillet over medium warmth, and add bacon items. Cook dinner till crispy after which drain the grease and set bacon apart.

• Add diced onion, peppers, mushrooms and garlic. Saute till every little thing has barely softened, about 5–6 minutes.

• Lower bread into cubes and layer on the underside of your baking dish. High with the sauteed veggies, bacon items, frozen hash browns and 1 1/2 cups of the cheese. Stir in order that the elements are evenly distributed.

• In a separate mixing bowl, whisk collectively eggs, milk, cottage cheese, salt and pepper. Pour egg combination over every little thing within the pan. Sprinkle with remaining cheese on prime.

• Cowl casserole with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and refrigerate for at the very least half-hour and as much as 24 hours. (When able to bake, permit to sit down at room temperature for 10–quarter-hour as oven preheats.)

• Cowl with foil and bake for 1 hour eradicating the foil 15-20 minutes earlier than ending.

Energy: 282kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 28g | Fats: 18g | Saturated Fats: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 1g | Monounsaturated Fats: 3g | Trans Fats: 0.02g | Ldl cholesterol: 255mg | Sodium: 1438mg | Potassium: 161mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 747IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 150mg | Iron: 1mg