18 Christmas Breakfast Casserole Recipes

These easy Christmas breakfast casserole recipes let one pan feed the whole family on the busiest morning of the year! From a sausage strata and a croissant casserole to hash brown bakes, gingerbread French toast, and slow cooker baked oatmeal, there’s a pan here for every kind of Christmas morning crowd.

Most of these go together the night before, so the only morning job is turning on the oven. Pair one savory Christmas morning breakfast casserole with one sweet bake and a bowl of fruit, and two 9×13 pans will cover 12 to 16 people.

Sausage Christmas Breakfast Casseroles

Sausage Breakfast Strata

Cubes of French or Italian bread soak up 8 eggs and 2 cups of whole milk, layered with browned sausage, ham and plenty of sharp cheddar. My shortcut is a package of pre-diced ham, and I shred the cheddar off the block so it melts smoothly. It’s the Christmas morning breakfast casserole I’d put together on Christmas Eve and bake in the morning.

Christmas Breakfast Casserole

Red and green bell peppers give this Christmas Breakfast Casserole its holiday colors, cooked down with a pound of breakfast sausage. Crusty bread cubes are toasted dry first, then soak overnight in 12 eggs, half-and-half and a splash of Frank’s RedHot. Cheddar and Monterey Jack melt through the whole 9×13, which serves 8.

Chicken Sausage Breakfast Casserole

Smoked chicken sausage keeps this one lighter than the pork versions, browned with diced bell pepper and sweet onion. The Chicken Sausage Breakfast Casserole bakes a dozen eggs and milk over that filling, with 2 cups of shredded Havarti for a mild cheese layer. One 9×13 dish makes 12 servings.

Savory Croissant Breakfast Casserole

Torn croissants stand in for bread in this Savory Croissant Breakfast Casserole, layered with crumbled sausage, Gruyère, white cheddar and Parmesan. A custard of eggs, half and half, cream cheese, smoked paprika and thyme soaks into every layer. Garlic butter finishes the top, and the pan serves 10.

Healthy Christmas Breakfast Casseroles

Blueberry Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bake

Cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, 2 eggs and honey go into the blender first, then rolled oats get a quick pulse so they keep some texture. Fresh or frozen blueberries and sliced almonds finish this blueberry almond cottage cheese breakfast bake. It’s an 8×8 pan of 8 squares, so I’d bake two side by side when the whole family is home for Christmas.

Mixed Berry Oatmeal Bake

Old-fashioned oats, milk, eggs, maple syrup, cinnamon and mixed berries rest together for about 30 minutes, so the oats soften before the pan goes in. I reach for Fairlife milk in this berry bake for the extra protein, and leftover squares cover breakfast for the rest of the holiday week.

Slow Cooker Cranberry Orange Baked Oatmeal

Fresh cranberries plus orange zest and juice give this Slow Cooker Cranberry Orange Baked Oatmeal its tart, wintery flavor, sweetened with honey and vanilla. Everything stirs together right in the crock with old-fashioned oats and milk. It cooks on low for about 2½ hours, which leaves the oven free for a savory casserole.

Egg and Cheese Breakfast Casseroles

Ham and Cheese Egg Bake

Three cups of cubed cooked ham, 2 cups of cheddar and sliced green onions go over a layer of cubed bread in this Ham and Cheese Egg Bake. Eight eggs whisked with milk and garlic powder pour over the top and soak in for 10 minutes. It bakes 45 to 50 minutes in a 9×13 and serves 8.

Bacon Ricotta Egg Breakfast Bake

Whole-milk ricotta and sour cream whisk into 6 eggs for an extra-tender custard in this Bacon Ricotta Egg Breakfast Bake. Stale bread cubes soak it up for 30 minutes in the fridge, then crumbled bacon, mozzarella and cheddar go on top. Dried chives and parsley add flecks of green, and it serves 8.

Caprese Breakfast Casserole

Tomato slices, fresh basil and white mozzarella give this Caprese Breakfast Casserole Christmas colors without any extra work. Underneath, cubed baguette soaks in 12 eggs with sautéed onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, Parmesan and shredded mozzarella. It bakes under a foil tent and makes 12 servings, enough for a big family brunch.

Green Chile Egg Casserole

Ten eggs, 24 ounces of small curd cottage cheese and a can of diced green chiles mix up for this Green Chile Egg Casserole, with a little flour and baking powder to help it puff. Colby jack folds in, and melted butter gets drizzled over the top. The cottage cheese adds protein, and it cuts into 12 squares.

Hash Brown and Potato Breakfast Casseroles

Cheesy Broccoli Breakfast Casserole

Thawed shredded hash browns make the base of this Cheesy Broccoli Breakfast Casserole, mixed with bite-size broccoli florets, diced ham and green onions. Six eggs and milk bind it all, with colby jack on top. The whole pan holds well overnight in the fridge, and it goes straight into the oven while the coffee brews.

Breakfast Casserole with Sausage, Bacon and Potatoes

Both pork sausage and bacon go into this Breakfast Casserole with Sausage, Bacon and Potatoes, along with seasoned cubed potatoes, red bell pepper, onion and fresh spinach. A dozen eggs and two kinds of cheddar hold it together in a 9×13. Plan on about 1 hour 45 minutes start to finish for 12 servings.

High-Protein Breakfast Casserole

Frozen tater tots get a 10-minute head start in the oven before anything else goes on this High-Protein Breakfast Casserole. Precooked chicken or pork sausage, onion and baby spinach come next, then 8 eggs blended with cottage cheese, milk and onion soup mix. Sharp cheddar covers the pan, which serves 8.

Christmas French Toast Casseroles

Gingerbread French Toast Casserole

Molasses, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg and allspice give the custard in this Gingerbread French Toast Casserole the flavor of a gingerbread cookie. Bread slices cut on the diagonal overlap in a 9×13, then chill for at least 30 minutes or overnight. Dust it with powdered sugar after baking and serve 8 with maple syrup.

Raspberry Brioche French Toast Casserole

Stale brioche cubes layer with goat cheese, fresh raspberries and chopped pecans in this Raspberry Brioche French Toast Casserole. Six eggs, 3 cups of whole milk, brown sugar, vanilla and cinnamon soak in for 30 minutes before baking. The red berries and tangy goat cheese make it a pretty pick for a holiday brunch table.

Chocolate Strawberry French Toast Casserole

Chocolate chip brioche gets a middle layer of cream cheese stirred with maple syrup and vanilla in this Chocolate Strawberry French Toast Casserole. Diced strawberries go between the bread layers, then eggs, milk and cream soak in for at least 3 hours or overnight. Chocolate syrup and powdered sugar make the finishing touch on Christmas morning.

Baked French Toast Casserole

King’s Hawaiian bread, torn into pieces, fills an 8×8 dish in this Baked French Toast Casserole, soaked in eggs, nonfat milk, brown sugar, vanilla and cinnamon. A brown sugar and cold butter streusel covers the top before it bakes for 40 to 50 minutes. It serves 4, which makes it a good size for a smaller Christmas morning.

How to Make an Overnight Christmas Breakfast Casserole

Almost every casserole here can be assembled on Christmas Eve. Here’s how I keep it from turning soggy:

• Dry the bread first. Day-old bread or cubes toasted at 300°F for 10 to 15 minutes soak up the eggs without going mushy.
• Cook the meat ahead. Brown the sausage or bacon, drain it well, and let it cool before it goes into the pan.
• Cover and chill. Wrap the assembled pan tightly and refrigerate it overnight.
• Add time in the morning. A pan straight from the fridge usually needs 10 to 15 extra minutes. Check the center rather than the clock.

Hash brown and tater tot versions work the same way. You’ll just want the potatoes fully thawed before you assemble.

How to Make a Healthy Christmas Breakfast Casserole

A few small swaps lighten a breakfast casserole without anyone noticing at the table.

• Pick a leaner meat. Turkey or chicken sausage works in any recipe that calls for pork sausage.
• Blend in cottage cheese. A cup or two whisked into the eggs adds protein, the way the green chile and tater tot casseroles do.
• Load up on vegetables. Peppers, spinach, broccoli and onion stretch the pan and add color.
• Use sharp cheese. Sharp cheddar has more flavor, so you can use a little less and still taste it.

For something sweeter, the oat-based bakes have more fiber than French toast. I’d set one out next to a savory pan.

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