No one wants to be stuck in the kitchen on Christmas morning while the wrapping paper is flying. But it'd also be great to have something special for a holiday breakfast or brunch. Enter: the make ahead, overnight casserole.
An easy breakfast casserole recipe is a great way to have a hot, filling holiday morning meal without the fuss. You make it the night before, cover it with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, put it in the refrigerator overnight, and then pop it in the oven while the kids are still asleep or you're waiting for your guests to arrive. (They're also easy to reheat in the microwave if great aunt Mildred shows up late.) Here are 17 Christmas morning breakfast casseroles sure to spread some cheer.
1. Loaded Overnight Breakfast Casserole
Meat lovers only for this dish. It's loaded with pork sausage and bacon, plus two kinds of cheese. Dry mustard, paprika, and fresh chives flavor the savory egg mixture that holds it all together.
Recipe: The Chunky Chef
2. Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
Who doesn't love tater tots? They're a great pre-made and easy stand-in for hash browns in breakfast casseroles like this one. Bacon and both red and green bell peppers (Christmas colors!) make it festive and delicious.
Recipe: Spend With Pennies
3. Crockpot Christmas Breakfast Casserole
Not only do you prepare this casserole the night before, but you start cooking it then, too. It cooks overnight in your slow cooker, so you wake up to wonderful smells and a hot meal with zero effort in the morning.
Recipe: Restless Chipotle
4. Pumpkin French Toast Casserole
This decadent sweet brunch is like a pumpkin bread pudding topped with cinnamon and pecan streusel. Use challah or brioche bread if you can get them.
Recipe: Sally's Baking Addiction
5. Spinach and Cheese Strata
Onions, garlic, and Dijon mustard flavor this bread-and-egg bake. Using frozen spinach makes it quick to put together, and there's plenty of gruyere and parmesan cheese.
Recipe: Once Upon a Chef
6. Ham and Cheese Croissant Casserole
A breakfast casserole is a great way to use up all those Costco croissants. Instead of taking the time to make individual sandwiches, just throw everything together ahead of time with a savory custard.
Recipe: Joyous Apron
7. Spicy Shrimp and Grits Casserole
Spice up your Christmas morning with this Southern-inspired casserole. The grits are cooked with peppers and tomatoes before mixing in bacon, shrimp, and plenty of gouda for a cheesy finish.
Recipe: From A Chef's Kitchen
8. Upside Down Bananas Foster French Toast Bake
This is the holiday brunch casserole you make to impress company. When you serve it, turn each slice upside down on the plate to reveal a dreamy layer of caramel-coated bananas and pecans.
Recipe: Ambitious Kitchen
9. Biscuits and Gravy Casserole
Though this hearty casserole recipe calls for making your own biscuits from scratch, you can use a couple tubes of your favorite biscuits instead. No matter what, it's going to be a rich, sausage-filled delight.
Recipe: Tastes Better From Scratch
10. Overnight Monte Cristo Breakfast Casserole
Turn cheesy, ham-filled Monte Cristo sandwiches into an easy breakfast with this recipe. Using cranberry relish or sauce gives it a festive flair, but you can use raspberry jam instead if you want to keep it traditional.
Recipe: Reluctant Entertainer
11. Overnight Breakfast Casserole with Lox and Bagels
Everything-seasoned bagels, cream cheese, and eggs make the base of this casserole. Once baked, it gets topped with smoked salmon, capers, onions, and tomatoes. You can mix those ingredients right into the casserole if you prefer, though.
Recipe: This Is How I Cook
12. Hash Brown Egg Casserole
Precooked frozen hash brown patties are easy to layer into a baking dish. Then just sprinkle in whatever your family loves, like ham, cheddar cheese, and scallions, pour over seasoned eggs, and bake.
Recipe: Belly Full
13. Crescent Roll Breakfast Casserole
We love a good crescent roll recipe. This one uses a tube of rolls to line the casserole dish like a crust. Browned breakfast sausage, eggs, and cheese are poured on top for an easy filling.
Recipe: I Heart Naptime
14. Cinnamon Roll Casserole
Cinnamon rolls are amazing, but a ton of work. Try this simple make-ahead recipe instead that uses canned cinnamon rolls (we recommend using one from our store-bought cinnamon rolls taste test), cream, and eggs. You can even make it in a slow cooker for an easy, gooey holiday brunch.
Recipe: Tastes of Lizzy T
15. Amazing Mexican Breakfast Casserole
If your family loves food with some heat, try this Mexican-inspired casserole. It's super hearty, with chorizo, beans, poblanos, eggs, and salsa all layered between corn tortillas.
Recipe: Gimme Some Oven
16. Eggs Benedict Casserole
Even though you make a quick blender hollandaise sauce to pour over the casserole while it's baking, this beautiful dish is worth it. It's hard to go wrong with English muffins, Canadian bacon, and all that creamy, buttery sauce.
Recipe: Southern Living
17. Eggnog French Toast Bake
Eggnog gives the custard in this bake its festive flavor. Don't skip the extra nutmeg in the eggs or in the crunchy crumb topping. If you're so inclined, you can always add a splash of rum or brandy to the egg mixture, too.
Recipe: Just So Tasty
