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Overnight Breakfast Casserole made with leftover ham and other amazing flavors, is so easy to make and makes serving breakfast in the morning so easy.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe!
A delicious overnight breakfast casserole will be your best friend when you have overnight guests, Christmas morning or for a brunch. No one wants to get up at the crack of dawn to prepare breakfast for company or family. This easy breakfast casserole is the perfect solution. But don’t save it just for breakfast, it makes for a great weeknight dinner idea too.
Make it in the morning and you can bake it that evening or make it the night before and pull it out in the morning.
Ingredients Needed
- Ham. Leftover diced ham works great but you can also purchase diced ham in the meat department of the grocery store.
- Eggs
- Cheese. I use Swiss cheese.
- Frozen shredded hash browns. You could also use cubed or diced hash browns.
- Cottage cheese, small curd
- Milk. I usually have 2 percent on hand.
- Green onions
- Salt and black pepper
- Panko bread crumbs. You could use regular bread crumbs too, the panko are lighter.
- Butter
How to Make Overnight Breakfast Casserole
- Lightly grease a 9 inch glass pie dish, cast iron skillet or 8 x 8 baking dish with cooking spray.
- In a bowl, whisk eggs until foamy. Add in ham, hash brown potatoes, cheese, cottage cheese, milk, green onions, salt, and pepper.
- Pour egg mixture into prepared dish. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge to chill for 2-24 hours.
- Before baking, mix together bread crumbs and butter and sprinkle over top of egg dish.
- Bake uncovered in a 325 degree F oven for about 50 minutes or until a knife, inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- Garnish with additional green onions
Variations for Overnight Breakfast Casserole
- Change up your meat and add in bacon, shredded chicken or salmon, chorizo sausage or any type of sausage.
- Experiment with cheeses. Gouda, sharp cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack or a blend of cheeses would be delicious.
- If you don’t have breadcrumbs you could crush up some croutons or you could leave it off. It just adds a bit of crunchy texture.
- Add in some veggies. Some chopped up bell peppers, onions or spinach would be delish. Top with some slices of avocado.
Serve Overnight Breakfast Casserole with:
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I freeze leftover breakfast casserole?
If stored in an airtight container (cover with plastic wrap and foil, tightly.) It will last in the freezer for up to 2 months. When ready to bake, thaw overnight in the fridge. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 20 minutes or until egg is set in the middle.
What is the best way to reheat overnight breakfast casserole?
You can reheat in the microwave or place in a 350 degree F oven, covered with foil until warmed through.
Other favorite breakfast ideas:
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Overnight Breakfast Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 cup ham, diced
- 5 eggs
- 1 cup shredded cheese, Swiss or other blend
- 2 cups frozen shredded hash browns
- 1/2 cup cottage cheese, small curd
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1/4 cup green onions, chopped
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/3 cup Panko bread crumbs
- 1 Tbsp butter, melted
- additional green onions for garnish
Instructions
- Lightly grease a 9 inch glass pie plate or 9 x 9 baking dish or cast iron skillet.
- In a bowl, combine eggs and beat until foamy. Add in ham, hash brown potatoes, cheese, cottage cheese, milk, green onions, salt, and pepper.
- Pour egg mixture into prepared dish. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 2-24 hours.
- Before baking, mix together bread crumbs and butter and sprinkle over top of egg dish.
- Bake uncovered in a 325 degree F oven for about 50 minutes or until a knife, inserted in the middle comes out clean. Garnish with additional green onions
Tips & Notes:
- Change up your meat and add in bacon, shredded chicken or salmon, chorizo sausage or any type of sausage.
- Experiment with cheeses. Gouda, sharp cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack or a blend of cheeses would be delicious.
- If you don’t have breadcrumbs you could crush up some croutons or you could leave it off. It just adds a bit of crunchy texture.
- Add in some veggies. Some chopped up bell peppers, onions or spinach would be delish. Top with some slices of avocado.
Nutrition Facts:
Marlene says
My family doesn’t like onions…can you eliminate the green onions without ruining the dish?
Leigh Anne Wilkes says
You can definitely leave them out. You loose a little flavor but it will still be delicious
temple run 3 says
So sorry about that – updated the recipe
Liz Chavez says
Does cottage cheese need to be used in the recipe? I’m not a fan of cottage cheese.
Leigh Anne says
Liz, I don’t like cottage cheese either. You will never know it is in this dish. It is used mainly as a thickening agent. I have made it without though too and it works fine.
Jules says
Hello. Is the chilling step necessary? Will the end result suffer without it? Thank you!
Leigh Anne says
No, it is not necessary and will work fine to mix it up and cook right away but if you are looking for something to prepare the night before and bake in the morning this is great too!