This Overnight Breakfast Casserole is simple to make and perfect for Christmas morning, or anytime you want a hearty breakfast for your family. Crispy hash browns, topped with cheese, ham, bacon, eggs, and baked to a golden brown perfection. Make ahead breakfasts are perfect for holiday mornings.
This Overnight Breakfast Casserole is one of my families favorite easy breakfast casserole recipes of all time. The one thing I absolutely love about this recipe is that it can be made the night before and baked in the morning, or it can be made and baked right away. It’s a hearty breakfast that is perfect for any holiday morning, and can feed a crowd. If you love this breakfast casserole, you are going to love our Overnight French Toast Casserole and our Bacon Spinach Quiche.
Ingredients for overnight breakfast casserole
- Frozen Shredded Hash browns: Hash browns do not need to be thawed for this recipe. Shredded hash browns with peppers can also be used.
- Unsalted Butter: Using unsalted butter in recipes allows you to control the salt content.
- Salt And Pepper: Use more or less if desired.
- Shredded Cheese: This recipe calls for shredded Monterey jack cheese, but you can use cheddar if you prefer.
- Ham: I like to use fully cooked ham that is already cut into cubes.
- Bacon: I like to use real crumbled bacon in this recipe. You can also cook bacon and chop it if you prefer.
- Eggs: Eggs are the main ingredients in this breakfast bake. Medium eggs work well.
- Milk: I like to use whole milk, but you can use 1% or 2% if that’s what you have on hand.
- Mustard Powder: Is made from ground mustard seeds, and adds a great flavor this egg bake.
- Onion Powder: Only a small amount of onion powder is needed, but this will add great flavor.
How to make the best overnight breakfast casserole
- Preheat oven to 400 F and spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Dump the bag of frozen hash browns into baking dish. No need to thaw.
- Pour melted butter evenly over frozen hash browns and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Use a spoon to gently combine ingredients.
- Bake in a preheated oven for 25 minutes, or until potatoes are tender and lightly browned on top.
- Remove casserole dish from the oven and allow to cool slightly.
- Sprinkle cheese evenly over casserole and add cubed ham.
- Gently toss potatoes, cheese, and ham to combine well.
- Sprinkle bacon bits evenly over top of casserole. Cover tightly with saran wrap and place in the fridge overnight.
- In a large bowl whisk together eggs, milk, mustard powder, and onion powder. Cover and place in the fridge overnight.
- When you are ready to bake, remove baking dish and egg mixture from the fridge.
- Preheat oven to 350F
- Pour egg mixture over casserole, making sure everything gets wet.
- Bake in a preheated oven for 50-60 minutes or until the edges are brown and the center of the casserole is done when a fork is inserted.
- If the edges of the casserole are getting too brown, and the center isn’t quite done, cover with aluminum foil for the remainder of the baking process.
- Serve immediately with sliced green onions and extra shredded cheese. Enjoy!
How to bake casserole right away
- Preheat oven to 400 F and spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Dump the bag of frozen hash browns into baking dish. No need to thaw.
- Pour melted butter evenly over frozen hash browns and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Use a spoon to gently combine ingredients.
- Bake in a preheated oven for 25 minutes, or until potatoes are tender and lightly browned on top.
- Remove casserole dish from the oven and allow to cool slightly. Reduce oven temperature to 350 F.
- Sprinkle cheese evenly over casserole and add cubed ham.
- Gently toss potatoes, cheese, and ham to combine well.
- In a large bowl whisk together eggs, milk, mustard powder, and onion powder.
- Pour egg mixture evenly over top of casserole, making sure everything gets wet.
- Sprinkle bacon bits evenly over top of casserole.
- Bake in a preheated oven for 50-60 minutes or until the edges are brown and the center of the casserole is done when a fork is inserted.
- If the edges of the casserole are getting too brown, and the center isn’t quite done, cover with aluminum foil for the remainder of the baking process.
- Serve immediately with sliced green onions and extra shredded cheese. Enjoy!
Helpful tips for making overnight casserole
- You can substitute ground turkey, ground sausage, or pork sausage for the cubed ham or bacon bits.
- This casserole can be made vegetarian but substituting sautéed vegetables for the meat. A combination of red, yellow, and green pepper, mushrooms, and onions are a great option.
Overnight Breakfast Casserole
This Overnight Breakfast Casserole is simple to make and perfect for Christmas morning, or anytime you want a hearty breakfast for your family. Crispy hash browns, topped with cheese, ham, bacon, eggs, and baked to a golden brown perfection. Make ahead breakfasts are perfect for holiday mornings.
Ingredients
- 1 30 oz. package frozen shredded hash browns
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. black pepper
- 3 cups Monterey jack cheese, shredded
- 2 cups ham, cut into cubes
- 1 cup real bacon bits
- 8 eggs
- 1 1/3 cup milk
- 1/4 tsp. dry mustard powder
- 1/4 tsp. onion powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 F and spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Dump the bag of frozen hash browns into baking dish. No need to thaw.
- Pour melted butter evenly over frozen hashbrowns and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Use a spoon to gently combine ingredients.
- Bake in a preheated oven for 25 minutes, or until potatoes are tender and lightly browned on top.
- Remove casserole dish from the oven and allow to cool slightly.
- Sprinkle cheese evenly over casserole and add cubed ham. Gently toss potatoes, cheese, and ham to combine well.
- Sprinkle bacon bits evenly over top of casserole. Cover tightly with saran wrap and place in the fridge overnight.
- In a large bowl whisk together eggs, milk, mustard powder, and onion powder. Cover and place in the fridge overnight.
- In the morning when you are ready to bake, Remove baking dish and egg mixture from the fridge. Preheat oven to 350F.
- Pour egg mixture over casserole, making sure everything gets wet.
- Bake in a preheated oven for 50-60 minutes or until the edges are brown and the center of the casserole is done when a fork is inserted. If the edges of the casserole are getting to brown, and the center isn't quite done, cover with aluminum foil for the remainder of the baking process.
- Serve immediately with sliced green onions and extra shredded cheese. Enjoy!
INSTRUCTIONS IF BAKING RIGHT AWAY
- Preheat oven to 400 F and spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Dump the bag of frozen hashbrowns into baking dish. No need to thaw.
- Pour melted butter evenly over frozen hash browns and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Use a spoon to gently combine ingredients.
- Bake in a preheated oven for 25 minutes, or until potatoes are tender and lightly browned on top.
- Remove casserole dish from the oven and allow to cool slightly. Reduce oven temperature to 350 F.
- Sprinkle cheese evenly over casserole and add cubed ham. Gently toss potatoes, cheese, and ham to combine well.
- In a large bowl whisk together eggs, milk, mustard powder, and onion powder.
- Pour egg mixture evenly over top of casserole, making sure everything gets wet. Sprinkle bacon bits evenly over top of casserole.
- Bake in a preheated oven for 50-60 minutes or until the edges are brown and the center of the casserole is done when a fork is inserted. If the edges of the casserole are getting to brown, and the center isn't quite done, cover with aluminum foil for the remainder of the baking process.
- Serve immediately with sliced green onions and extra shredded cheese. Enjoy!
Notes
*Nutrition Disclaimer: All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only. Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on Modernmealmakeover.com should only be used as a general guideline.
Nutrition
Calories: 396kcalCarbohydrates: 17.2gProtein: 25.8gFat: 24.5gSaturated Fat: 12.9gCholesterol: 201mgSodium: 798mgPotassium: 346.2mgFiber: 1.7gSugar: 1.9gVitamin A: 16.1IUVitamin C: 5.5mgCalcium: 25.2mgIron: 3.7mg
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We love this breakfast casserole for busy mornings and holidays. It’s perfect for the whole family!
We love it as well!
I am more of a hot savory breakfast type-of-person so this breakfast casserole is right up my alley! So yummy!
I am too! Enjoy!
Thank you so much for providing both options. This is a definitely a fuss free breakfast. What a way to enjoy a great meal with family.
It really is such an easy breakfast that everyone will enjoy!
I’m going to make this meal this weekend. Have you attempted to use chopped bell pepper, diced tomato, or spinach to give it some veggies? Any thoughts/recommendations if adding those?
Hi, I have not made this recipe with vegetables, but it would be delicious with your additions. I would recommend sautéing the bell pepper before adding it to the casserole. I would love to hear how it turns out.
I love breakfast casseroles, especially all the hash browns. This is such a great way to feed a large family!
Thank you!
Perfect for our Christmas breakfast. We’ve been looking for something special to have that day, and this is going to work out great!
I’m so glad! I hope you love it as much as my family does.
Would love to wake up to this casserole on Christmas morning! So perfect that it is prepared ahead of time and those flavors sound incredible.
We love it too! So glad you enjoyed it!
If you can’t find the shredded hash browns, would the cubed work?
Yes they will also work great.
Liz again! I made it for 4 people with tomato and spinach on top, and it was tasty, with plenty of leftovers for the next morning too. I didn’t plan ahead, so next time, I’ll mix the veggies with the hash brown, ham, and cheese. Will do bell peppers and maybe mushroom next.
My next question is does it freeze well?? I’m looking to make another, but it’s a lot for just 2 people.
I offered to make one for my MIL Christmas morning, and she accepted. I’ll pilot the veggies and freezing in the next day or 2.
Thanks for such a hearty and delicious recipe!
Hi Liz,
Thank you for sharing your additions. I bet it was delicious with tomato and spinach. I haven’t tried freezing the breakfast casserole, so I’m not sure how it will turn out when thawed and baked. You can always cut the recipe in half to make a smaller portion. If you do try freezing it, I would love to hear how it turned out.
Amazing! The whole family polished this off in no time!
So glad everyone enjoyed it.
Can I make the breakfast casserole 2-3 days ahead and refrigerate?
Thanks for your help.
Margie
Yes you can. Just make sure you don’t pour the egg mixture of the casserole until you are ready to bake.
After you bake hash browns are you mixing in ham, cheese etc. in the baking dish the hash browns were baked in or transfering to bowl and back to baking dish?
Hi Becky, You will bake hashbrowns with melted butter, remove from the oven, let cool, toss in cheese, ham, and bacon in the same baking dish. When you are ready to bake, add the egg mixture
Is whole milk best to use?
You can really use any milk you have on hand.