Mom’s Christmas Make-Ahead Breakfast nourished us from present-opening to afternoon naps. Prepare this delicious casserole on Christmas Eve and spend Christmas Day enjoying it.
Jump to RecipeMom’s Make-Ahead Christmas Breakfast
We weren’t a quiche family growing up. Nor were we a brunch family. My parents were old-fashioned short-order cooks when it came to breakfast. Pancakes, eggs, French toast, and bacon made to order. English muffins were on the side, and sometimes cinnamon rolls, more often Entenmanns Cream Cheese Danish. (We might have been spoiled.)
Special Christmas-Only Breakfast
Except on Christmas. Every Christmas Eve, late at night, somewhere between stuffing stockings and sewing doll clothes, my Super Santa Mother would prep the Make-Ahead Breakfast and stick it in the fridge. Then on Christmas morning, when the first kid woke up before the sun, she’d run downstairs and place it in the oven.
My siblings and I had one goal on Christmas: Presents. We never thought about Christmas morning breakfast. Spiced cider was on the stove. (Eggnog was available, but all of us kids always passed.) Our stockings always had candy, chocolate, and gingerbread-flavored treats. So we’d start filling ourselves with sweets right away.
But sure enough, when the living room was covered in paper, and we were playing with new toys, we’d get hungry. Out came the Christmas breakfast casserole served on holiday paper plates.
Make-Ahead Breakfast to Eat All Day
By afternoon, before we went to our grandparents for a traditional Christmas dinner, I’d usually have a second helping. Eggs, sausage, and bread are my love language. This no-fuss egg casserole is my love language with carols in the background.
No Rules Breakfast Casserole
There are a ton of different breakfast recipes for casseroles and make-ahead meals. This one is a variation of the one we grew up with. It has peppers because Adult Me likes peppers—Christmas Morning Child Me, not so much. There aren’t any rules with this breakfast casserole. Keep what you like; throw out what you hate. It’s Christmas. The key here is to prep beforehand and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
Christmas Morning All Day Long
Forget every other Christmas breakfast idea. Don’t even think about making waffles, muffins, omelets, or French Toast. Act like you’ve never heard of a crepe. Just lay there in your Christmas jammies and let the Elf on the Shelf feed you this all day long. He’s caused you enough stress. Make that Christmas Morning Magic Last. Call it Brunch. You deserve it.
Mom’s Make-Ahead Christmas Breakfast Casserole
Ingredients
- 14 slices bread curst removed, cubed, dried. Allow bread to dry overnight or dry slightly in the oven at 300 degrees for about 10 minutes. (Do not brown or toast it)
- 1 package Italian sausage
- 3 green onions
- 1/2 red bell pepper
- 1/2 green bell pepper
- 2 cups Italian blend shredded cheese
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese
- 6 eggs
- 3 cups milk
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Remove casing from sausage and and cook over medium high heat until no pink remains. Drain any fat.
- Layer 1/2 of the bread cubes in a greased 9 x 13 pan. Top with 1/2 of each the sausage, green onions, peppers, and cheese. Repeat layers ending with cheese.
- Combine eggs, milk, and seasonings. Pour egg mixture over bread ensuring all of the bread has been covered. Refrigerate overnight (or at least 3 hours.)
- Remove from fridge and place in the oven while preheating the oven to 350 degrees. Bake covered with foil 65-75 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. (If you are baking two pans, cooking time will need to increase.)
Nutrition
Make-Ahead the Memories
Believe it or not, your kids will remember more than the presents. Create a breakfast tradition with a Make-Ahead-Breakfast that feeds the family without you lifting a finger (on Christmas morning).
