Make your Christmas morning stress-free with these three delicious make-ahead breakfast casseroles! The Classic Sausage and Egg Bake combines savory sausage, eggs, and cheese with bread cubes for a hearty start. A Sweet French Toast Casserole transforms brioche into a decadent treat with vanilla and warm spices. The Hash Brown Breakfast Strata layers crispy potatoes with eggs, cheese, and your choice of meat for a crowd-pleasing dish. You’ll prep each casserole the night before, refrigerate overnight, and simply pop it in the oven at 350°F when you wake up. These tasty options are just the beginning of your holiday breakfast possibilities.

Quick Highlights

• Classic Sausage and Egg Bake can be assembled the night before Christmas and serves 8-10 people with minimal morning preparation required.
• Sweet French Toast Casserole transforms brioche into a festive breakfast dish that’s prepped ahead and baked fresh Christmas morning.
• Hash Brown Breakfast Strata combines crispy potatoes with savory ingredients, perfect for feeding holiday guests with minimal morning effort.
• All three casseroles bake at 350°F and can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance of Christmas breakfast.
• These make-ahead dishes allow hosts to spend Christmas morning with family instead of cooking in the kitchen.

Classic Sausage and Egg Bake

The Classic Sausage and Egg Bake stands as a timeless breakfast casserole that combines savory breakfast sausage, eggs, and cheese into a hearty morning meal. Perfect for Christmas morning, this dish can be assembled the night before and popped into the oven while the family opens presents.

This make-ahead breakfast casserole serves 8-10 people and requires minimal morning preparation, making it ideal for busy holiday gatherings. The combination of crusty bread cubes, sharp cheddar cheese, and seasoned sausage creates layers of flavor that appeal to both adults and children.

• 1 pound breakfast sausage
• 8 large eggs
• 2½ cups whole milk
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 6 slices white bread, cubed
• 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 small onion, diced
• ½ red bell pepper, diced
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted

Brown the sausage in a large skillet over medium heat, breaking it into small pieces. While the sausage cooks, whisk together eggs, milk, mustard, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.

Grease a 9×13 baking dish and layer the bread cubes on the bottom. Top with cooked sausage, vegetables, and cheese. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the layers, guaranteeing all bread pieces are saturated. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.

The next morning, remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking, then bake at 350°F for 45-50 minutes until set.

For best results, use day-old bread as it better absorbs the egg mixture. If cooking immediately rather than overnight, let the assembled casserole rest for at least 30 minutes before baking to allow the bread to soak up the eggs.

The casserole is done when a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, and the top is golden brown. Allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving to guarantee clean slices.

Sweet French Toast Casserole

Sweet French Toast Casserole transforms the classic breakfast favorite into a convenient make-ahead dish perfect for Christmas morning celebrations. This delightful casserole features layers of thick-cut bread soaked in a rich custard mixture, creating a perfectly balanced combination of crispy tops and tender, pudding-like centers.

The beauty of this casserole lies in its versatility and prep-ahead convenience. Assembled the night before, the bread has time to absorb the sweet, spiced custard mixture, resulting in a more complex flavor profile and better texture when baked the next morning.

Ingredients:

• 1 loaf day-old brioche or French bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 8 large eggs
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1/4 cup maple syrup

Arrange bread cubes in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Whisk together eggs, milk, cream, sugars, vanilla, spices, and salt in a large bowl. Pour mixture evenly over bread, pressing down gently to submerge pieces. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

The next morning, preheat oven to 350°F, remove plastic wrap, drizzle with melted butter, and bake for 45-55 minutes until golden brown and set in the center. Let stand 10 minutes before serving with maple syrup.

For best results, use slightly stale bread as it better absorbs the custard mixture without becoming mushy. The casserole can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance and stored in the refrigerator.

To test doneness, insert a knife in the center – it should come out clean with no liquid custard. If the top browns too quickly during baking, cover loosely with foil to prevent burning.

Hash Brown Breakfast Strata

Hash Brown Breakfast Strata is a hearty and delicious make-ahead breakfast casserole that combines crispy hash browns with savory breakfast ingredients. This satisfying dish features layers of golden-brown potatoes, eggs, cheese, and your choice of breakfast meats, creating the perfect morning meal for holiday gatherings.

This classic breakfast casserole can be assembled the night before and baked fresh in the morning, making it an ideal choice for Christmas breakfast when you want to spend more time with family and less time in the kitchen. The strata’s versatility allows you to customize ingredients based on your family’s preferences while maintaining its comforting, crowd-pleasing appeal.

• 1 package (30 oz) frozen shredded hash browns, thawed
• 1 pound breakfast sausage or bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 12 large eggs
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• ¼ cup butter, melted

Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and layer half of the hash browns on the bottom. Brown the breakfast meat in a skillet and drain excess fat. Layer half the meat, vegetables, and cheese over the potatoes. Repeat layers with remaining ingredients.

In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cream, and seasonings. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the layers. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight or for at least 4 hours. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F and bake covered for 1 hour, then remove foil and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes until golden brown and set in the center.

For best results, remove the casserole from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking to allow it to come to room temperature. This guarantees even cooking throughout the dish. The hash browns can be pre-cooked and lightly browned before layering for extra crispiness.

To test doneness, insert a knife into the center – it should come out clean. Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before serving to allow it to set properly.

Final Thoughts

Time is money, especially on busy holiday mornings. You’ll love having these make-ahead breakfast casseroles ready to pop in the oven when family arrives. Whether you’re craving savory sausage and eggs, sweet French toast, or crispy hash browns, there’s a casserole here that’ll hit the spot. Get everything prepped the night before, and you’ll start Christmas morning stress-free with a delicious homemade breakfast that practically makes itself.