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Overnight Egg Casserole Recipe Easy Make-Ahead Brunch for Busy Weeknights

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A creamy, flavorful overnight egg casserole that you prepare the night before and bake in the morning, perfect for busy weeknights or laid-back weekend brunches. Flexible and family-friendly, it can be customized with various cheeses, veggies, and proteins.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups cubed day-old bread (about 6 ounces / 170g)
  • 8 large eggs
  • 2 cups whole milk (480ml)
  • 1 cup half-and-half or heavy cream (240ml)
  • 2 cups shredded cheese (sharp cheddar recommended, about 200g)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
  • Optional mix-ins:
  • 1 cup cooked breakfast sausage or bacon (150g)
  • 1 to 1½ cups chopped sautéed veggies (bell peppers, spinach, mushrooms, onions)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh herbs (parsley, chives, thyme)

Instructions

  1. Cube your day-old bread into roughly 1-inch pieces. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray to prevent sticking. Toss the bread cubes evenly in the dish.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, half-and-half, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, and garlic powder until smooth and slightly frothy.
  3. Stir in 1½ cups of shredded cheese into the custard. Fold in cooked sausage, bacon, or sautéed veggies if using.
  4. Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread cubes in the baking dish. Press down gently with a spatula or your hands to help the bread absorb the liquid. It should look moist but not swimming.
  5. Cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate overnight (at least 8 hours).
  6. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove cover and sprinkle the remaining ½ cup cheese evenly on top.
  7. Bake uncovered for 45-55 minutes until the top is golden brown and the casserole is set in the center. A knife or toothpick inserted should come out clean.
  8. Let the casserole cool for 10 minutes before slicing to help it firm up.

Notes

[‘Do not skip the overnight soak for best creamy texture.’, ‘Use sturdy bread like French bread or sourdough to avoid sogginess.’, ‘Press bread gently after pouring custard to help absorption.’, ‘Start checking bake at 45 minutes; tent with foil if edges brown too fast.’, ‘Freshly shredded cheese melts better than pre-shredded.’, ‘Sauté veggies before adding to avoid watery casserole.’, ‘Leftovers reheat well in microwave or oven.’, ‘Freezing before baking is possible; add 15-20 minutes to bake time when baking from frozen.’]

Nutrition

Keywords: overnight egg casserole, make-ahead breakfast, brunch recipe, easy egg casserole, breakfast casserole, family-friendly brunch, savory breakfast bake

Find it online: https://daintydine.com/overnight-egg-casserole-recipe-easy-make-ahead-brunch-for-busy-weeknights/