Name: Christmas Breakfast Casserole
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 5 h 15 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 1 pound breakfast sausage; 8 cups cubed day-old bread (about 1 loaf brioche or French bread); 8 large eggs; 2 cups whole milk; 1 cup heavy cream; 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese; 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 1 teaspoon dry mustard; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/4 cup chopped green onions; 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper

Last updated: September 24, 2026

You want Christmas morning to feel calm, and this christmas breakfast casserole makes that possible because you build it the night before and bake it straight from the fridge.

The full recipe card below has every ingredient and step ready to follow.

Why This Casserole Belongs On Your Christmas Table

A good holiday breakfast needs to feed a crowd without keeping you tied to the stove while everyone else is opening presents.

A slice of cheesy breakfast casserole with sausage and red peppers sits on a plate with a fork, in front of a casserole dish and a bowl of shredded cheese, on a wooden table with a red plaid napkin.

This casserole layers savory sausage, melted cheddar and Monterey Jack, and soft baked eggs over buttery bread cubes, so one dish covers the whole table.

You assemble everything the evening before, tuck it into the refrigerator, and let the bread soak up the egg mixture overnight.

A baked breakfast casserole in a white dish, surrounded by biscuits, a bowl of berries, shredded cheese, coffee, orange juice, plates, forks, and festive greenery on a wooden table.

That overnight rest is what gives the casserole its soft, custardy texture once it bakes, closer to a savory bread pudding than a plain egg bake.

What Goes Into The Dish

The base is cubed day-old bread, and a sturdy loaf like brioche or French bread holds up best once it is soaked in the egg mixture.

Breakfast sausage brings the savory backbone, and browning it well before it goes into the dish keeps the finished casserole from tasting greasy.

A cast iron skillet filled with browned ground sausage sits on a wooden table, surrounded by a plaid napkin, herbs, dishes, utensils, and a bowl of shredded cheese.

Cheddar and Monterey Jack melt together into pockets throughout the bake, and a little diced red bell pepper and green onion add color without turning this into a vegetable-heavy dish.

Whole milk and heavy cream, whisked with the eggs, give the custard enough richness to hold its shape once it sets.

Building The Layers The Night Before

Start by greasing your baking dish, then spread the bread cubes in an even layer across the bottom.

Cubed bread sits on a wooden cutting board beside a baking dish, a bowl of egg mixture, shredded cheese, plates, utensils, and a red plaid napkin on a rustic table. Rosemary sprigs add a decorative touch.

Scatter the browned sausage, peppers, and green onion over the bread, then sprinkle both cheeses on top so they have direct contact with the egg mixture as it soaks in.

A person sprinkles shredded cheese over a casserole in a white baking dish, surrounded by plates, a bowl of ingredients, and a red checked towel on a wooden table.

Whisk the eggs, milk, cream, and seasonings together, then pour that mixture evenly over everything in the dish.

A person pours an egg mixture from a bowl over a casserole with bread, sausage, and cheese in a white baking dish on a kitchen counter, surrounded by herbs and ingredients.

Press down gently on the bread so it starts absorbing the liquid right away, then cover tightly and refrigerate for at least four hours, or overnight for the best texture.

A casserole dish covered in plastic wrap contains a mixture of cheese, sausage, peppers, and bread cubes. Nearby are a red plaid napkin, empty plates, herbs, and a small bowl of grated cheese.

Baking It On Christmas Morning

Pull the dish out of the refrigerator about thirty minutes before you plan to bake it, so it is not going into the oven ice cold.

A white casserole dish filled with a baked mixture of bread cubes, sausage, and shredded cheese sits on a wooden table with a red checkered towel, plates, and utensils nearby.

Bake uncovered at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 50 to 55 minutes, until the center is set and the top turns golden brown.

The sausage should already be fully browned with no pink remaining before it ever goes into the dish, since that step happens on the stovetop the night before.

A baked breakfast casserole with melted cheese and sausage crumbles in a white dish, set on a wooden table near plates, forks, and festive greenery.

Let the casserole rest for about ten minutes after it comes out of the oven, which makes it much easier to cut into clean slices.

Variations And Substitutions

Swap the breakfast sausage for cooked bacon or diced ham if that is what your family prefers on Christmas morning.

Two plates with servings of cheesy casserole topped with ground meat and red bell peppers, next to a casserole dish, a bowl of shredded cheese, a red plaid napkin, and rosemary garnish on a wooden table.

You can trade the cheddar and Monterey Jack for gruyere or pepper jack depending on how much heat you want in the finished dish.

For a lighter version, use half-and-half in place of the heavy cream, or swap in a whole grain bread for the brioche.

Sauteed mushrooms, spinach, or caramelized onions all work well folded in alongside the sausage if you want to stretch the dish further.

Storing And Reheating Leftovers

Cover leftover casserole tightly and keep it in the refrigerator, where it stays good for up to four days.

Golden baked breakfast casserole with melted cheese and sausage crumbles in a white dish, set on a wooden table near plates, forks, and festive greenery.

Reheat individual portions in the microwave, or warm a larger piece in a 325 degree oven until heated through.

You can also freeze the assembled, unbaked casserole for up to one month, then thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before baking as directed.

Where This Kind Of Casserole Comes From

Overnight egg bakes have long been a staple of American holiday breakfasts, prized because they let the cook actually sit down with family instead of standing over a griddle.

Strata, the savory bread pudding this casserole borrows its technique from, has roots in home kitchens looking for a way to use up leftover bread.

A hand serves a cheesy baked casserole with sausage, eggs, and peppers from a white dish. Melted cheese stretches from the slice, and rosemary sprigs garnish the top. Plates and holiday decor are in the background.

Christmas morning versions leaned into sausage, cheese, and warm spices, turning a practical solution into a dish people now request every year.

You can invite your family to help build it the night before, then let the oven do the work while everyone gathers around the tree.

Once you are ready to see the full ingredient list and step by step instructions, use the recipe card below.

8 servings

Christmas Breakfast Casserole

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 55 minutes

Additional Time: 4 hours

Total Time: 5 hours 15 minutes

This make-ahead christmas breakfast casserole layers savory sausage, melted cheese, and soft baked eggs over buttery bread, ready to bake straight from the fridge on Christmas morning.

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Ingredients

1 pound breakfast sausage
8 cups cubed day-old bread (about 1 loaf brioche or French bread)
8 large eggs
2 cups whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper

Instructions

Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
Cook the breakfast sausage in a large skillet over medium heat, breaking it into crumbles, until browned and no pink remains, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain excess fat.
Spread the cubed bread evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
Scatter the cooked sausage, red bell pepper, and green onions over the bread.
Sprinkle the cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese evenly over the top.
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream, salt, pepper, dry mustard, and garlic powder until well combined.
Pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread, sausage, and cheese, pressing down gently so the bread soaks up the liquid.
Cover the dish tightly and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Remove the casserole from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking and preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Bake uncovered for 50 to 55 minutes, until the center is set and the top is golden brown.
Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

Refrigerate leftovers tightly covered for up to 4 days. Freeze the assembled, unbaked casserole for up to 1 month; thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1 slice (1/8 of casserole)
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 420Total Fat: 28gSaturated Fat: 13gSodium: 780mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 22g

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you assemble this christmas breakfast casserole the night before?

Yes, and doing so actually improves the texture, since the bread needs time to soak up the egg mixture.

Cover the dish tightly and refrigerate it for at least four hours, though a full overnight rest works best.

What bread works best for this casserole?

A sturdy, slightly stale loaf like brioche, challah, or French bread holds its shape best once soaked.

Soft sandwich bread tends to turn mushy, so reach for something with more structure.

Can you make this casserole ahead and freeze it?

You can assemble the casserole up to the baking step, then freeze it tightly wrapped for up to one month.

Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before baking it as directed in the recipe card.

How do you know when the casserole is fully baked?

The center should look set rather than jiggly, and the top should turn a deep golden brown.

If the top browns too quickly before the center sets, loosely tent the dish with foil for the remaining bake time.

Can you use a different meat instead of sausage?

Cooked and crumbled bacon or diced ham both work well in place of breakfast sausage.

Whatever meat you choose, make sure it is fully cooked before it goes into the dish, since the casserole only needs to bake long enough to set the eggs.

What sides pair well with this casserole?

Fresh fruit, a simple green salad, or warm cinnamon rolls all round out a Christmas breakfast spread nicely.

A pitcher of orange juice or a pot of coffee rounds out the table without competing with the casserole itself.

Why This Recipe Works

The overnight soak is doing most of the work here, since it gives the bread time to fully absorb the custard instead of just sitting on top of it.

That absorption is what turns simple cubed bread into something closer to a savory bread pudding, tender all the way through rather than dry in spots.

Browning the sausage separately before it goes into the dish keeps excess grease out of the casserole, so the final bake stays rich without turning oily.

Layering the cheese directly against the bread and sausage, rather than only on top, means every bite gets that same balance of egg, cheese, and savory filling instead of an uneven distribution.

Bring This Casserole To Your Christmas Morning

This christmas breakfast casserole gives you a make-ahead dish that feeds a crowd without asking you to cook on the actual morning.

Assemble it tonight, bake it tomorrow, and enjoy the extra time with your family instead of standing at the stove.

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