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    The Yummy Bowl » Recipes » Breakfast

    Easy Breakfast Casserole

    Aug 31, 2023 · Modified: Feb 3, 2024 by Julia | The Yummy Bowl · 20 Comments

    1203 shares
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    Jump to Recipe
    Easy Breakfast Casserole With Bacon

    Breakfast Casserole - layers of delicious fluffy bread soaked in milk and egg mixture and then baked with crispy bacon & cheese until perfection.

    Easy Breakfast Casserole With Bacon

    A perfect casserole dish for breakfast or weekend brunch! Serve it along with a simple salad or a smoothie.

    Jump To
    • Why It's Yummy
    • Ingredients
    • How To Make Breakfast Casserole
    • Tips
    • How To Serve Breakfast Casserole
    • Variations
    • Storing and Freezing Instructions
    • Recipe
    • FAQs
    • More Easy Breakfast Recipes? Try These Next Time!
    • Comments

    Why It's Yummy

    • It's a clever recipe for reusing day-old bread or vegetable scraps and leftovers.
    • Overall, the breakfast egg casserole hits all the marks - fast prep, make-ahead potential, fridge cleanup, customizable, and kid-friendly nutrition. No wonder it's such a popular breakfast dish.

    Ingredients

    • Cheese - Cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack, or mozzarella, Havarti, Fontina. Gruyere. For extra flavor add parmesan, crumbled feta, goat, or cotija cheese for garnish when the breakfast casserole is ready. 
    • Bacon - or ham, ground chicken, turkey or chopped breakfast sausage without casing.
    • Bread - Baguette, challah, ciabatta, sourdough, buns, and most of the gluten-free options will work here too.
    • Milk - makes the casserole rich and creamy. The fat in whole milk binds with the egg proteins to give a custard-like consistency that can't be achieved with non-fat or low-fat milk.
    • Vegetables - mix & match! Bell peppers, spinach, kale, mushrooms, asparagus, tomatoes, onions. To prevent sogginess, pre-cook/saute the veggies lightly on the stove before hand.

    If you use crusty day-old bread you’ll have a mix of soft and textured bites, crispy edges, cheesy pockets, and plenty of crunchy bacon in every bite. You don’t necessarily have to leave the bread soaking in the mixture overnight, 1-2 hours is enough.

    How To Make Breakfast Casserole

    STEP 1: In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk/cream, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning.

    Set egg mixture aside.

    Bacon Egg and Cheese Strata

    STEP 2: Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy.

    Drain on paper towels.

    STEP 3: Add to egg mixture, reserving 2-3 tablespoons bacon for garnish.

    Bacon Egg and Cheese Strata

    STEP 4: Stir bread, green onions, and cheese (reserve about ½ cup for later) into egg mixture.

    STEP 5: Refrigerate 1+ hour until bread absorbs liquid. Let come to room temperature before baking.

    STEP 6: After 1 hour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180°C) and grease a casserole dish with butter.

    Bacon Egg and Cheese Strata
    • Related: Fried cabbage with bacon

    Transfer soaked bread-egg mixture to prepared dish. Top with reserved cheese and bacon. Bake covered 20-25 mins.

    STEP 7: Uncover and bake 15 mins more until set (test with toothpick) and top is crispy golden brown.

    After removing from the oven, let the strata sit for 15-20 minutes.

    SERVE! For garnish add parsley, green onions and more bacon on top.

    • Want something sweet for breakfast? Try these easy cranberry overnight oats.

    Tips

    • To check doneness, insert a knife in the center. If it comes out clean, the breakfast casserole is ready. Be careful not to overcook or the dish will dry out.
    • Day-old or stale bread with a firm texture will work best for breakfast casserole. French bread like baguette, Italian Ciabatta, sourdough or whole grain are all great options here. If the bread is too fresh and overly soft the casserole will turn too soggy too fast.
    • Older bread will work too, but make sure to soak at least 3 hours in the egg mixture, for even better results leave it overnight.
    • For baking - place a tray in the bottom of the oven or under the casserole as some juices may leak out of the casserole while it's baking. It will also depend on your baking dish, ideally 9 (9x13) or 8 inch (I used 8x11) will fit the strata but I’ve used smaller ones too.
    • Grate the cheese from a block - Pre-shredded cheese may not melt well due to added preservatives. Shred fresh mozzarella for improved melting; it takes a bit more prep time but yields better results.
    • Every oven is different, and I the breakfast casserole starts to become too brown, cover it with aluminum foil until the end of baking time.

    How To Serve Breakfast Casserole

    • cucumber salad or tomato basil mozzarella salad
    • Fruit salad: watermelon salad or strawberry cucumber salad
    • Muffins: cornbread jalapeno muffins or oatmeal zucchini muffins
    • Hashbrowns
    • Scones
    • smoothies
    • granola + yogurt
    • banana bread
    • zucchini bread
    • baked apples

    Variations

    • Instead of bacon - sausage, mini pepperoni, chorizo, kielbasa, ham, pulled chicken (rotisserie, slow cooker bbq chicken), ground beef, salmon or leftover pork chops or ribs. The meat options should be cooked before adding to the casserole. 
    • Just like in frittata, you can add spinach and cherry tomatoes.
    • For more flavors - add 1-2 tablespoons of green or red pesto to the egg mixture.
    • Mediterranean - artichoke, plum or sun-dried tomatoes, olives, onions (red or white), feta and crumbles and ruccola leaves on top for garnish.
    • Dairy free - milk can be substituted with plant-based milk and cheese as well.
    Easy Breakfast Casserole With Bacon

    Storing and Freezing Instructions

    • To Store. 4-5 days refrigerated in an airtight container.
    • To Freeze, allow strata to cool completely first. Wrap in foil then place in an airtight container or freezer bag, store for 2-3 months.
    • To Reheat, rewarm the breakfast bake in oven at 300F for 10-20 minutes until warmed through and crispy. You can also reheat individual slices in the air fryer at 350F for 5-10 minutes.

    I would appreciate it so much if you left a comment about this recipe below! Subscribe to join the TYB newsletter and receive free recipes straight to your inbox! Let's connect via Facebook, IG & Pinterest!

    Recipe

    Easy Breakfast Casserole With Bacon

    Breakfast Casserole Recipe

    Julia | The Yummy Bowl
    Breakfast Casserole - Layers of delicious fluffy bread soaked in milk and egg mixture and then baked with crispy bacon & cheese until perfection. A perfect casserole dish for breakfast or weekend brunch! Serve it along with a simple salad or a smoothie.
    5 from 18 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 35 minutes mins
    Total Time 50 minutes mins
    Course Breakfast
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 423 kcal

    INGREDIENTS
      

    • 7 large eggs
    • ¾ of a whole baguette or sourdough (gluten free if needed), about 6-7 cups, sliced into 1-2 inch thick pieces, see notes
    • 10-12 ounce bacon, diced
    • 2 teaspoon Italian seasoning, Herbs de Provence
    • 1 ¼ cups milk (full cream or low fat), or heavy cream for custard like texture
    • salt and black pepper, to taste
    • 2 ⅓ cups cheddar cheese, grated
    • 2 tablespoon parsley
    • 2-3 tablespoon green onion, chopped
    • butter for greasing the casserole
    • olive oil for cooking

    INSTRUCTIONS
     

    • In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk/cream, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning. Set egg mixture aside.
    • Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy. Drain on paper towels. Add to egg mixture, reserving 2-3 tablespoons bacon for garnish.
    • Stir bread, green onions, and cheese (reserve about ½ cup for later) into egg mixture. Refrigerate 1+ hour until bread absorbs liquid.
    • After 1 hour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180°C) and grease a casserole dish with butter.
    • Transfer soaked bread-egg mixture to prepared dish. Top with reserved cheese and bacon. Bake covered 20-25 mins. Uncover and bake 15 mins more until set (test with toothpick) and top is crispy golden brown.
    • After removing from the oven, let the strata sit for 15-20 minutes. For serving, add parsley, green onions and more bacon on top. We love shredded parmesan too. Enjoy!

    VIDEO

    NOTES

    • Baguette sizes vary, when cut into pieces my bread made about 6-7 cups.
    • To check doneness, insert a knife in the center. If it comes out clean, the strata is ready. Be careful not to overcook or the dish will dry out.
    • Day-old or stale bread with a firm texture will work best for breakfast casserole. French bread like baguette, Italian Ciabatta, sourdough or whole grain are all great options here. If the bread is too fresh and overly soft the casserole will turn too soggy too fast.
    • If you only have fresh bread … in this case leave the bread to dry out. First, cut or tear the bread into the size pieces you need. Then spread the pieces on a baking sheet and let them sit uncovered at room temperature for a few hours or up to overnight. As the bread sits, the surface will become dried and hardened from evaporation.
    • To Store. Leftover strata keeps 4-5 days refrigerated in an airtight container. To reheat, bake at 300F for 10-20 minutes until warmed through. You can also reheat individual slices in the air fryer at 350F for 5-10 minutes.

    ADD YOUR OWN PRIVATE NOTES

    Click here to add your own private notes.

    NUTRITION

    Calories: 423kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 21gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 204mgSodium: 665mgPotassium: 251mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 721IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 338mgIron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?@theyummy_bowl and tag #theyummy_bowl! Thank you!

    Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on products used.

    Full Nutrition Disclaimer can be found here.

    FAQs

    What is the difference between frittata and strata?

    Frittata is more of an omelet with different ingredients, without the bread. It is often prepared in a skillet or cake pan.

    Strata is a breakfast casserole too, and made with soaking the bread in the milk and egg mixture overnight (preferably). It is then baked in a casserole dish and is thicker and fluffier than a frittata dish.

    How will I know when breakfast casserole is fully baked?

    Cooking time varies based on thickness. Check doneness by jiggling - it should be set, not jiggly. A clean toothpick also indicates doneness.

    Can I bake the breakfast right away instead of leaving it in the fridge overnight?

    Letting the bread soak for at least 1 hour (ideally 1-2 hours) before baking allows full absorption so the strata won't turn out to be soggy.

    Can I make it gluten-free?

    This breakfast strata can easily be made gluten-free by using your favorite gluten-free bread, and this is what I used as well.

    Why do you use bread in strata?

    Dry, crusty bread chunks are the secret to a chewy, chunky casserole texture. The crusty cubes soak up liquid, preventing a spongey, dense dish. Homemade sourdough or crusty artisan bread works best.

    The key is using really crisp, dry bread - never soft sandwich slices. With ultra-crisp chunks throughout, your casserole will have incredible staying power and texture.

    This recipe is inspired by Recipe Tin Eats - Cheese & Bacon strata cake.

    More Easy Breakfast Recipes? Try These Next Time!

    • baked vegetable frittata slice
      Healthy Vegetable Frittata
    • a bite shot from zucchini chocolate chip muffins.
      Oatmeal Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins
    • bacon egg sandwich.
      Bacon, Egg and Cream Cheese Breakfast Sandwich
    • Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole
      Gluten Free Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole (Farmer's Casserole)
    « Baked Candied Yams (Candied Sweet Potatoes)
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    1203 shares
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Marge

      March 14, 2021 at 6:36 am

      5 stars
      Made this casserole yesterday but in different dish and it was so good and so fluffy!

      Soaked the bread for 5 hours only. Delicious!!

      Reply
      • Julia

        March 14, 2021 at 8:37 am

        Thank you Marge, so glad that you liked it!

        Reply
      • Karyn Roesler

        August 03, 2022 at 10:57 pm

        Never bacon…hate mushy bacon…just a personal opinion. Ham or breakfast sausage, but again…the sausage gets mushy and I like links that have a crispy outside…I know…I’m difficult! Other than that I will try this because it looks delicious! Just with ham! Thank you

        Reply
        • Julia | The Yummy Bowl

          August 13, 2022 at 12:12 am

          absolutely! Ham is a great substitute. Another thing with bacon is to perhaps choose the thickest bacon and cut it into larger pieces or leave whole strips inside. But I haven't tried it this way yet:)

          Reply
    2. Lyn

      May 10, 2021 at 3:57 pm

      5 stars
      What a great make ahead breakfast idea!! I haven't made a strata before, but thinking now that I will need to try it out!

      Reply
      • Julia

        May 11, 2021 at 11:20 pm

        thank you, hope you'll love this one!

        Reply
    3. Deb

      August 04, 2022 at 8:26 pm

      5 stars
      Recipe sounds easy and delicious! Approximately how many cups of bread would equal one baguette cut into cubes?

      Reply
      • Julia | The Yummy Bowl

        January 25, 2023 at 4:04 am

        great question, I will have to measure it out soon. But an average length about 26-30 cm I thin would be 4 cups?

        Reply
    4. Robin

      December 07, 2022 at 11:53 pm

      I used dried out Baguettes and soaked them overnight. I didn't add the cheese, bacon or chives until this morning, because I don't like mushy bacon either. It appeared dry to me (probably because the Baguettes were dried out) so I added 4 more eggs over the top. Put the toppings on after taking the foil off to help crunchy it up.

      Reply
      • Julia | The Yummy Bowl

        December 21, 2022 at 6:37 am

        Interesting! I soak the mixture for just one hour, with medium-old bread. Some baguettes vary indeed, and it is good advice to soak them separately until softened enough. My casserole was pretty juicy after baking!

        Reply
    5. Dina and Bruce

      September 01, 2023 at 4:13 am

      5 stars
      Made for the family! Thumbs up all the way around!

      Reply
      • Julia | The Yummy Bowl

        September 03, 2023 at 7:38 am

        thank you Dina and Bruce!

        Reply
    6. Ned

      September 01, 2023 at 4:47 am

      5 stars
      Everything is better with bacon! This was so amazing, I can't wait to make it again. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Julia | The Yummy Bowl

        September 03, 2023 at 7:38 am

        thank you Ned!

        Reply
    7. Sisley

      September 01, 2023 at 6:03 am

      5 stars
      What a way to start the day! I love a breakfast casserole and adding bacon like this was yummy!

      Reply
      • Julia | The Yummy Bowl

        September 03, 2023 at 7:38 am

        thank you Sisley!

        Reply
    8. Gina Abernathy

      September 01, 2023 at 6:35 am

      5 stars
      I made this breakfast strata for dinner last night and it was a total winner with the family. Everyone loved it!

      Reply
      • Julia | The Yummy Bowl

        September 03, 2023 at 7:38 am

        thank you Gina!

        Reply
    9. kate

      September 01, 2023 at 6:50 am

      5 stars
      Thank you for this yummy breakfast casserole recipe. It was delicious and the leftovers were great re-heated. I didn't have time to do the air-fryer method so I just used the microwave to reheat my piece and it was totally fine.

      Reply
      • Julia | The Yummy Bowl

        September 03, 2023 at 7:37 am

        sounds awesome, glad you enjoyed Kate, thank you!

        Reply

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    I'm Julia and welcome to The Yummy Bowl. I share easy and healthier recipes for the whole family. Hope you enjoy! Love, Julia

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    the yummy bowl julia author

    I'm Julia and welcome to The Yummy Bowl. I share easy and healthier recipes for the whole family. Hope you enjoy! Love, Julia

    More about me →

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