Christmas Breakfast Casserole is one of our favorite make-ahead breakfasts for holiday mornings because it’s hearty, cheesy, and ready to bake when everyone wakes up. Sausage, eggs, half and half, toasted bread cubes, and sharp cheddar cheese come together in a simple 9×13 breakfast bake.
We love assembling this the night before so Christmas morning feels easier and more relaxed. Just pop it in the oven, let it bake until set, and serve warm with fruit, Cinnamon Rolls, Hot Chococolate, or your favorite holiday breakfast sides.
This is our best loved breakfast casserole for Christmas and the one we make the most. Pair it with French Toast Casserole for something both sweet and savory!
Why you’ll love it + Why it works:
- Perfect Make Ahead Meal: Assemble it the night before so breakfast is almost effortless on Christmas morning.
- Feeds a Crowd: This hearty casserole easily serves family and guests during the holidays.
- Holiday Favorite: It’s a dependable recipe that makes Christmas morning feel extra special.
- Simple Ingredients: Everyday pantry staples come together into a rich, flavorful breakfast.
Christmas Breakfast Casserole Ingredients
- Ground pork sausage or maple sausage (1 pound): Adds hearty, savory flavor and makes the casserole filling. Maple sausage adds a subtle sweetness that’s especially delicious for holiday breakfasts.
- Salt (½ teaspoon): Enhances the flavor of all the ingredients.
- Eggs (6, beaten): Forms the rich custard that holds the casserole together and creates a fluffy texture.
- Half and half (1 to 1½ cups): Makes the egg mixture extra creamy and rich. Use the larger amount for a softer casserole.
- White bread (6 slices, toasted and cut into cubes): Soaks up the egg mixture and creates a soft, custardy texture. Toasting the bread helps it hold its shape.
- Sharp cheddar cheese (2 cups, shredded): Adds bold cheesy flavor and creates a delicious golden top. Freshly shredded cheese melts the smoothest.
How to Make Christmas Breakfast Casserole
PREP. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish, and set aside.
SAUSAGE. In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until browned, and drain.
MIX. In a large bowl, mix the salt, eggs, and half and half. Add the cooked sausage, white bread (cubed), and cheddar cheese. Stir until evenly coated. Pour the mixture into the baking dish.
CHILL. Cover with aluminum foil and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
BAKE. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake the casserole, covered, for 50-60 minutes. Reduce the heat to 325°F. Uncover the casserole and bake for 20-30 additional minutes or until the casserole has set.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Toast the bread before cubing it so it absorbs the egg mixture without becoming mushy.
- Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes after baking to make slicing and serving easier.
- Use freshly shredded cheddar cheese for the best melting texture and flavor.
- If the top begins browning too quickly during the uncovered bake, loosely tent it with foil.
Christmas Breakfast Casserole Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground pork sausage or maple sausage
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 6 eggs beaten
- 1- 1½ cups half and half
- 6 slices white bread, toasted and cut into cubes
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Grease a 9×13 baking dish, set it aside.
- In a large skillet cook the sausage over medium heat until browned, and drain.
- In a large bowl mix the salt, eggs, and half and half. Then add the sausage, bread cubes, and cheese. Stir together until evenly coated.
- Pour the mixture into the baking dish. Cover with foil and chill for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F . Bake the casserole covered for 50-60 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to 325°F. Uncover the casserole and bake for 20-30 additional minutes or until casserole has set.
Notes
- Toast the bread before cubing it so it absorbs the egg mixture without becoming mushy.
- Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes after baking to make slicing and serving easier.
- Use freshly shredded cheddar cheese for the best melting texture and flavor.
- If the top begins browning too quickly during the uncovered bake, loosely tent it with foil.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
To prepare further in advance than overnight, cover the dish with plastic wrap and again with foil. Label and freeze for 1-2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before removing the wrappings and baking.
Divide leftovers into individual-sized storage containers. Keep in the fridge for 3-4 days, or in the freezer for 2-3 months. Thaw, if applicable, and reheat in the microwave or oven.
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This recipe was originally published November 2020.
Made this for Christmas morning and everyone loved it!
My family loves this, and its so easy! Making it again this year. Thank you!
So glad it’s a family favorite. Thanks for coming back to make it again!
How much half and half?
One or 1.5 cups?
Thanks for clarifying!
1 cup: Gives you a firmer, more “bready” casserole. Great if you don’t want it too custardy.
1½ cups: Makes it softer, more custard-like, and slightly richer, but it can verge on too wet depending on your bread and how much moisture the sausage releases.
1¼ cups: This could be a “safe” balance for you — creamy and moist without being soggy.
Heyyy! Thanks! That helps! Making 2 más this weekend! Will shoot for the in between measure!
Blessings
Yummy!!! I add 1 chopped yellow onion & 1 garlic clove.
I made this recipe without any substitutions. Came out perfect. New Christmas favorite. Thank
Easy make-ahead that tastes great. Perfect for brunch!
I made this and it was wonderful. I added a small can of green chilies, spicy sausage and used toasted sour dough. Let it soak overnight and baked the next morning and just Wow.
I love this recipe. I omit the salt and add a half block of cream cheese cubed. Delicious!
Didn’t chill it over night. Let’s see what happens.
this is my favorite ever. we have it every christmas and it’s soooooo tasty. extra good doused in hot sauce!!!
okay fir the folks like myself the sausage haters would bacon work as a substitute?? Or what would you suggest? Ham maybe??
Either one would be delicious and would work great!
Ugh used 4 cups of cheese instead of 2 cups. Will it be okay?
Made it for Christmas morning and it came out way too salty even though I followed the exact measurements for salt and used 1/3 lb of sausage. I think my store bought bread contained a lot of salt so read sodium labels if you use grocery store brand bread.
I made this for Christmas breakfast yesterday along with the French Toast casserole and both were a hit! I prepped everything the night before EXCEPT- I used toasted English Muffins cut in cubes and mixed them in just before baking. I also used 1/2 cheddar and 1/2 Jack cheeses, and put some diced red and green bell peppers on top (also mixed some
in) to make it more “Christmassy”. Served with Siracha and OMG it was sooo good. My family wants it every year! It was perfect with the French Toast Casserole… try them both!
Super yummy. I subbed gluten-free bread and added some garlic and onion powder. I’ll be making this again next Christmas too!
Why don’t you list quantity of ingredients. Recipe is basically useless!
I see quantity there down lower. This was an awesome recipe.
Made it for Christmas 2021 for my son’s family. It was a hit with all 7 of us. Includes toast cubes, sausage, cream, eggs and cheese. What’s not to like.
Delicious! We ate today on Christmas! Two make ahead Christmas casseroles were my Christmas present to myself. Usually I make a big breakfast after we open gifts, but I decided to cook ahead this year. My husband wasn’t thrilled but ended up loving this! I used leftover sourdough bread and added some diced onion – so good. Oh, and my mom was with us and doesn’t eat cheese so I split some into another pan – it was really ggod that way too. I think part of the key is cooking it for so long – the browned edges were my favorite. Keeping this one – it was a hit!
Been making this for a few years now and it’s amazing. I use tater tots instead of bread and it’s soooo good
Made a nice savory dish to go along with all our sweet Christmas recipes.
WAnted a make ahead breakfast for Christmas morning and this fit the bill. MAkes everything seem a little easier.Have used similar recipes in the past but this one was much more flavorful. Very well balanced. Followed recipe exactly. IT was truly delicious 😋 thank you.
You are so welcome! I am glad you found this recipe 🙂 Thank you!
How many eggs?
I have been making this every Christmas for the last few years, such a great recipe and so incredibly easy!
This has become a Christmas staple in our home. Love the simplicity and I make it the night before so it’s easy to pop in the oven on Christmas Day!
Will be making this for Christmas Day!
I’m making this again for Christmas breakfast. I love that you make it ahead of time and then just pop it in the oven on Christmas morning. Delicious!
Those are my favorite kind of recipes! Thank you!
I love a good breakfast casserole for Christmas morning we can throw together the night before. I will be excited to try this one this year!
Hope it’s a hit!!
Looks great!
This is my go to for Christmas morning! So yummy – I almost look more forward to this than the presents!
This is my go to breakfast dish. Love it and so easy!
This breakfast casserole dish is the perfect combination of all your favorite breakfast foods.
I love making us for breakfast! It comes out every time!
This is the perfect Christmas morning breakfast! We could eat it all the time! Sausage is my favorite in casseroles!
YUM!!! This is SO good and perfect to make again for Christmas morning!
This looks so yummy, on the menu for this weekend!