Overnight Bacon and Egg Casserole for Christmas Morning
Diana Yen is the cookbook author and food stylist behind The Jewels of New York. Below, she bakes up a savory breakfast casserole that will have you spending less time in kitchen come Christmas morning, which means more time for opening presents!
Christmas Breakfast Casserole with Red Peppers, Bacon, and Cheddar
Serves 6-8
Christmas is a day that feels decadent yet relaxed. Allow yourself to sleep in on the big day, but still treat yourself to a special breakfast. Try this cheesy breakfast casserole made with sweet red bell pepper and smoky bacon. You can assemble it the night before, and pop it in the oven when you wake up. In an hour, you’ll have simple and impressive dish that is certain to be a crowd pleaser.
6 large eggs
2 ½ cups whole milk
½ cup heavy cream
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 pound bacon, chopped
1 large red bell pepper, trimmed, seeded and cut into ½ inch cubes
14 cups crusty bread (or about 1 pound), cut into 1-1 ½ inch cubes
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons of chopped scallions
Butter 13 x 9 x 2-inch ceramic or glass baking dish. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Set aside.
Place the bacon and bell pepper in a large nonstick skillet and sauté over high heat, until bacon is almost crisp and bell peppers are brown in spots, 7-10 minutes.
Arrange half of the bread cubes in prepared dish. Pour half of the egg mixture over. Sprinkle with half of the bacon-pepper mixture, then half the scallions, and then half the cheese. Repeat the layering and use the back of a spoon to press the bread cubes, soaking up the milk mixture. Wrap the casserole in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours to overnight.
Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Bake the casserole until browned on top, about 1 hour. Cool slightly, cut into slices and enjoy.
More breakfast dishes to wake up to on Christmas day:
Make-Ahead Cinnamon-Baked French Toast for Christmas Morning
16 Just-Fancy-Enough Breakfast Recipes for Christmas
Why You Should Be Eating Salad for Breakfast
