I’m admittedly a sucker for a great overnight breakfast casserole. But this recipe, with tangy cheddar cheese, tender chunks of ham, and simple seasonings, exceeds all my expectations! This casserole is so easy to throw together the night before a big event, like Christmas morning or Easter brunch. But it’s also casual enough to whip up the night before so busy mornings run more smoothly.
Using Block Cheese Instead of Pre-Shredded
I know it takes a bit more effort to shred cheese from a block instead of ripping open a package of pre-shredded, but trust me, it is so much better! Not only is the flavor more abundant, it melts better in the casserole. Pre-shredded cheese is covered in preservatives that prevent it from clumping together in the bag. These preservatives also affect how the cheese melts and the flavor. Definitely worth the extra step to get a block of cheese and grate it yourself!
Making This Casserole Day Of
Where are my procrastinators at? While my recipe gives you the steps for making it the day before so everything can really soak overnight, you can most definitely make this recipe the day of. Because this recipe works best with dry or stale bread, throw some bread slices in the oven at a low temperature for about 5-10 minutes until they dry out a little. Put the casserole together in the baking dish and bake as directed.
Mushrooms, spinach, onions, or green peppers: You will want to sauté these veggies before adding them to the casserole. This will both soften them and keep them from adding too much moisture to the dish. Bacon: Whether you add turkey bacon or regular, you will want to crisp it up nicely before adding it. You can make your oven in the air fryer or the oven to make things quick!
This breakfast casserole can also be frozen. Bake the entire casserole in a disposable baking dish, avoiding glass or ceramic that can shatter in the oven. Let it cool, cover tightly multiple times with foil and plastic wrap, then freeze it to use anytime in the next three months. Pop it in the oven to heat it through and serve.
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