Time Saving Christmas Breakfast Casserole

The holiday season is in full swing. We all are busy and trying to check one more thing off our list. Today, I am sharing a delicious make ahead breakfast casserole dish so that you can cross breakfast off your list.

When my children were young it was our family tradition to make Christmas breakfast special with just the six of us before we went to their grandparents house to have dinner with aunts, uncles, and cousins. Making a breakfast casserole is easy because you can make it ahead of time and then just pop it in the oven while you’re opening presents. It is also a great dish if you are serving Christmas Brunch to a group.

This tasty recipe was given to me by a friend, I’ve shared it with my daughter, as well as several women on my ladies golf league.

Breakfast Casserole

• 1 14-inch loaf of Italian Bread (from the bakery section ends trimmed)
• 1 lb. sweet Italian Sausage
• 1 small onion, chopped fine
• ¼ cup chopped basil
• 2 cups shredded fontina cheese
• 9 large eggs
• 2 cups of whole milk
• 1 ½ tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• 1 Tsp. hot sauce (optional)

Directions

• preheat oven to 400
• slice the bread into cubes and toast on a cookie sheet about 10-15 minutes until golden
• brown the sausage and onion in a frying pan (casing removed) until cooked
• add fresh chopped basil to the sausage
• grease a 9×13 baking dish and layer half of the tasted cubed bread in the dish
• spread half of the sausage mixture and the fontina cheese on top of the bread
• repeat with the layering with the bread, then the sausage, then the cheese
• Whisk the eggs, the salt, pepper, milk, and hot sauce in a large mixing bowl ( I actually use my vitamix to blend quickly)
• Pour evenly over the casserole and cover
• Refrigerate overnight
• Bake at 350 degrees uncovered until the bread is puffy and golden brown about one hour
• Let cool around 15 minutes before serving

I usually set my table the night before so I can spend Christmas morning with the family around the tree and presents. The smell of this casserole will lead them into the kitchen to eat.

Serve with fresh cut up fruit and your breakfast will be delicious.

Merry Christmas Morning!